Jamie

by Jack Bennett

Vintage paperback

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2015

About the author

Jack Bennett was born in South Africa, and began his career as a cadet reporter in 1957. He joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1974. Gallipoli is his ninth novel

Reviews

[Gerhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 1963 novel by author Jack Bennett is a stirring read about a young farm boy in his early teens who has to figure out a way to stand on his own two feet after disaster strikes, bringing bewildering changes to what had been a careless existence in idyllic circumstances on the family farm in South Africa's Eastern Cape, circa 1950. In vivid scenes that smack of authenticity, defining moments in Jamie Carson's life is highlighted -- experiencing the responsibility of being entrusted with his first proper farming job; the joy of being allowed the use of his first firearm (the BSA air rifle that was initially earmarked to become the property of Jamie's long dead older brother who did not survive the influenza epidemic of 1918); the exhilaration of bagging his first game kill; the confusing and conflicting emotions of a first love; and the heart breaking loss of a beloved dog through an unfortunate error of judgement.

But none of the above can prepare him for the devastating turn of events when an unprecedented drought sets in, playing havoc with the farm's water supplies and leading to a general deterioration in the condition of the cattle and the quality of the grazing. When a rogue buffalo from the game reserve bordering the Carson farm breaks through the fence in search of water, the stage is set for tragedy.

Author Bennett was born in South Africa, growing up in the Eastern Cape city of Port Elizabeth. (In later life, he became a resident of Sydney where, among many other books, he was responsible for the popular novelization of the well-known Mel Gibson film Gallipoli.) As a result of this, he is clearly more than qualified to bring the harsh beauty and topographical features of this part of the country to shimmering life. His writing is shot through with lyrical descriptions of nature and weather conditions, running the gamut from the brooding heat at midday to the cooling breezes that come with the rising of the moon at the end of a sweltering day. He is also a very deft hand at creating characters who live and breathe, from Koos Buchner the shopkeeper, to the spinster schoolteacher Miss Sarah (harboring a painful secret of her own), and on to the game warden Hawkins (central to a harrowing flashback involving the encounter between a dog and a bush-pig.) And while I'm on the subject of dogs: Bennett imbues the relationship between Jamie and his dog, the ill-fated Majoor, with all the tenderness and mysterious understanding between human and canine which define all books on this subject, from Old Yeller to Lassie.

I was totally bowled over by this beautiful book. What at first glance might appear to be yet another entry in the endless-seeming catalogue of coming-of-age fiction, in fact emerges as a shining beacon of good storytelling -- the sort of book that creeps up on you unawares, captures your heart and goes on to become a firm favorite for the rest of your life. I would urge all lovers of good fiction to seek out this little gem.

[Ellen Reiner]

I read this book in a summer reading program at my local library in around grade 5. The cover and the memory of the book has never left me. I kind of remember that as My Summer Of Reading! This is a close as I can come to finding the book again (except maybe on eBay!)
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[Michael Schramme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy against nature; ode to friendship

A gripping and moving coming-of-age story against the backdrop of South Africa’s tumultuous past and unforgiving wilderness. outstanding story telling from a gifted writer.

[Milena Lindsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5