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The Magpie Wing
Helen, Walt and Duncan are looking for ways to entertain themselves in the sprawl of Sydney’s western suburbs. Walt, scrappy and idealistic, wants to prove a point and turns to petty vandalism. His friend, Duncan, is committed to his fledgling football career, and seeks out sexual encounters in unfamiliar houses. Walt’s sister Helen, in search of something larger than herself, is forced by scandal to leave the family home. As they move into adulthood they gravitate to the dingy glamour of the inner-city suburbs, looking to escape their families’ complicated histories, and to find new identities, artistic, sexual and political.
The Magpie Wing is set on football fields, in sharehouses, at punk gigs and in dilapidated and gentrifying pubs. Max Easton’s debut novel moves from the nineties to the present, and between the suburbs and the inner city, exploring how communities that appear worlds apart—underground music scenes, rugby league clubs, communist splinter groups—often share unexpected roots.
The Magpie Wing is set on football fields, in sharehouses, at punk gigs and in dilapidated and gentrifying pubs. Max Easton’s debut novel moves from the nineties to the present, and between the suburbs and the inner city, exploring how communities that appear worlds apart—underground music scenes, rugby league clubs, communist splinter groups—often share unexpected roots.
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First published January 1, 2021
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About the author
Max Easton
3 books22 followersMax Easton is the author of the novels The Magpie Wing (2021) and its loose sequel Paradise Estate (2023), with the third in the series, Now Autonomy, to be published by Giramondo in 2026. He runs Barely Human, a zine and tape label exploring underground music's ties to subculture and counterculture, and has played in several Sydney punk bands including BB & the Blips, Romance and The Baby. His fiction and cultural criticism has also appeared in Sydney Review of Books, The Lifted Brow, Meanjin and Heat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 14, 2021
I liked this book very much - quite a unique book. I hope this is canonised in Australian literature for its complexity, rawness and truth regarding what’s under the facade of Sydney. 4/5
February 21, 2024
A coming of age novel set in the Southwest and inner west of Sydney, that follows the lives of Duncan, Walt and his sister Helen from their childhood to their late 30s.
It is hard to know what to make of this book. There were parts I loved and parts that were excruciatingly slow.
Novels set in my hometown (Sydney) always connect with me and this one definitely did as Easton describes the places and events with clarity.
The characters were intriguing and I was invested in their story despite their lack of likeability.
A lot of time was spent on the topics of rugby league, in particular the Western Suburbs Magpies and the underground punk rock scene. If you came to this book not knowing much about either topic, it would be hard to engage deeply.
It is hard to know what to make of this book. There were parts I loved and parts that were excruciatingly slow.
Novels set in my hometown (Sydney) always connect with me and this one definitely did as Easton describes the places and events with clarity.
The characters were intriguing and I was invested in their story despite their lack of likeability.
A lot of time was spent on the topics of rugby league, in particular the Western Suburbs Magpies and the underground punk rock scene. If you came to this book not knowing much about either topic, it would be hard to engage deeply.
September 25, 2022
Apparently Western Sydney is hip now. The cultural powers that be, nearly all of whom are located in the latte-belts of Sydney and Melbourne, have decided that Western Sydney is so very now and we are seeing a creative burst from and about the area. Books, bands and films have all popped up in the last few years speaking for and about Western Sydney. Some of them are quite good, some are rubbish, how long it all lasts is anyone's guess.
This sort of thing has happened before, a city or region has a sudden creative burst and becomes the hip place. It happened to Manchester, it happened to Seattle, eventually the zietgiest moves on but sometimes a lasting legacy of culture is left behind.
This novel is very much part of the Western Sydney moment that's happening now but is of sufficient quality that it and it's author stand a good chance of outlasting the hype.
A simple tale of three young people fumbling their way through life and growing up in Western Sydney this book has real heart and authenticity.
It reminded me a little of "Praise" by Andrew McGahan and "You Belong Here" by Laurie Steed.
Only minor complaints: the Rugby League references meant nothing to me because i've lived all my life in AFL states and there was one or two little moments towards the end that felt a little "preachy" and forced but aside from that i really enjoyed this novel and i think this author is probably worth watching in the future.
