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danjk's review
4.0
Harmless, the third book by Julienne Van Loon, who incidentally taught me at Curtin University, is a tightly woven story that surrounds 8 year old Amanda, elderly Thai man, Rattuwat, and convict and father, Dave. It is not easy to surmise the contents of this novelette, except to say that it is an empathetic and bleak story that is a modern day fable about deals with the cultural disparity between one of our closest neighbours (Thailand), as well as love and betrayal.
It is not a book I would usually pick up, but thankfully due to my connection with the author, I did. I have read other tutor's works in the past and have been left very disappointed, particularly considering they were supposed to have been teaching me how to write. It is the second book of Julienne's I have read, the first being Road Story. I have been impressed by both titles and have was quite taken with her gritty, yet clean prose. I found the story to be fresh and brutally honest . The character's stories blended in seamlessly together and the in-depth research added to it's believably.
It is not a book I would usually pick up, but thankfully due to my connection with the author, I did. I have read other tutor's works in the past and have been left very disappointed, particularly considering they were supposed to have been teaching me how to write. It is the second book of Julienne's I have read, the first being Road Story. I have been impressed by both titles and have was quite taken with her gritty, yet clean prose. I found the story to be fresh and brutally honest . The character's stories blended in seamlessly together and the in-depth research added to it's believably.
sarahthornton's review
Legitimately brutal and set off some PTSD.
Amazingly well done but damn.
Amazingly well done but damn.
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