LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
BOOKED Solid |
Reviewed by Rebecca James |
Sole Survivor, by Derek Hansen, 1997 (Aus) & 2000 (US)
Survivor Part III: The Homo Expedition Gay people have perfected the art of survival. Thanks to my fellow former-Girl Scout-lesbians, we will always have adequate shelter and a warm fire; with the help of the guys, we will always have sleeping bags and tents that match and potpourri in the latrines. Okay, not fair, obviously some of the guys made it through Eagle Scouts or there wouldn't have been that huge fuss about gay men in the Boy Scouts (don't straight men like nice smelling latrines?) Actually, the survival I'm referring to is a little different. The GLBT community is extremely diverse but most of us have dealt with some very difficult situations. Whether dealing with family and friends, society in general, or our own internal homophobia, coming out (and remaining closeted) requires a great deal of emotional strength. Not only do we survive, but we even have a great disco theme song to hum and dance to when we need extra encouragement. There is a significant amount of satisfaction in survival, particularly in the face of both physical and emotional adversity. Derek Hansen may not have been writing specifically about the GLBT community, but his story speaks to us all. Sole Survivor is the fictional story of three people who left society for solitary living on New Zealand's Great Barrier Island. Each made the decision based on their individual miserable experiences with everyday life. They were searching for their own inner proof of survival, hoping to find it alone in the unforgiving hills of a nearly barren piece of land. What they found instead was each other and a lesson that none of us should forget: true survival eludes us until we can build a community of compassionate support with others. Red O'Hara arrived on the island more than a decade ago severely traumatized by his wartime experiences. Held prisoner by the Japanese and forced to work on the Burma Railroad, Red is plagued by bloody flashbacks and his own guilt. Only his strenuous routines and obsession with hygiene keep his mind in check. Alone since the death of his friends and lover during the war, Red has developed his own quirky and particular ways of managing life. Red is happiest when he is in tune with his world and everything is running smoothly. In combat, there is no room for mistakes. To survive, one must have discipline and order. Most of the people on the island have grown used to Red's version of being one with nature: the sight of his bare asstan, leathery, and thinin the general store, on his boat, or weeding his garden is no longer shocking. The occasional tourist is surprised, but everyone else just knows that Red is Red and it is best to let him be. Angus McLeod, a retired Scottish police officer, is more than willing to accommodate Red's need for solitude. In fact, he would prefer that the "redheaded madman" stay as far away as possible, and that goes for the rest of the island, too. Angus seems perfectly content with his lonely life, hiding in his cabin and writing children's stories about the little boy he never had. The adventures of little Hamish delight his far away readers, but deep down, Angus knows that stories are no substitute for an unrealized dream. He vigorously defends the thin layer of denial he has constructed. The less contact with the outside worldwomen in particularthe better. These two men occupy two of the three houses on the northern tip of the Great Barrier Island. The owner of the third home just recently died; Rosie Tretheway of Auckland (mainland New Zealand) is the new owner. In Rosie, Angus and Red find the one woman who can turn everything they have fought for upside down. Their solitude, their carefully constructed defenses, every part of their illusion of survival changes with the arrival of Rosie. Defiant, intelligent, strong, and just plain fed up with life, Rosie arrives on the island with a will to survive that surprises even herself. Naturally, Red and Angus do not make the best welcoming committee. The two reluctantly join forces to scare Rosie off the island forever, but they are quickly divided by Rosie's, ahem, feminine charms. As the three neighbors sort out their new relationships, a much more dangerous threat to their survival develops. A Japanese trawler captain begins extensive illegal over-fishing in the Island's protected waters. His actions could result in irreversible damage to their food supply, not to mention the marine environment. Red, Angus, and Rosie must try to work together and with New Zealand's quirky, understaffed, navy patrol to save their peaceful home. The result is a riveting tale of boats, bombs, and yes, babies. Derek Hansen's Sole Survivor takes a smart, funny, and unforgiving look at the survivor in all of us. Sole Survivor emphasizes the need for community and support, even for the most impenetrable loners in our midst. Hansen points out the cracks in our personal armor and makes you laugh while he does it. Sole Survivor is thoroughly enjoyable and a great example of quality contemporary fiction. It is Hansen's first novel published in the U.S.; his first four books were considered too complex for the American market. Yikes. With July fourth just around the corner, it's your patriotic duty to make this novel a success and demand more! Enjoy. Rebecca James is spending her third summer in Rehoboth Beach. She's supporting her reading addiction (and college tuition) using her training in massage at Spa by the Sea on Baltimore Avenue. She may be reached at beachmassage@hotmail.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 8, June 29, 2001. |