A Better Place – Stephen Daisley

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS

Two Kiwi brothers head off to WWII but only one comes home. A graphic, realistic portrayal of war that pulls no punches but also a tender story of grief and love amongst the brutality of conflict.

He saw the beating of his heart in the ragged flesh and knew he had to close off the main arteries. He bent forward, tore up handfuls of dirt and grass and pressed them into the mess where his foot had been. The welter of blood between his fingers slowed. He could feel the pulpiness of the flesh, the sharpness of the bones.

● Just when you think you’ve heard all the war stories, along comes Stephen Daisley and his historical contribution to New Zealand fiction. A Better Place is graphic and relentless and almost too much, but that’s what war was. Once I realised the horror wasn’t just a shocking opener to lure in the reader but rather the majority of the book, I gritted my teeth and settled in. There is stuff in here I hadn’t heard of before and couldn’t have imagined, and moments were absolutely heart-breaking. But there are also tender moments of brotherly love and camaraderie and bravery. And it’s all written in stunning prose that makes the book a real work of art. – Rachel

● My feelings are very mixed in regards to A Better Place. I have no doubt that this novel is an important addition to historical Aotearoa fiction and has created voices and stories for a group of men who would perhaps otherwise be voiceless. However, the grim reality of war followed by repressed 1940s New Zealand made for unpleasant reading. If you are after a slap around the face coupled with some brutal learning about life for New Zealand soldiers both during and after the war, A Better Place will certainly meet the brief. – Suzy

Published 2023
Text Publishing
224 pages