Here's an Australian novel by Campbell Mattinson, We Were Not Men, that took 30 years to write. It tells the story of twins Eden and Jon Hardacre who are orphaned at around nine years of age and grow up under the care of their grandmother, Bobbie.
After the death of their parents in a car crash and recovery from their own injuries the boys throw themselves into swimming and become champions for their ages. The Rio Olympics beckon. This book seems to be inspired by a true story and maybe it is as Mattinson is a journalist and the story's genesis was an article he wrote in the 1990s.
Campbell Mattinson is a vivid writer and there are some wonderful passages in this story describing the boys relationship. I particularly found the descriptions of swimming to be most effective. I enjoyed the arc of the story and overall it was a satisfying read.
The dialogue did not work for me so much. The character of Bobbie seems to express not much more than aphorisms throughout the story and this tended to be the case with the other characters. I can only think this was a deliberate decision on the part of the author and the editors, but I wanted more from the characters in their dialogue.
With the Olympics on currently and the Australian women swimmers going so well the timing of my reading of this book was fortuitous.
Recommended for anyone really. Until next time, peace and love.
