Plenty (John Dale, Xoum)

Isolated coastal town Plenty isn’t an easy place to make a living or build a future, but for Jed White, it’s the only home he’s ever known. But everything changes when a boat crashes on the rocks one night and the refugees it contained take up shelter at a nearby property. The new arrivals bring a host of changes, from the promised new highway to the enigmatic Ashley Page—who is living at the property and helping refugees adapt—and of course the media circus that accompanies the government-ordered refugee facility. Jed watches as his town is divided by fear and hatred of the new arrivals, observing as the life he has always known is changed forever. John Dale’s timely novella Plenty examines the impact of refugees on a small community through the eyes of an older Jed looking back on his 17-year-old self. Unfortunately, Jed is a difficult character to connect with and his narrative voice is somewhat lacklustre and inauthentic. Plenty is an uncomfortable portrayal of small-town life with an interesting premise and a chance to tell a fascinating story, but fails to develop the characters or situations with enough depth to evoke sympathy or fully engage with the audience. 

Meg Whelan works at the Hill of Content bookshop in Melbourne

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

Category: Reviews