This sort of thing has happened before, a city or region has a sudden creative burst and becomes the hip place. It happened to Manchester, it happened to Seattle, eventually the zietgiest moves on but sometimes a lasting legacy of culture is left behind.
This novel is very much part of the Western Sydney moment that's happening now but is of sufficient quality that it and it's author stand a good chance of outlasting the hype.
A simple tale of three young people fumbling their way through life and growing up in Western Sydney this book has real heart and authenticity.
It reminded me a little of "Praise" by Andrew McGahan and "You Belong Here" by Laurie Steed.
Only minor complaints: the Rugby League references meant nothing to me because i've lived all my life in AFL states and there was one or two little moments towards the end that felt a little "preachy" and forced but aside from that i really enjoyed this novel and i think this author is probably worth watching in the future.
July 5, 2022
I honestly didn't think much of this book. It felt like a book that was trying to be relevant, when the subject matter just isn't relevant any more. There are also some themes that are started and then never explored, such as Walt and his experimentation with his sexuality. It starts and then is forgotten. I found that strange, as if the author wasn't sure how to continue that story line. I thought the mother would have also played more of a role in this book, but she is basically forgotten on the whole, as is the father. Given that Walt and Helen's behaviours are motivated by their upbringing, I expected more from the parents in this book.
The characters are never really rounded (for the most part) - they stick to a one-dimensional view the author has for them, and I found that a little frustrating. I could see too much of the author imprinted of the characters. I finished this book with the impression clearly on my mind. The characters, indeed this entire book, feels like the author's point of view. Unfortunately, it doesn't grip you and drag you into the story. Everything is a bit insipid, even when the author is trying to shock you by having a character go an a week long bender or a series of one night stands. There's a washed out feel to every scene. Part of that is because the characters just seem to float through the story and they don't make much of an impact. Another part is that I didn't feel immersed into the scenes.
Much of this story plods along. I'd give it 1.5 stars for the first part of this book, before Walt and Helen start leaving home. The story was okay when it focused on the family dynamic. It seemed more planned and coherent. That part of the story didn't last long enough. I wish it had.
The characters are never really rounded (for the most part) - they stick to a one-dimensional view the author has for them, and I found that a little frustrating. I could see too much of the author imprinted of the characters. I finished this book with the impression clearly on my mind. The characters, indeed this entire book, feels like the author's point of view. Unfortunately, it doesn't grip you and drag you into the story. Everything is a bit insipid, even when the author is trying to shock you by having a character go an a week long bender or a series of one night stands. There's a washed out feel to every scene. Part of that is because the characters just seem to float through the story and they don't make much of an impact. Another part is that I didn't feel immersed into the scenes.
Much of this story plods along. I'd give it 1.5 stars for the first part of this book, before Walt and Helen start leaving home. The story was okay when it focused on the family dynamic. It seemed more planned and coherent. That part of the story didn't last long enough. I wish it had.
December 27, 2023
not to doxx myself more than i already do on a regular basis but i picked this book out from my local library on a whim and wasn’t expecting much, as i more often than not dislike contemporary aussie lit — usually due to its banal descriptions of the city, or overall hundrum narrative; or perhaps as my friend put it when i sent them an extract because the book mentioned our local record store: that looks like mandatory reading for english (it’s not i swear)
but this one surprised me: i actually really enjoyed its depictions of sydney and found it hit very close to home (literally (…. ha ha)). i might not know the slightest thing about afl or decade-long friendship but i do know a thing or two about playing in shitty bands and joining leftist groups, and, you know, simply living in sydney, and everything in between.
it paints such a tangible picture of the people and the area in just a few words it feels very grounded & down to earth in an unpretentious and realistic way it was pleasant to read. and it’s not even restricted to western sydney, the book has a real grasp on sydney as a whole it feels more real and more lived-in than any other book i’ve read set in australia/nsw/sydney/(insert suburb that would most certainly doxx me).
