I went to the book launch for this book last year at the Ashgrove Literature Festival and the discussion did not really pique my interest. The title and the cover are also very generic and forgettable. Looking for something to read this week, I picked it up somewhat reluctantly not expecting much.
I was pleasantly surprised. It was a rollicking story that had me totally absorbed right from the beginning. However, I am reluctant to describe the plot line because even in my own words it sounds less than enthralling.
The story centres around an ensemble of characters who regularly visit or live in a coastal village known as “The Landing”. While the description of the village did not mean anything to me, many of the other attendees at the Ashgrove Literature Festival instantly recognised where it was.
Dealing with issues of family breakdown, intergenerational tensions and ageing, the story moves between perspectives. I don’t always like this technique but Susan Johnson is an excellent writer and I felt she pulled it off. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is by no means depressing. It is often witty if not always laugh out loud funny.
The main reason I recommend the book to my friends and family is the “inside jokes” and local knowledge. Susan Johnson is not the first Brisbane author to depict Queensland life but she does more than make passing references to local icons. The constant references to cultural subtleties were hilariously insightful.
Have you read The Landing? What did you think? KA
