I typically don’t gravitate toward novels that err on the side of mystery as patience has never been a virtue of mine. Goenawan’s balance of mystery and creative discretion with poignant and timely disclosures in her latest novel, Watersong, left me aching to know more but not in a manner that felt tiresome or tedious, a distinction that felt particularly salient to me and my personal taste as a reader. In short, she is a master of literary suspense.
Shouji, our protagonist, begins work at a mysterious company that offers ‘listening’ services to its prestigious clients. Following a complication with one of his company’s most powerful clients, Shouji must leave Akakawa. But his girlfriend, Youko, is nowhere to be found. Haunted by dreams of drowning and the words of a fortune-teller who warned him of three women with water in their names, Shouji travels to Tokyo to track the ever-elusive Youko down. The narrative that follows is equal parts mystical, mesmerising, and mysterious whilst also offering poignant insights into the intersection between one’s past and future, love lost and love found, and the broader human condition.
I devoured this novel in a single setting. A delectable, easy read and in my humble opinion, ideal company during these long, cold winter nights we’ve been experiencing as of late.
- Carolina
6 years after being shortlisted for the David Uniapon award for an unpublished manuscript, Sixty-Seven Days has finally been released upon the world, and what a joy that is! Set in Redfern, the novel charts the budding romance between Evie, a young Wiradjuri woman attending university, and James, who fall in love over the span of, you guessed it, 67 days. While this is a largely light and love filled story, there are undercurrents of misogynistic violence and darkness from Evie’s past that threaten to unmoor her newfound love. At its core, Sixty-Seven Days is about the enduring and liberating nature of love, in both the romantic and familial sense. The love from her large Wiradjuri family and their connection and commitment to each other, the community and their Country emanates throughout this novel. A formidable debut from Yvonne Weldon!
- Stella
265 King St
Newtown 2042 NSW Australia
Monday - Friday: 9.30am - 8pm
Saturday: 10am - 8pm
Sunday: 10am - 6pm
Ph: (02) 9557 8700
Email: books@betterread.com.au
If you would like to purchase a book, you can order from our website and collect at the shop when your order is ready. You can also call us on (02) 9557 8700, email us at books@betterread.com.au or message us on social media.
Click here for the latest information
Check out our Youtube page for Zoom events you may have missed.