the disparity between western sydney and, say, the inner west is also depicted so very astutely and comically i really enjoyed it every time it came up. had a good chuckle had a good time reading. i’d say i’d recommend it to everyone but i don’t know how it would even read to non-local let alone non-australian readers tbh. but yeah anyways, so much as to say: enjoyed 👍
but this one surprised me: i actually really enjoyed its depictions of sydney and found it hit very close to home (literally (…. ha ha)). i might not know the slightest thing about afl or decade-long friendship but i do know a thing or two about playing in shitty bands and joining leftist groups, and, you know, simply living in sydney, and everything in between.
it paints such a tangible picture of the people and the area in just a few words it feels very grounded & down to earth in an unpretentious and realistic way it was pleasant to read. and it’s not even restricted to western sydney, the book has a real grasp on sydney as a whole it feels more real and more lived-in than any other book i’ve read set in australia/nsw/sydney/(insert suburb that would most certainly doxx me).
the disparity between western sydney and, say, the inner west is also depicted so very astutely and comically i really enjoyed it every time it came up. had a good chuckle had a good time reading. i’d say i’d recommend it to everyone but i don’t know how it would even read to non-local let alone non-australian readers tbh. but yeah anyways, so much as to say: enjoyed 👍
August 3, 2022
Disappointing. Underwhelming. Little to recommend about it other than a no-holds barred depiction of the lives of young people who are obsessed with living their lives on terms agreeable only to themselves.
February 25, 2025
I expected a lot from this book and although it had good moments, I found they were often dropped or not delved into enough. Felt like Easton had too many ideas so cut them down to fit into one regular sized book.
I didn’t understand the characters despite being with them from adolescence to late 20s/early 30s, which led to minimal feeling toward them, both good and bad.
Rather than world building, Easton would simply refer specific places in Sydney, e.g. Marrickville Metro, or a kebab shop on Victoria road, relying on the readers familiarity. This was cool at first as a Sydneysider but soon felt lazy, especially when considering readers outside of Sydney.
Disappointed with this but maybe my high expectations just got the best of me ):
I didn’t understand the characters despite being with them from adolescence to late 20s/early 30s, which led to minimal feeling toward them, both good and bad.
Rather than world building, Easton would simply refer specific places in Sydney, e.g. Marrickville Metro, or a kebab shop on Victoria road, relying on the readers familiarity. This was cool at first as a Sydneysider but soon felt lazy, especially when considering readers outside of Sydney.
Disappointed with this but maybe my high expectations just got the best of me ):
May 7, 2023
This book had a resonating factor. Having been born and raised in western Sydney, went to school there, University, worked there, I felt the author did a great job at capturing the atmosphere. There were elements that I really enjoyed and other elements that I didn’t. I liked the style, the dialogue and the way it’s written, the use of the vignette was great but at times felt like it didn’t fit quite well as a whole, a bit disjointed. Had the feel of a series of short stories. Where the author didn’t quite take it further enough and as a reader, you were left hanging with something that felt incomplete. More exploration of the characters would have been nice. I did enjoy the brief exploration of Helen and Walt’s bisexuality and queerness. Again, I wanted the author to delve more into that, they were really interesting parts. I’d recommend this, and would read his next book.
December 30, 2024
An engrossing treatise on class, the geographical divide and Rugby League in Sydney - the proletariat’s opera.
February 12, 2024
Came across way too pretentious for me. There were some good bits, but the characters felt a bit insufferable. Maybe that was the point though?
Read
October 23, 2021Max Easton’s debut novel, The Magpie Wing, is a character study focused on siblings Helen and Walt and their childhood friend, Duncan. Raised in western Sydney, they look for a world bigger than the one they knew. As Helen and Walt pursue music and Duncan focuses on sport, the novel meditates on the shift from childhood innocence to the disappointments of early adulthood.
Although Easton cleverly uses bildungsroman elements to frame his narrative, this is a disjointed novel, its origins as a short-story collection still visible. Chapters have a vignette feel, proceeding more like separately observed scenes rather than part of an organic whole – a sense encouraged by the third-person omniscient narration. The most interesting – and perhaps unexpected – aspect of the novel is its brief explorations of Helen and Walt’s bisexuality and queerness. These are tender and thrilling but, having caught the spark of something, Easton does not nurture its flame.
