Privacy (Genna De Bont, Fourth Estate)

Warren ‘Wren’ Fox is a 35-year-old who lives with his mother in a one-bedroom house in semi-rural Victoria. He works for his neighbour Richard in his musical instrument repair business, breeds rats in a shed, and does odd jobs for people in the nearby town—simple, repetitive tasks with clear guidelines. Wren has led a sheltered life, and while he’s capable of taking care of himself, he’s not what most people consider ‘normal’. So when he comes across an explicit online journal written by Richard’s sister, we start to realise the gaps between his perspective and others’. Wren has always been devoted to Madeline, but he’s not the only one interested in her, and she’s not the only one being watched. The author of The Pepper Gate (UQP) explores obsession, communication and impairment in a second novel that burns slowly but eventually rewards. Its cover art and subtitle—‘A story of obsession and spying’—suggest more titillation than it delivers, but Privacy is a quiet story, as befits its narrator, and Genna de Bont takes her time to lay out all the pieces. When the picture eventually becomes clear, it’s worth the wait. This midlist literary novel should appeal to readers who favour nuance over action. 

Lachlan Jobbins is a reviewer, editor and ex-bookseller. He is one of the presenters of For the Love of Books on STUDIO (Foxtel)

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews