In Lonnie's Shadow by Chrissie Michaels
Ford Street Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781876462918, p/b, 334pp.
(For mature readers, 14+ years, Australian author). Highly recommended.
Set in the 1860s in inner city Melbourne, this interesting tale is
framed around archaeological finds from the present day - 'a retrieval
of memories overlaid by time.' An inventory at the beginning of
the book lists items found at Casselden Place included in a public
exhibition. These items become the chapter headings and the
action of the chapter explains how these items have come about.
This imaginative use of subjects for a chapter heading by no means
takes away from the story, and the reader soon becomes involved in the
life and times of young Lonnie McGuinness, caught in slum life, trying
to eek out a living with illegal horse racing, yet aspiring to become a
jockey at some reputable stables, if he can escape the oppressive
backstreets.
Murderers and thieves abound in this seedy world - a little easier for
the wily Lonnie to survive but not for young girls, in particularly his
dear friend Pearl, who is tossed about in miserable circumstances;
everyone is witness to many harsh cruelties.
Michaels writes with a true sense of the times; poverty swamps
everyone; homes and streets are awash with rubbish and the accompanying
overpowering smells.
Life is hard and it takes fortitude to survive these times. The
descriptions of character and place are evocative and are confidently
authentic.
Also, it is worth checking the Museum of Victoria's website
to get a sense of the
times so well described by the author.
Full of tense excitement, with the ongoing adventures of Lonnie as he
battles to avoid being branded a criminal, through little fault of his
own but of his circumstances, In Lonnie's Shadow is highly recommended.
Julie Wells