Allayne Webster, Our Little Secret.
Omnibus Books, 2007.
Finally someone has written what people need to hear! And not a moment too soon: as it stands one in every three women in Australia have been victims of sexual harassment. Think about it- your aunts, grandmas, sisters, friends, colleagues, the people standing in line with you at the supermarket... one in every three.
Our Little Secret is Allayne's first book, and was selected from thousands by Australian publisher Omnibus, printed recently this year. It was launched on the 3rd of August, to an excellent turnout at the SA Writers Centre, with MP Nick Xenophon giving a speech, hailing the book as a catalyst for social change. "Now is the time for abuse to come out of the shadows" he said, and this book certainly does shed light on something most of us would rather not see.
Set in a small country town where appearance is everything and nothing is ever secret, the story is told from the perspective of 14 year old Edwina. Her naïvety in the first few chapters of the novel is perhaps a little too exaggerated, but the authenticity and almost harsh directness with which the story continues after the first time Edwina is assaulted more than compensates for this.
Teenagers, young adults, parents; everybody should read this. For those who can relate to the story line, the strong protagonist and positive ending is ultimately a very good experience, and perhaps a good counselling tool for those who aren't ready to talk. For those who have a friend or relative who has been in a situation like Edwina's, the novel offers valuable advice and insight on helping others cope.
Rating: 9/10
1 comment:
First before I get to the book I like your bringing home the reality of the one in three women being a victim by the supermarket queue or aunts and sisters and so on.
Being male I didn't really know about it until I was 32 when I found out two of my female relations had been abused. Then ... one night a few years later I was with a female friend and we were talking about the subject of sexual abuse of girls. I said to her, 'out of six women I know really well you're the only one who has been lucky. Her reply started, 'well actually...'
I think Allayne Webster has been gutsy in writing this book and Omnibus gutsy in publishing it. Allayne confronts this dark secret of our society with humour which could have gone wrong but instead helps the reader digest what is going on.
The message gets through, and that is, just watch out. Some guys, no doubt the really skilled charmers, just don't respect boundaries.
I hope as many girls as possible get to read this book, or at least hear about it. Knowing about what these guys are up to is no guarantee, but forewarned is forearmed.
I give it 9 out of 10.
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