The Transformations (Andrew Pippos, Picador)

Andrew Pippos’ The Transformations is a reflective and introspective novel for lovers of the written word, tracing the gentle and at times unforgiving arc of a life lived in the newsroom. The rhythm of the daily news cycle at Sydney’s National newspaper drives the story of George Desoulis, a mild-mannered, likeable and seasoned subeditor accustomed to solitude – until he is not. George’s carefully maintained solitary lifestyle and long-standing compliance with terms dictated by others are tested when his teenage daughter, Elektra, re-enters his world, and when the genuine and caring Cassandra, entangled in her own tricky family dynamics, walks into his life. The intricacies of parenthood and responsibility play out delicately throughout the novel. Amid the pulse of the newsroom, readers witness George’s love and loss, history and trauma. Pippos pays tribute to the special breed of journalists and subeditors who may seem to have ‘ink running through their veins’ yet possess a beating heart and a story of their own. As past hurts are reconsidered and resilience emerges in small shifts, the uncertain fate of newsrooms in the digital age lingers in the background. Following his Miles Franklin–shortlisted debut, Lucky’s, Pippos affirms himself as a writer of nuance, care and insight. The Transformations is a tender, character-driven novel for readers of Christos Tsiolkas, reminding us that life is never as black and white as the ink on a page.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Shannon Hillmann is a community programs and learning officer from South Australia. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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