By Dylin Hardcastle
Verve Books, Paperback, £10.99
I picked this book up at random based on the image on the cover, which really drew me in with the affection and vulnerability portrayed, and I’m very glad I chose it. Hardcastle weaves together the stories of two very different lives with great skill and emotion, and this was the first book in a long time that really held my attention from start to finish.
At a book reading I went to, Hardcastle described their approach to writing this novel as “think less and feel more,” which really comes across. They don’t shy away from putting intense feelings into words, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading a story that expresses longing, anguish and joy in all shades.
The book follows two queer characters who grow up in Newcastle, Australia, but then choose very different paths in life. Their lives intersect at various points and the way Hardcastle aligns their stories is seamless despite the differences between them. The language is rich and poetic and the story follows the characters through the first Mardi Gras in Australia, the AIDS pandemic and numerous personal tragedies.
I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a raw portrayal of queer love, longing and grief, and to anyone looking for a cure for cynicism and depression. Though there’s a lot of pain, there’s also a lot of community, joy and release, and I found it a great pleasure to read.
Review by Jamie