tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘I have that itchy skin feeling that someone is watching us.’
Tom and Jordy are brothers. They’ve been living with their grandparents since their mother Loretta left them on the doorstep one day. One day, as the boys are walking between home and school, Loretta turns up. ‘I’ve come to get you, she says.’ It will be fun, Loretta tells them. Jordy is not so sure, but he joins Tom in the car. Together the three of them set of in Loretta’s run-down car on a long journey to a mystery destination.
Tom is eleven, and the younger of the two brothers. He narrates the story – telling what he sees and describing his experiences. But when Loretta and the boys reach their destination – an isolated, dilapidated caravan near the sea – Loretta disappears again. This location does not live up to Loretta’s memory of it, and disappointment sets in quickly. Their near neighbour, Nev, tells the boys to stay away (for good reason as it turns out) but helps them at the end of the story.
The story unfolds through a series of small events which (somehow) largely bypass disaster. And yet danger is never very far away, at least to adult readers.
‘It feels like a dream anyway.’
‘Floundering’ is Romy Ash’s debut novel, and is included on the shortlist for the Miles Franklin Award 2013 which was announced earlier today. At just over 200 pages, it is a quick but haunting read. I literally could not put it down: I wanted Tom and Jordy to be safe, to be fed appropriately and to be cared for. I wanted Loretta to look beyond fun and find responsibility. I was pleased that Nev helped the boys, but wished he was more likeable. There is no neat ending to this story, and I was left wondering what would happen next – to Loretta, Tom, Jordy and Nev. ‘Floundering’ may relate to fishing (unsuccessfully in this case) for flounder, but it mostly relates to trying to make sense of people and life.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Tom and Jordy are brothers. They’ve been living with their grandparents since their mother Loretta left them on the doorstep one day. One day, as the boys are walking between home and school, Loretta turns up. ‘I’ve come to get you, she says.’ It will be fun, Loretta tells them. Jordy is not so sure, but he joins Tom in the car. Together the three of them set of in Loretta’s run-down car on a long journey to a mystery destination.
Tom is eleven, and the younger of the two brothers. He narrates the story – telling what he sees and describing his experiences. But when Loretta and the boys reach their destination – an isolated, dilapidated caravan near the sea – Loretta disappears again. This location does not live up to Loretta’s memory of it, and disappointment sets in quickly. Their near neighbour, Nev, tells the boys to stay away (for good reason as it turns out) but helps them at the end of the story.
The story unfolds through a series of small events which (somehow) largely bypass disaster. And yet danger is never very far away, at least to adult readers.
‘It feels like a dream anyway.’
‘Floundering’ is Romy Ash’s debut novel, and is included on the shortlist for the Miles Franklin Award 2013 which was announced earlier today. At just over 200 pages, it is a quick but haunting read. I literally could not put it down: I wanted Tom and Jordy to be safe, to be fed appropriately and to be cared for. I wanted Loretta to look beyond fun and find responsibility. I was pleased that Nev helped the boys, but wished he was more likeable. There is no neat ending to this story, and I was left wondering what would happen next – to Loretta, Tom, Jordy and Nev. ‘Floundering’ may relate to fishing (unsuccessfully in this case) for flounder, but it mostly relates to trying to make sense of people and life.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
mandi_m's review against another edition
4.0
A gorgeous debut Australian fiction. This novel follows brothers, Tom and Jordy, after their feckless mother, Loretta, comes and grabs them after school one day and takes them on a road trip. The characters are well written and the pace builds well as yours fears for the boys grow. Well worth reading and an author I will be looking out for in the future!
jim_b's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book for the sole reason that it was one of only two on the Miles Franklin shortlist I thought sounded intriguing.
This was one of those books where the main reason why I love it is because of the author's characterisation. Tom was clear from the beginning, but I loved watching Jordy and Nev become more and more clear and complex as I read on.