Stylistically, The Magpie Wing is oddly muted. Perhaps the times have changed: the voice-driven work of authors such as Hazzard, Morrison, Bellow and Stead has given way to the subdued and entirely unobtrusive narrative voice: Rooney, Moshfegh, Lerner, Heti.
Read on: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/...
Although Easton cleverly uses bildungsroman elements to frame his narrative, this is a disjointed novel, its origins as a short-story collection still visible. Chapters have a vignette feel, proceeding more like separately observed scenes rather than part of an organic whole – a sense encouraged by the third-person omniscient narration. The most interesting – and perhaps unexpected – aspect of the novel is its brief explorations of Helen and Walt’s bisexuality and queerness. These are tender and thrilling but, having caught the spark of something, Easton does not nurture its flame.
Stylistically, The Magpie Wing is oddly muted. Perhaps the times have changed: the voice-driven work of authors such as Hazzard, Morrison, Bellow and Stead has given way to the subdued and entirely unobtrusive narrative voice: Rooney, Moshfegh, Lerner, Heti.
Read on: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/...
September 21, 2021
A really poor book. Plodding narrative and some of the dullest prose I've read in a long time. There is just no spark at all to the novel. The author has clearly tried to write what he knows but hasn't even succeeded at that. The fact that the sections describing the music industry ring so hollow despite the author's bio claiming that he plays in a number of bands betrays the unfortunate fact that he's just not a very good writer. The three main characters' only purpose seems to be as cyphers for the author's uninspired and unoriginal philosophy on life. I speed read the last third of the book in a desperate effort to get to the end and be done with the crushing dullness of it all. This is the first book review I've ever written online. I probably should have just let it go but it really irritated me that this is the standard of book getting published in this country.
December 22, 2021
This will sit on my bookshelf between Andrew McGahan’s “Praise” and Roy Masters’ “The Great Fibro versus Silvertail Wars”. Perhaps I will rest my battered paperback copy of “Manufacturing Consent” on top.
I fucking loved this book.
I fucking loved this book.
August 28, 2021
A deeply relatable coming-of-age novel about the tribalism (and gentrification) of Sydney suburbs and seeking community in underground music and organised sport. Loved it.
August 21, 2022
I wished I was reading it for the first time again before I’d even finished it
April 1, 2025
I tried to write a play on polyamory once in high school for my HSC and I knew what I wanted to do and why, I wanted to write about something I found interesting, and take all the parts of people around me that I found interesting, and write down every interesting thought that came into my head. In terms of writing in that sense, and I mean this sincerely and with empathy a certain admiration, Max Easton has succeeded.
There is a phrase I became familiar with through spending time with people in the punk scene of Melbourne and Sydney “toy” - I took it to mean it was something weak, shallow, overdone. I would say that a lot of the takes in this book, as it is a book primarily made up of takes, are toy. It’s very difficult to write about the lockdown & the mania of mobiles well, and I sympathise with that, but in this, Easton has not succeeded.
I felt as though I was reading a series of mini essays, discordant musings, jumping between one opinion and another, none of them matching the characters supposed personalities or character structures. I almost hoped they were real people so that in the universe somewhere, their behaviours and descriptions made sense.
All that being said, I loved the start of this book and the highlighting the inherent punkness of Western Sydney, tradies & rugby.
There is a phrase I became familiar with through spending time with people in the punk scene of Melbourne and Sydney “toy” - I took it to mean it was something weak, shallow, overdone. I would say that a lot of the takes in this book, as it is a book primarily made up of takes, are toy. It’s very difficult to write about the lockdown & the mania of mobiles well, and I sympathise with that, but in this, Easton has not succeeded.
I felt as though I was reading a series of mini essays, discordant musings, jumping between one opinion and another, none of them matching the characters supposed personalities or character structures. I almost hoped they were real people so that in the universe somewhere, their behaviours and descriptions made sense.
All that being said, I loved the start of this book and the highlighting the inherent punkness of Western Sydney, tradies & rugby.
