Living on Hope Street

Demet Divaroren

Living on Hope Street
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Allen & Unwin
Country
Australia
Published
24 May 2017
Pages
256
ISBN
9781760292096

Living on Hope Street

Demet Divaroren

Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Writing for Young Adults 2018

We all love someone. We all fear something. Sometimes they live right next door - or even closer.

 Kane will do everything he can to save his mother and his little brother Sam from the violence of his father, even if it means becoming a monster himself. Mrs Aslan will protect the boys no matter what - even though her own family is in pieces. Ada wants a family she can count on, while she faces new questions about herself. Mr Bailey is afraid of the refugees next door, but his worst fear will take another form. And Gugulethu is just trying to make a life away from terror.

 On this street, everyone comes from different places, but to find peace they will have to discover what unites them. A deeply moving, unflinching portrait of modern Australian suburban life.

Review

Living on Hope Street is the impressive debut novel of Turkish–Australian writer and co-editor of the acclaimed Coming of Age: Growing Up Muslim in Australia anthology, Demet Divaroren.

Brothers Kane and Sam remain constantly vigilant around their volatile fly-in/ fly-out father, Dean. When their mother Angie is hospitalised after another violent attack, Kane and Sam are taken into the care of their elderly neighbour, Mrs Aslan. Mrs Aslan dotes on the boys, a particularly cherished task as she’s estranged from her own daughter and yearns to be part of her granddaughter Ada’s life. In other houses on Hope Street, Vietnam War veteran Mr Bailey silently judges and is baffled by his neighbours, and little Gugulethu copes with her family’s recent arrival in Australia.

Divaroren weaves together the multiple narratives of Kane, Sam, Mrs Aslan, Angie, Mr Bailey, Gugulethu and Ada to create a gripping, moving and authentic picture of multicultural Australia. Together the narrators present perspectives from different levels of maturity, cultural backgrounds, sexual identities, family makeup and past experiences. The ripple effects of domestic violence are felt throughout Living on Hope Street. While younger brother Sam reacts with pantswetting and nightmares, teenager Kane is driven towards expressions of anger and violence, demonstrating how easily cycles of violence are perpetuated.

This is an intensely compassionate novel that deals with difficult and hurtful situations without shaming or blaming. While Dean is ultimately seen as being toxic and irredeemable, the reader witnesses the warm beginnings of his marriage, showing both why Angie finds it hard to end the relationship, and the role that alcoholism has played. Similarly, while many of Mr Bailey’s prejudiced beliefs and actions are hard to swallow, he is clearly suffering from PTSD and is able to demonstrate love and good intentions within his family relationships.

Despite the raw subject matter, this is a generous and hopeful look at the possibilities of contemporary Australian life. It’s the younger generation of Sam, Gugulethu, Kane and Ada who are able to transcend the hands they have been dealt, and exercise choice, restraint and kindness towards their neighbours. A highly recommended read for ages 14+.


Leanne Hall

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