Matt
Like most of Helen Garner's work, Monkey Grip is ultimately primarily about Helen Garner. Your mileage will vary on how fascinating you find Helen Garner, because Helen Garner certainly finds Helen Garner pretty fascinating. Did I mention Helen Garner?
Mostly doesn't work for me, I normally enjoy a story with unrepentantly self-involved characters but I completely bounced off this one. Despite this, it's a fascinating window back into a very particular moment in bohemian 1970s Australia which was enough to keep me going despite my growing frustration at literally everyone involved in the story.
Like most of Helen Garner's work, Monkey Grip is ultimately primarily about Helen Garner. Your mileage will vary on how fascinating you find Helen Garner, because Helen Garner certainly finds Helen Garner pretty fascinating. Did I mention Helen Garner?
Mostly doesn't work for me, I normally enjoy a story with unrepentantly self-involved characters but I completely bounced off this one. Despite this, it's a fascinating window back into a very particular moment in bohemian 1970s Australia which was enough to keep me going despite my growing frustration at literally everyone involved in the story.