It is always interesting to see the emotion and passion a book can generate. It makes for a great meeting and wonderful discussion. So delivered the Deborah Forster novel The Book of Emmett with our group this month.

We had a big turn out for this meeting, thirteen of us around the table, so there were plenty of opinions to get through. Generally this book was, for want of a better word, enjoyed, although most admitted to finding it disturbing and confronting. Domestic violence is not a pretty topic, ever, so the pain and abuse suffered within these pages was felt deeply by the majority of us. The atmosphere of dread and tension within the house was strong, written well enough to bring back memories of violence experienced by some of us in childhood. It was thought very Australian, relevant and believable. Tera commented that she had a love/hate relationship with this book; a human condition that ironically could be found throughout the story.

There were a few who were not impressed with Forster’s writing. Anne and Carol felt it to be clearly journalism writing that ticked all the boxes needed for the ‘complete’ novel. There was no solid story foundation and they wanted more background on Emmett’s history and why he became an abuser.

Regardless of the differing opinions, we still managed a wide ranging discussion on many topics with an overall view that this was a worthwhile book addressing an all too real problem, today and in the past. Looking for something that will pull at your heart-strings? This is it. ( )

Reminded me of Angela's Ashes but set in Footscray - poverty, too many kids, very abusive,alcoholic father caring mother unable to bring herself to stand up for the kids and leave him. More than just harrowing violent childhood scenes the book aslo explores the family much later as adults and when they bury their father. An engrossing page-turning read but far too much crying by everyone (me too). ( )

Okay, I didn't finish this one.

I had to work too hard in the initial chapter (trying to work out how many children and the family relationships did me in; and no, this is not a blended family). I don't mind working a little hard, but this was just over-the-top "let's be clever and make it really difficult". Once I got past that, it was beautifully written but I wasn't quite sure how much I need to be told about growing up poor with an abusive alcoholic father in Footscray, a working class suburb of Melbourne, in the 1950s. It's no picnic, but that's nothing new to anyone with half a brain.

I feel a bit mean not finishing this book, because it's so well written, and because it's obviously written both from the heart and from personal experience (although she has denied its autobiographical). But it was the wrong book for me at this time. Emmett Brown, the alcoholic father in question, apparently does become sympathetic in the end, but I didn't want to forgive him anything. He poisoned his childrens' lives, and I wanted to keep my hate pure for him. ( )

I found this story grim but poignant. It opens with the death of Emmett Brown and we soon realise that he was not a much loved father. He was an abusive alcoholic with a winsome personality when sober. His children walk on eggs around him, not wanting to trigger one of his violent outbursts. At times I did wonder where Anne, their Mother was during some of his violent outbursts. Deborah Forster conjures such vivid pictures I wondered how much of this story was autobiographical. Very well-written , and as a NZer I could relate to the social setting and era. ( )

Debut novel - shortlisted for Miles Franklin Award 2010.

Forster’s a good writer, no doubt about it – but she’s chosen tough territory. Family miseries are unlikely to have wide appeal. It’s to Forster’s credit that the quality of her writing and her sense of humour are strong enough to engage the reader with this tough material.

This is the story of Emmett Brown and the damage he inflicted on his family with his drinking, violence, gambling and selfishness. The family consists of the long suffering wife Anne, and their four children – Louisa, Rob, Peter and Jessie (plus Daniel who died along the way). The story opens with the burial of Emmett then tracks back several decades and traces the family’s journey to that point. It gradually becomes clear why the family members are so conflicted and tense at the graveside.

Despite all his many flaws Emmett did have a couple of redeeming features that meant something to the children – his love of poetry, learning and music, his enthusiasms and spontaneity, his (very occasional) tenderness – but mostly his volatility kept the children walking on eggshells, living in fear of the next explosion. Often on the receiving end of their father’s bad temper the children try to support and protect each other – and the two older children feel guilt when young Daniel dies having hit his head fleeing from the father. They feel in some way it was due to their failure to protect him.

Louisa has every justification for hating her father …. and yet… when he dies she is surprised to feel both release and sorrow. She realizes that there is a strand of love plaited in with her hate. Despite all the anguish and pain he caused his family when Emmett dies every one of them is touched – remembering the good times, showing compassion for him, and fighting to ensure he’s treated with dignity and compassion.

The book has a great sense of place. The picture of Footscray in the ? 70’s is built up through lots of small details– bluestone laneways, the plants in the gardens, signs on the street, the food in the fridge. The text is sprinkled with Aussie idioms and it also seems to catch something of the Australian character and spirit. ( )