November 13, 2022
I didn’t dislike this book but I also didn’t love it. We follow brother and sister, Walt and Helen, and their friend, Duncan, as they move away from their childhood hometown in Sydney’s western suburbs and live their lives. Realistically, we just meander through their lives and not much of note happens. They aren’t happy and who they all are by the end of the book left me feeling pretty meh about the whole experience. There was potential here but it didn’t quite come together for me.
October 30, 2021
You can see the strings, sure, but there’s enough specific truth rippled through this that it made me feel ‘seen’ (as they say). Also made me feel my age, god help me.
November 17, 2023
these people are just soooo melbourne coded
April 7, 2024
Made me proud to be from Western Sydney, basically could be my life story and I’m sure it’s a shared experience by many. I always dreamed about the Oasis project, idolised footy before playing a set in the Inner West, been to most places mentioned. So true it’s somewhat harrowing, can’t wait to read the next in the series.
November 6, 2024
I adore this book and max easton is the best. it’s ironic that I am not only its target audience but its target too.
“Helen told Mike to show up sometime after nine, where they had arranged a show in the front bar of the Vic on the Park. They were planning to play their experimental noise project in between the sets of three hardcore bands. Their plan was to create four hours of continuous noise to torment the venue’s patrons and management who Walt was ethically opposed to.”
“Helen told Mike to show up sometime after nine, where they had arranged a show in the front bar of the Vic on the Park. They were planning to play their experimental noise project in between the sets of three hardcore bands. Their plan was to create four hours of continuous noise to torment the venue’s patrons and management who Walt was ethically opposed to.”
May 24, 2022
A book that crept up on me - to begin with it felt like a simple (but extremely well crafted) coming of age in working class suburbs story. But it was more than that in its contemplation of family, gentrification, sport, alcohol, punk music & bands. I loved the scattered approach - seemingly random chapters that gradually built up a 3 dimensional picture of events & characters. Great writing.
March 15, 2023
I liked this book and it spoke about a world I know. I've drunk in some of the bars mentioned here and I know the landmarks and locations. I also identified with the alienation and the resentment of these characters.
The prose has a solid feel and I liked that. It's strong and stylistically consistent. The prose reminds me of a full brick house in the suburbs.
However the story has a lot of flaws, and I did wonder why things were included and excluded. For example, I liked the three-way story that followed the three protagonists. Yet halfway through Duncan was sidelined. He seemed to be an essential balance, a crucial offset to the introversion of Walt. I thought it was interesting that he started dating the punk writer Vicky, and I was disappointed that this particular narrative strand just disappeared.
In the final half of the novel we spent a lot of time in either Walt's head or Helen's head, and I just wanted to see was happening around them. Most of the other characters we meet are very thinly drawn and it seems unreasonable that in the big city of Sydney the most interesting thing to talk about is Walt's relentless separatist manifesto. I was surprised these characters didn't join any political movements.
It also seems odd that despite Walt insisting on being downtrodden because of his Western Sydney roots, we don't get many examples of this in the story. We hear very little about Walt or Helen's jobs, and it's not clear they how they earn a living at all for most of the book. So I struggled to imagine them being disadvantaged when they seem to live a life consisting entirely of sex and punk gigs.
As I said earlier, the writing is very solid and satisfying. However there were one or two moments that felt jarring and unrealistic. Specifically - Lee is obsessed with making it in the band scene, yet he walks away without a whimper when the girls steal his equipment? This needed to be fleshed out or removed because it didn't make any sense. Another moment that seemed to abandon realism was when a complete stranger sent their prank band $4000 for plane tickets.
So as usual I probably sounded more critical than I needed to be. I genuinely liked this and got a lot out of it. One final question though - what's with the enigmatic cover image? It doesn't fit with the content at all. The abstract art makes me think of the well-educated Chardonnay class. Perhaps we'll see a different edition one day with a fresh cover.
Thanks and respect to the author
The prose has a solid feel and I liked that. It's strong and stylistically consistent. The prose reminds me of a full brick house in the suburbs.
