This has been a hectic few days. The good news is I finished Australian Robbie Arnott’s latest book Dusk and really loved it.
What’s it about? Let’s see how Chat GPT explains it:
“Dusk” is Robbie Arnott’s fourth novel (published October 8, 2024 by Pan Macmillan), weaving myth, nature, and the human condition into a compelling Tasmanian-set thriller.
🌄 Setting & Plot
Tasmanian Highlands: The story unfolds amid the island’s wild, high-elevation terrain—boulder-strewn, snow-swept, haunted by ancient bones—emphasising the raw connection between humans and the natural world. The Hunt for Dusk: A South American puma, introduced to curb feral deer, has gone rogue—attacking sheep and humans. In response, graziers place a bounty on the animal they’ve named Dusk. The Renshaw Twins: Iris and Floyd, hardened siblings from a troubled past, decide to hunt the puma for the reward. Accompanied by a mysterious outsider, Patrick Lees, they venture into lethal terrain.
🔍 Themes & Style
Predator vs. Prey: Arnott unpacks this duality across species and humans alike—hunting becomes a metaphor for greed, survival, and moral ambiguity. Nature’s Majesty & Violence: Expect gorgeously vivid prose (“rock and water… mirror tarns”, currawongs with “fierce yellow eyes”), painting the landscape as simultaneously enchanting and unforgiving. Mythical & Gothic Elements: From enigmatic fossil bones to whispered Aboriginal histories, it blends myth and mystery into ecological realism—occasionally unsettling in how it handles Indigenous presence. Sibling Bonds & Redemption: Central to the novel is Iris and Floyd’s fierce, caring connection. Though orphans of violence, their mutual love offers a path to healing and redemption.
I listened to it on Audible and the narrator was Zoe Carides who I believe used to act on some tv programs several years ago. She does a very good job. (note:She actually had a role in the film Death in Brunswick.)
I just liked everything about this book. The characters and landscape are stand outs. There is a twist or two I didn’t see coming though probably should have. Our book group will be discussing it in August.
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On the other hand we have some personal stuff going on that has been sad. A friend and neighbour of 36 years has just been taken into Palliative care at the hospital. We knew this would happen but it is tricky as her two sisters live on the mainland and I’m not sure how close they are. There are a few eye rolling moments when it comes up. But the problem is Pickles. Pickles is her beautiful cat the two of us picked up at Ten Lives Cat Centre about 3 yrs ago after her previous cat died. Pickles is a beautiful indoor cat who is still home as no one is available to care for her at the moment.
So we are taking care of her as long as she is in the house. But the dilemma is her future.
Though I’ve not seen her as she runs and hides under the bed when we enter the house. Being an indoor cat she is not used to many people coming over. She hid when the ambos came the other day and I think she is still hiding. I need to go over there with a torch (flashlight).
She is eating well though as her dish is always empty. And we keep her litter clean.
Our friend loves this cat and we promised her she would be cared for but by whom? My veterinarian friend is Pickles’ (I never know where the apostrophe goes when a word ends in s.) vet so we will discuss it this next week. I can’t give her away as we don’t know how long our friend will be in hospital or if she may yet spend time in her home again. We can’t board her. We can’t bring her to our home as we have two dogs and two adult cats. We might create a storm if we introduce an adult cat into the fold. So I guess for now we just keep caring for her in her own home. Stay tuned. 🤔
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I haven’t done any photography though I see our photo club is taking a winter excursion up to the Central Highlands on Tuesday. There has been snow up there recently but I think it is clear now. I have not decided if I will go but it would probably do me good to get out with a group of friends and take photos. It is a beautiful area.
This coming week a couple of other friends and I are seeing Jane Austen’s story Emma at the theatre. That should be fun. I always love live theatre.
So for now, we are going one day at a time and staying in the present moment. Outside of worrying about Pickles and waiting to see if the severe weather warning of rain and high winds eventuates later today we are all fine.
Mental health plan for this coming week:
- Start a new book 📕📖📗
- Exercise 🧘🏼♀️🤽🏼♂️🤸🏽♀️
- Journal 📓🖍️🖊️
- Take a load of unwanted things from a cleanup to auction and get some cash then buy a coffee with a friend. 💲☕️☕️
Have a good week.
Travellin' Penguin 