Ash – Louise Wallace

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS

Thea is a veterinarian on maternity leave, called back in just before disaster strikes. Ash has a focus on motherhood, misogyny, female expression, rage and Mother Nature. This novella is presented creatively with prose, poetry, footnotes and unique typesetting.

Work is a holiday and I smile into the beautiful quiet.

●  Ash is a small book but delivers a real literary punch. I read this in one sitting and was so wowed I went right back and read it again. There are no wasted words and its amazing how in so few words Wallace can build such full characters and storylines.

The narrative is reinforced in several ways, in footnotes which contain another version of the story, creative/arty presentation of key information and metaphorically with Mother Earth mimicking Thea’s rage. Usually I dislike this kind of presentation but it really worked here, especially to reinforce the misogyny that working mothers face.

The book has a kind of rural noir feel, where the small mindedness and remoteness of country life can swallow you up. Animals as well as people are given attention and all receive plenty of mothering and care in these pages. – Rachel

Published 2024
Te Herenga Waka University Press
160 pages