The Slap

This book was an amazing read - the author has done a wonderful job portraing this incident through the eyes of numerous witnesses and readers can identify with the different themes and conflicting beliefs held within its pages - I highly recommend this to any book lovers!

| really, really, really wanted to like this book. In fact, 3 chapters in, I wanted to be the first to say that this was the book of the year, but then something happened - the last chapter. I could even go as far as saying, it was the last 10 pages that probably ruined this book for me. I really loved what Tsiolkas did with this novel. He got me thinking. He got me to talk to people in the office and get them passionate about this tale and suss out from others what they would do in this situation. He got me to think like a father, to think like a parent. Then in an instant, he questioned my morals as a single person and my view on life without kids. Heck, he even got me to think about monogamy! But what enraged me about this book at the end was the path it decided to finish off on instead of actually addressing the crux of the story - the slap. I was left unsatisfied with the ending but enriched by the journey. I would still recommend this book, but I need someone to talk to about the ending.

This is a very well written story. Too bad there were very few characters worth getting to know. All the reviews say that this is a true representation of modern Australain society - I hope not. The only truth I've come across is the multi-cultural group of friends. Other than that I don't know of anyone who behaves or speaks like this group do. I know the book is supposed to be about the slap, (and half way through I was thinking they all deserved a slap), but the lack of connection I felt for the characters detracted from the theme. I liked the teenagers best, they had better morals than the adults.

This book is very easy to get into. Growing up in Melbourne I felt like I was walking the pavement through this book. Good talking point. Great over a good bookclub with a few wines discussing such an important topic. Loved it.