I have now read three novels by Malcolm Knox. Summerland, Jamaica and now A Private Man. And I am glazed by awe.
His style reminds me of the engaging minutiae of Ian McEwan, but more engaging for me I think because of the Australiana. Complex sentence structure that flows so well in the brain. Thought-processes crafted to appear like stream of consciousness.
His choice of words and erection of sentence build a complete picture of character such that everybody is full to bursting with traits that others would gloss over or ignore completely. And yet it drew me in so completely.
The plot centres around several characters from the same family. One a father who had died and is a GP. The other four are his wife and three sons. The three sons are a comfortable registrar, an estranged pornographer and an Australian Test Cricketer horribly out of form.
Every aspect of life is examined down to the space between husband and wife prior to sleep in their double bed.
I highly recommend Malcolm Knox's intricate brand of character analysis. I will be seeking out a copy of The Life, his fourth novel. I thank him for his work.
Tom
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