A review by stanro
Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This has hovered near the top of my TBR for quite a while, without me  getting it started. It’s funny. It’s serious. It’s a crime story. There’s land rights and corruption and real estate ambition and gays, both female and male. And it’s a family story. An Aboriginal family story replete with words in Bundjalung Aboriginal language. With a son and brother everyone refers to, invariably, as Black Superman. And there’s mother Pretty Mary with cousins Tall Mary and Short Mary and daughters Donna, who disappeared 19 years ago and oft-estranged Kerry, and there’s the oldest child, the immensely angry and volatile Ken. 

There are some great turns of phrase. 
Of Ken: “He hung by his fingertips onto the ragged edge of his self-control.”

Of Uncle Richard: “His brow was creased like a well-folded certificate …”

The people in the family are well drawn. Though several of them behave in ways that are reprehensible, I found sympathy for them as their motivations and histories were revealed. Late in the book I was frequently on the edge of tears, so moving was the family’s story. 

These days, I greatly appreciate finding an admirable male character, and here’s one in an unexpected place - the very sympathetically drawn wise and calm Uncle Richard. 

I join the parade in praise of this book!

#areadersjourney
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