WE WERE NOT MEN by Campbell Mattinson

 

In the opening pages of this novel, two small boys, 9 year old twins Eden and Jon, are orphaned. Both suffering injuries, physical and emotional, in the accident that took their parents away from them. Dealing with her own grief from the recent death of the boys' grandfather, their step grandmother Bobbie, takes the boys in. You are already wondering how is anyone going to come out of this as a fully functioning human being. But children as we know are surprisingly resilient and ever-adaptable to the challenges around them It seems as long as there is just one person who they know cares for and loves them, then things tend to have a habit of turning out ok. 

So it with Eden and Jon. Jon is the narrator, the observer. The story covers the years from  the accident - age 9 till their late teens - ten very formative years for these two. For a start they never really know if Bobbie actually wants to be their 'mother', if she is capable of loving again after her losing her husband, then her step-son, his wife, leaving two badly little boys with no one else to take them in. Such a responsibility and sheer work for a not-so-young woman. The boys find huge comfort in each other, but most of all it is water that provides the most comfort. Eden's injuries and recovery mean that land based pursuits are hard on his body, so the medium of water and swimming comes to save the mental and emotional lives of these two. Gifted swimmers, all that each other needs, they are instant winners on the local swimming circuit. The pressure, expectations, enormous discipline, sacrifices mind games and exhaustion of high level sport are insightful to read, the minutiae of the swimming races tense and exacting, the competition between two people who love and need each other more than anything fascinating to see. 

And naturally along comes a complication that threatens to unravel completely the bond between the two. Being Australia let's not forget a bush fire either that threatens everything they boys have left. Like a lot of writing coming out of Australia in the last few years, it is not simply a story being told in matter of fact straightforward language. Authors like Tim Winton have paved the way for a greater sensitivity in writing, especially by male authors. Like Markus Zusak's Bridge of Clay,  this story rocks the family love, the bond and tenderness between brothers, the world through a child's eyes, the search for purpose. It is almost as if it has become 100% ok for Australian men to finally explore and be comfortable with the softer, more nuanced sides of themselves, to be ok with being emotional and fully engaged with feelings. One doesn't have to be that tough, mean emotionally disengaged man we so often see. If you liked Bridge of Clay you will love this.