For some reason, this book reminded me a lot of my favourite read of last year, [b:Past the Shallows|10762662|Past the Shallows|Favel Parrett|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1299760715s/10762662.jpg|15674030] by [a:Favel Parrett|4709546|Favel Parrett|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1333044183p2/4709546.jpg]. That's probably the main reason stopping me from giving it 5 stars - I kept saying to myself, 'It's good, but not as good as Past the Shallows.'
But, if you love watching characters develop and come into their own over the course of a few hundred pages, and you are able to deal with some pretty full on things happening to kids, you could do a lot worse than reading this book.
This was one of those books where the main reason why I love it is because of the author's characterisation. Tom was clear from the beginning, but I loved watching Jordy and Nev become more and more clear and complex as I read on.
For some reason, this book reminded me a lot of my favourite read of last year, [b:Past the Shallows|10762662|Past the Shallows|Favel Parrett|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1299760715s/10762662.jpg|15674030] by [a:Favel Parrett|4709546|Favel Parrett|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1333044183p2/4709546.jpg]. That's probably the main reason stopping me from giving it 5 stars - I kept saying to myself, 'It's good, but not as good as Past the Shallows.'
But, if you love watching characters develop and come into their own over the course of a few hundred pages, and you are able to deal with some pretty full on things happening to kids, you could do a lot worse than reading this book.
missusb21's review against another edition
Depressing and atmospheric. Too real & gritty for me. Tom and Jordy's lives are all too true. So many damaged kids out there. Had to force myself to finish it.
maree_k's review against another edition
4.0
Floundering by Romy Ash is a quiet, contemplative and disturbing novel about two young boys caught in the conflict between what they wish for and a harsh reality. Motherhood is not easy for some women. For Loretta, there is some desire to have a life with her two sons but that desire is lost in a haze of self-indulgence and wanting what is "hers"; wanting a life that she has no capability to create. Left to deal with the mess of her "dream" are her children Tom and Jordy.
Tom, the younger boy, narrates the story with a mix of childish optimism, intelligence, fear and dread. There is no happy ending for Tom and his brother Jordy, and the road trip with their mother deteriorates as the days drag on. The novel is filled with images of unbearable heat and boredom contrasted with the easygoing beach camping holidays being enjoyed by others around them.
The book is tightly written, adding to the sense of foreboding and dread. The part of the story that intrigued me the most was the boys' attachment to the shark they caught and dragged back to their stifling caravan. I'm still thinking about that shark, and what it means.
If you're looking for action or adventure this is not the story for you. But Floundering is a well-drawn portrait of the harsh realities of the lives of some kids in Australia. If you ever wonder why some people don't turn out well, this novel will give you some clues. Highly recommended.
Tom, the younger boy, narrates the story with a mix of childish optimism, intelligence, fear and dread. There is no happy ending for Tom and his brother Jordy, and the road trip with their mother deteriorates as the days drag on. The novel is filled with images of unbearable heat and boredom contrasted with the easygoing beach camping holidays being enjoyed by others around them.
The book is tightly written, adding to the sense of foreboding and dread. The part of the story that intrigued me the most was the boys' attachment to the shark they caught and dragged back to their stifling caravan. I'm still thinking about that shark, and what it means.
If you're looking for action or adventure this is not the story for you. But Floundering is a well-drawn portrait of the harsh realities of the lives of some kids in Australia. If you ever wonder why some people don't turn out well, this novel will give you some clues. Highly recommended.
hannahmayreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It has been awhile since I read something so knowably Australian - it’s all meat pies, dusty truck stops, bubble’o bills and twisties, and country town Chinese restaurants. But this is a sinister nostalgia, because hidden behind the treats and road trips of my childhood is a dark story of a fractured family and interrupted childhood. A hazy tension pulls you into this short novel, and it won’t leave you disappointed.
It reminded me of Carrie Tiffany’s Exploded Way, so if you’ve read and enjoyed that I’d recommend giving Floundering a go.
It reminded me of Carrie Tiffany’s Exploded Way, so if you’ve read and enjoyed that I’d recommend giving Floundering a go.
viragohaus's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully balanced between recognition and throat-tightening fear, Floundering is a novel of completely necessary yet brittle attachments.
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