However the story has a lot of flaws, and I did wonder why things were included and excluded. For example, I liked the three-way story that followed the three protagonists. Yet halfway through Duncan was sidelined. He seemed to be an essential balance, a crucial offset to the introversion of Walt. I thought it was interesting that he started dating the punk writer Vicky, and I was disappointed that this particular narrative strand just disappeared.
In the final half of the novel we spent a lot of time in either Walt's head or Helen's head, and I just wanted to see was happening around them. Most of the other characters we meet are very thinly drawn and it seems unreasonable that in the big city of Sydney the most interesting thing to talk about is Walt's relentless separatist manifesto. I was surprised these characters didn't join any political movements.
It also seems odd that despite Walt insisting on being downtrodden because of his Western Sydney roots, we don't get many examples of this in the story. We hear very little about Walt or Helen's jobs, and it's not clear they how they earn a living at all for most of the book. So I struggled to imagine them being disadvantaged when they seem to live a life consisting entirely of sex and punk gigs.
As I said earlier, the writing is very solid and satisfying. However there were one or two moments that felt jarring and unrealistic. Specifically - Lee is obsessed with making it in the band scene, yet he walks away without a whimper when the girls steal his equipment? This needed to be fleshed out or removed because it didn't make any sense. Another moment that seemed to abandon realism was when a complete stranger sent their prank band $4000 for plane tickets.
So as usual I probably sounded more critical than I needed to be. I genuinely liked this and got a lot out of it. One final question though - what's with the enigmatic cover image? It doesn't fit with the content at all. The abstract art makes me think of the well-educated Chardonnay class. Perhaps we'll see a different edition one day with a fresh cover.
Thanks and respect to the author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2023
Maybe I read this book for the wrong reason. I had seen positive reviews for Easton's new novel, "Paradise Estate", and when I discovered that they are both available in Kindle editions I decided to read them both, starting with "The Magpie Wing". As a keen follower of NRL, I thought they would have a strong rugby league theme.
In fact, although the sport features quite prominently at the start and end of "Paradise Estate", the rest tends to meander. The novel is more like a collection of short stories, which is not in itself a fault - I am a huge fan of Ireland's The Glass Canoe, which of course is also set in the western suburbs - but somehow the whole seems to be less than the sum of its parts. It follows over several decades the stories of Walt and Duncan, who both play junior footy for the Magpies, and Walt's elder sister Helen. Walt and Duncan drift apart after giving up footy, and Walt then plays in a band with Helen and gets involved in left-wing politics. There are long and dull accounts of popular music, of which I know nothing, and of Helen's multiple sexual encounters, which are boring.
A couple of other reviewers have noted similarities with Andrew McGahan's "Praise"; all I would say is that both authors have a tendency to indulge in long plot expositions rather than moving the story on through the interactions of the characters.
But now I've started I'll move on to "Paradise Estate". I'm just glad I didn't pay the ridiculous postage costs to have the paper versions sent from Australia.
In fact, although the sport features quite prominently at the start and end of "Paradise Estate", the rest tends to meander. The novel is more like a collection of short stories, which is not in itself a fault - I am a huge fan of Ireland's The Glass Canoe, which of course is also set in the western suburbs - but somehow the whole seems to be less than the sum of its parts. It follows over several decades the stories of Walt and Duncan, who both play junior footy for the Magpies, and Walt's elder sister Helen. Walt and Duncan drift apart after giving up footy, and Walt then plays in a band with Helen and gets involved in left-wing politics. There are long and dull accounts of popular music, of which I know nothing, and of Helen's multiple sexual encounters, which are boring.
A couple of other reviewers have noted similarities with Andrew McGahan's "Praise"; all I would say is that both authors have a tendency to indulge in long plot expositions rather than moving the story on through the interactions of the characters.
But now I've started I'll move on to "Paradise Estate". I'm just glad I didn't pay the ridiculous postage costs to have the paper versions sent from Australia.
Read
May 14, 2024In many ways, I'm a corrupted reader of Max Easton's The Magpie Wing. His nostalgia is mine, too. Oh for the good (& bad) old days of slumming about a share house with dreams of emancipation.
