Reviews

Smokehouse by Melissa Manning

Only show reviews with written explanations

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I enjoyed the clean prose style but was not in the mood for more sad short stories (and a novella).

gillianhagenus's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Was thinking I would give this a four star...but then I read the last story and it absolutely broke me. This book is so achingly beautiful. Each story finds something tender and raw, at once taught and uplifting. The two bookended stories (the titular narrative) are no doubt the strongest, but I would argue that they cannot be experienced the same without all the stories in between. I dare any reader to come out of this emotionally unscathed. I dare any reader to come out of this not aching for the wild landscapes of Tasmania. This is a stunning debut and I eagerly await whatever comes next from Melissa Manning.

celiapowell's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Really stunningly beautiful stories, that are so well interlinked that it feels like a sprawling novel.

emilyfrizz's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Beautifully written, transporting you to Tasmania and misty days with crackling fires and smoke. The stories are poignant, with heartbreaking trials for each character but some beautiful and heartwarming moments as well.

nina_reads_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Smokehouse by Melissa Manning is a collection of interlinked short stories all set in Tasmania. The short stories are bookended by a larger story (a novella?) that is broken into two parts. The titular Smokehouse Part 1 focuses on Nora who with her husband and two girls moves to a block of land in Kettering where they slowly build a house and for better or worse set up new lives in the community. When Nora meets the owner of the smokehouse on the next door property all their lives are changed.

Following this story a series of much smaller stories flow seemingly randomly through time each focussing on a different member of the community. Finally Smokehouse Part 2 brings Nora’s story to a close.

Honestly I found this to be such beautifully poetic writing. The stories are moving and so human with the small town community feel really shining through. I loved the small links between characters in the stories which were often only a single offhand sentence. The landscape of Tasmania was also beautifully rendered. Gosh we have some incredible Tasmania born writer here in Australia! There really seems to be something magical about the way many writers are able to describe the landscape down there. Definitely makes me want to go for a visit.

The stories are not happy ones but while there is sadness there is also hope. You won’t be cheered by these stories but you will be moved.

I listened to Smokehouse on audio which I found incredibly satisfying. It was voiced by Australian actress Zoe Carides and she was great. I’d highly recommend this one if you are interested in Australian based short stories. Manning is a talent and I’m excited to see what else she writes!