I finished reading this book the other day and finally now I get around to writing about it. The title is called Brother Fish, written by the acclaimed author Bryce Courtney. I didn't really know what it was about, having seen it before in bookstores but never picking up the book to check out the blurb in the dust jacket. When I did buy it, I didn't even do that either, instead picking it for it's sheer volume and the fact that two hardbacks for ten dollars was a total bargain.
The book revolves around the life of Jacko, or Jack McKenzie, a man whose not-so-easy upbringing in a small island community of Queen Island off Tasmania in Australia goes through the trials and tribulations of a poor fisherfolk family, an interrupted education, the atrocities of war, and then the life after experiencing such tragedy as war. Along the way you are greeted the wealth and depth of characters that are his family, the community on Queen Island, soldiers, prisoners of war, his captors in war, and his steadfast rock, Jimmy Pentacost Oldcorn.
Initially, I wasn't sure what to make of it through the start. The premise had something to do with a fishing business, but while there was mention of fishing, it seemed a bit skewed. Then came the chapters on war and this is where things really started to pick up. Unfortunately, the ending chapters seemed a bit strange to me as while there was continuity of theme, the concentration of the story turned out to be completely different to what I had expected from the blurb.
In reality, it isn't a story about these guys setting up business in fishing. It is really a book with the biographical experiences of three main characters. Nothing wrong with that really especially when their lives are connected through powerful events. It is just a tad misleading thats all.
The writing is as usual quite crisp and well researched, descriptive and powerful. What bothered me though was his attempts of accent. I guess you kind of lose the effect though if you write someone's accent in perfect English because you just don't get the same "voice" inside your head if you've never heard that accent, and so by writing it as it sounds, reading it in your head voice produces it. I just dislike reading that kind of English though.
It is a good read. I did enjoy it. There were some points that annoyed me like the English and the misleading plot of sorts. If you want a fictious account of being a PoW during the Korean War, based on good research, then pick this one up and give it a go.
The book revolves around the life of Jacko, or Jack McKenzie, a man whose not-so-easy upbringing in a small island community of Queen Island off Tasmania in Australia goes through the trials and tribulations of a poor fisherfolk family, an interrupted education, the atrocities of war, and then the life after experiencing such tragedy as war. Along the way you are greeted the wealth and depth of characters that are his family, the community on Queen Island, soldiers, prisoners of war, his captors in war, and his steadfast rock, Jimmy Pentacost Oldcorn.
Initially, I wasn't sure what to make of it through the start. The premise had something to do with a fishing business, but while there was mention of fishing, it seemed a bit skewed. Then came the chapters on war and this is where things really started to pick up. Unfortunately, the ending chapters seemed a bit strange to me as while there was continuity of theme, the concentration of the story turned out to be completely different to what I had expected from the blurb.
In reality, it isn't a story about these guys setting up business in fishing. It is really a book with the biographical experiences of three main characters. Nothing wrong with that really especially when their lives are connected through powerful events. It is just a tad misleading thats all.
The writing is as usual quite crisp and well researched, descriptive and powerful. What bothered me though was his attempts of accent. I guess you kind of lose the effect though if you write someone's accent in perfect English because you just don't get the same "voice" inside your head if you've never heard that accent, and so by writing it as it sounds, reading it in your head voice produces it. I just dislike reading that kind of English though.
It is a good read. I did enjoy it. There were some points that annoyed me like the English and the misleading plot of sorts. If you want a fictious account of being a PoW during the Korean War, based on good research, then pick this one up and give it a go.
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