When I worked at a bookstore in Sydney, around the same time I was living in Newtown, I cultivated this (now anodyne) line: I told customers that an excellent novel makes you care intensely about something you previously dismissed. I have near zero sport literacy, but Easton's novel conveys a real sense of why sport matters to others, how it means more than the eighty or ninety minutes a week by the pitch or gathered in a sports bar. This novel is about more than sport, however. The sibling protagonists encounter punk subcultures, the technological revolution of the early twenty-first century, hipster lifestyles, chemical romances, and some other capsules of realism I won't spoil here.
I've eschewed the star rating; instead, I've bought Easton's second novel, Paradise Estate, because the first has kindled a fascination with his creative project.
TL;DR excellent post-grunge realism from western Sydney that documents growing up and moving to the inner west at the turn of the twenty-first century.
When I worked at a bookstore in Sydney, around the same time I was living in Newtown, I cultivated this (now anodyne) line: I told customers that an excellent novel makes you care intensely about something you previously dismissed. I have near zero sport literacy, but Easton's novel conveys a real sense of why sport matters to others, how it means more than the eighty or ninety minutes a week by the pitch or gathered in a sports bar. This novel is about more than sport, however. The sibling protagonists encounter punk subcultures, the technological revolution of the early twenty-first century, hipster lifestyles, chemical romances, and some other capsules of realism I won't spoil here.
I've eschewed the star rating; instead, I've bought Easton's second novel, Paradise Estate, because the first has kindled a fascination with his creative project.
TL;DR excellent post-grunge realism from western Sydney that documents growing up and moving to the inner west at the turn of the twenty-first century.
October 24, 2021
I had some good moments reading this book as it is largely set in Western Sydney where I grew up, though not in the same suburban area. I could identify with the families, similar to the ones in my street as a child, where there was no ambition to succeed, where alcohol was a problem and where cheering on a football team was as exciting as it got. I loved the description of the big Thursday night dinner, 'A weekly meal, it carried the specific odour of a bag of Franklin's roast chicken cooked through again until it was sucked dry of its former juices'. But for all the laughs I got there was still a big mid section that dealt with a world I didn't know and didn't much care about, that is the milieu of punk gigs and sex with anyone and everyone. Not sorry I read it but very glad I'm not part of the world that it describes.
August 21, 2023
I was really into it at the start, I thought the writing was superb and was genuinely attached to all the characters, the setting and culture of Western Sydney was vividly depicted, and I was completely engrossed. But near the middle the plot starts to get a bit lost. I had no idea how much time was passing, there's limited character development, I just feel like overall I lose my grasp on their lives and what's happening, there's glimpses but they don't seem to mean much. Kinda wish the three of them at least stayed together somehow. It's all tied up together in the end, but overall it feels like it could've been done better.
December 4, 2025
This was a very quick-to-get-into and enjoyable Aussie read! I really appreciated the Sydney setting, made me think of my dad's childhood (#braboy).
I resonated with Helen and Walt's character developments - that sort of alternative, working class struggle and the divide between people like them and those different. Would've been good to see Walt do more with his union activism and that but I guess that was the point of his story.
I wish we saw more development from Duncan too, or even a bit more of his perspective throughout it all.
This was the second book Sara and I read for our book club.
I resonated with Helen and Walt's character developments - that sort of alternative, working class struggle and the divide between people like them and those different. Would've been good to see Walt do more with his union activism and that but I guess that was the point of his story.
I wish we saw more development from Duncan too, or even a bit more of his perspective throughout it all.
This was the second book Sara and I read for our book club.
December 23, 2023
Having grown up in the area and being a league fan many of the early mentions of people, places and feelings resonated with me. But as the story went along, I felt even more connection with the characters need for a purpose and identity. The author does a great job of capturing their motivations and how coming up short can impact people. I think overall the story was largely true of people at that age and that type of personality but I wasn't one hundred percent sold on the ending even though it is perfectly serviceble and an extreme or bold decision could just have easily ruined it.
July 25, 2022
Too ploddingly existential for my tastes. I’m still wondering how this book managed to make it onto the Miles Franklin 2022 short list, there must not be enough good Australian authors to choose from. It’s a book full of nothing that goes nowhere and I gave up halfway through.
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