Lonely Mouth, the second novel from Sydney journalist Jacqueline Maley, eschews modern plotting drama with a careful unfolding of the life of Matilda, an orderly worker in a high-end restaurant. As a child, she was abandoned by her mother, as was her much younger half-sister, Lara, now a beautiful model. When Lara and the father who had also abandoned her, even earlier in life, both come to town, Matilda’s life gradually spirals into a new territory, one in which she has to reckon with longing, morality, and love. The book unwinds slowly, with plenty of immersive detail about the circumscribed worlds of Matilda, and is written in a gentle, detailed prose style that captivates. The author treats us with so much tenderness and subtle humor that the reading experience feels warm and quite unlike most literary fare these days. Definitely recommended: watch out for Lonely Mouth in awards.
Book, movie/show, and album reviews
