February Book of the Month

Born Into This

by Adam Thompson

Born Into This, the first short story collection by emerging Aboriginal (Pakana) writer Adam Thompson, is nothing short of brilliant! Each of the 16 stories are immediately immersive, drawing you into the Tasmanian setting that unifies them all, and the sharply written characters and compelling plots that make each unique. Thompson writes with incredible wit, instils emotion in every page and sheds light on issues of identity, racism, colonialism, belonging and heritage through a vast range of perspectives. From muttonbirding on the islands of Tassie to attending an Invasion Day rally in Launceston, this collection in no way paints Pakana people as homogenous, instead depicting a breadth of experiences and array of characters and events. As someone who generally steers clear of short stories, I was blown away by Thompson’s ability to pack so much into so few pages and at no point did I feel anything was lacking. Rather, each story ends in a way which make you contemplate what happens next, ruminate over the issues being addressed and evaluate exactly what it is to live in modern Australia (especially if you have a sign outside your house acknowledging that you live on stolen land). – Steph