I became a member of the local library the other day & borrowed a book by an Aussie author: Subtopia by A.L. Milne. I really enjoyed the Slap by Christos Tsiolkas so I wanted to read another 'new' Australian author. Subtopia engrossed me. For a long time I was saying to myself I didn't like the novel, but then I could not put it down. I had it finished in a week. The narrative follows the friendship (actually I am not sure if you can call it that) of two boys brought up in the Melbourne suburbs. Born in the late 60's & old enough to get a little more out of the 80's than us anyway. The story follows the progression of their lives primary school to high school to university to overseas. It details small episodes in their lives & then jumps years with the turn of a page. I think it was the detail that brought me in. It felt like I was there. Like I knew the characters. Their are lots of references to Australian music especially to Birthday Party, the Bad Seeds & St Kilda which I enjoyed . The book dances around mental illness & how it manifests itself. There is a great segue way into a book that the main character is reading - a book within a book if you like - this was something that the author the author of the graphic novel The Watchmen uses to great effect. Anyway I enjoyed it.
