A Wigwam for a Goose's Bridle

Melina Marchetta is best known for the book and subsequent move that catapulted this high school English teacher to fame: Looking for Alibrandi.  Growing up in Australia in the late 90s and early 00s, this was THE coming of age story.  I liked it, but for me she offered something better.

Saving Francesca was released in 2003.  A story of a Year 11 girl dealing with her mother’s mental illness, amidst other life and adolescent issues. And for this Year 11 girl who was dealing with her mother’s mental illness, Saving Francesca saved me.

When I heard there was a new Marchetta novel on the market, I requested it for my birthday, knowing nothing about it.  Picked it up the other night and started reading.  Classic Marchetta.  So easy to read. Within pages I was bawling. Her ability to describe the human condition, human emotions, life, just astounds me.  And then I realised: Jimmy Hailer, I know this character!  It’s 7 or 8 years later, a follow on story about Jimmy’s life, with lovely crossovers into the lives of the rest of the friendship group, including dear Frankie.

And isn’t it funny, all these years later, adult me is now dealing with how to become a mother, dealing with my own mother’s cancer journey.  And the story isn’t Frankie’s this time, it’s Rosie’s, but here we are again, Marchetta cutting just a little too close, making me cry, and yet bringing me hope.

This could be read as a standalone novel, but if you haven’t read Saving Francesca, I still think you should.