{"id":320,"date":"2017-05-06T07:27:24","date_gmt":"2017-05-06T07:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/2017\/05\/06\/httptheblurb-com-aureviewsthe-natural-way-of-things-by-charlotte-wood-book-review\/"},"modified":"2017-05-06T07:27:24","modified_gmt":"2017-05-06T07:27:24","slug":"httptheblurb-com-aureviewsthe-natural-way-of-things-by-charlotte-wood-book-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/httptheblurb-com-aureviewsthe-natural-way-of-things-by-charlotte-wood-book-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood – book review"},"content":{"rendered":"

In The Saturday Paper<\/a>, author Charlotte Wood describes her latest novel,\u00a0The Natural Way of Things<\/em>, as a \u201csledgehammer\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI like things that are subtle and elegant, but I\u2019ve written a sledgehammer.\u201d (The Saturday Paper, October 24, 2015)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Natural-Way-of-Things\"I can\u2019t think of a better way to describe this\u00a0novel. Reading Wood\u2019s\u00a0book was a visceral experience, creating tension in my body as I experienced emotions one after the other: anger, frustration, helplessness, horror, and deep sadness. It really did feel like I\u2019d been hit with a sledgehammer. You might wonder why I read it, since it affected me so much. Once I started, I\u00a0had<\/em> to finish, much in the same way Woods said she had<\/em> to write the book, despite many times feeling as though she couldn\u2019t do it. Her friends said it was an \u201cimportant book to be written.\u201d It\u2019s also an important book to be read.<\/p>\n

The Natural Way of Things<\/em>\u00a0centres on a group of women who find themselves imprisoned in a rundown, remote property surrounded by an electric fence. Two men are their gaolers; a woman is later introduced as a \u2018nurse\u2019.\u00a0The women are treated brutally; they are forced to wear strange, \u2018Amish\u2019 uniforms, their heads are shaved and they are talked to as if they are the lowest beings on earth. They are \u201cthe minister\u2019s-little-travel-tramp and that\u2019Skype-slut and the yuck-ugly-dog from the cruise ship; they are pig-on-a-spit and big-red-box, moll-number-twelve and bogan-gold-digger-gangbang-slut\u201d (p47). All of them have in common a sexual scandal with a powerful man \u2026 and the fact that they are female.\u00a0Underlying their callous, often vicious treatment, is the threat of rape \u2013 the only thing stopping the men is a contract they have apparently signed with the unknown entity behind the abductions.<\/p>\n

Told from the alternating viewpoints of\u00a0Verla and Yolanda, the story makes for horrifying reading\u00a0as the women reflect on their situation, and work through various coping strategies including denial anger, bargaining and acceptance. When the electricity goes off (with the exception of the fence) and food supplies run low, the\u00a0situation alters \u2013 the gaolers are now among the gaoled. The balance of power has shifted. Examples of sisterly love and courage emerge as the women work together to survive. But even with this element of hope, this ray of light, the overall novel is stark, gut-punching stuff.<\/p>\n

Wood says this is the hardest book she\u2019s ever written. For me, it was one of the hardest I\u2019ve ever read. I don\u2019t think a book has ever prompted such a visceral response in me before \u2013 I couldn\u2019t put it down, and then the day after, I was withdrawn\u00a0and\u00a0unsettled. Talking about it made me\u00a0angry \u2013 not because of the overall book, which is brilliant, but because of the way women are, and continue to be treated. Woods was inspired by reports like:<\/p>\n

\u2026the Hay Institution, where girls were locked up in the \u201960s and \u201970s, drugged, raped and forced to march while undertaking hard labour; Dianne Brimble, dying of a drug overdose after being preyed upon by eight men; the scapegoating of a David Jones employee after she complained of being sexually harassed by the chief executive; the woman sexually assaulted while asleep, and the ensuing degrading remarks from her professor about the case.\u00a0(The Saturday Paper, October 24, 2015)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Show me a woman who wouldn\u2019t be angry about that.<\/p>\n

Simply put,\u00a0The Natural Way of Things<\/em> is a stunning example of literature, allegory and talent. Read it \u2026 but make sure you\u2019re in a strong frame of mind. You will be challenged. I will add that this book won\u2019t suit everyone and it has had mixed reviews \u2013 not everyone can get through it. It\u2019s not the kind of book you read to \u201clike\u201d or \u201cenjoy\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s one you read to make you think.\u00a0The trailer below is compelling \u2013 have a look and if you think the book is for you, then add it\u00a0to your to-read list. Charlotte, despite what you went through, thank you for writing this.<\/p>\n

Available from good bookstores. My copy was courtesy of Allen & Unwin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Author:\u00a0Charlotte Wood
\nAllen & Unwin
\nRRP $29.99
\n<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Monique Mulligan<\/strong>
\nFor more of Monique Mulligan’s writing on books, check out Write Note Reviews<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In The Saturday Paper, author Charlotte Wood describes her latest novel,\u00a0The Natural Way of Things, as a \u201csledgehammer\u201d. \u201cI like things that are subtle and elegant, but I\u2019ve written a sledgehammer.\u201d (The Saturday Paper, October 24, 2015) I can\u2019t think of a better way to describe this\u00a0novel. Reading Wood\u2019s\u00a0book was a visceral experience, creating tension…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[48,15,2],"class_list":["post-320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-australian","tag-books","tag-post_tag"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood - book review -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/httptheblurb-com-aureviewsthe-natural-way-of-things-by-charlotte-wood-book-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood - book review -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In The Saturday Paper, author Charlotte Wood describes her latest novel,\u00a0The Natural Way of Things, as a \u201csledgehammer\u201d. \u201cI like things that are subtle and elegant, but I\u2019ve written a sledgehammer.\u201d (The Saturday Paper, October 24, 2015) I can\u2019t think of a better way to describe this\u00a0novel. 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Set in a small, humble monastery in the Monaro high country near Australia\u2019s Snowy Mountains mainly during the Covid years, the book follows one woman\u2019s search for meaning and a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Stone-Yard-Devotional.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10101,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-forgotten-letters-of-esther-durrant-kayte-nunn-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":320,"position":1},"title":"The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant (Kayte Nunn) – book review","author":"Andy Thompson","date":"July 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"This novel is an excellent example of how a book well and gently written has just as much power to affect as one written to surprise and propel.\u00a0\u00a0The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant reminds us that our most meaningful interactions are those that we come to by chance, and not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Forgotten-Letters.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12977,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/she-h-c-warner-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":320,"position":2},"title":"She (H.C. 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Someone who once worked in your office.\u00a0 Someone who once dated one of your friends.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hc-warner-large-edited.png?fit=800%2C657&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hc-warner-large-edited.png?fit=800%2C657&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hc-warner-large-edited.png?fit=800%2C657&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hc-warner-large-edited.png?fit=800%2C657&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11364,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/black-is-the-new-white-mtc-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":320,"position":3},"title":"Black is the New White (MTC) – theatre review","author":"Alex First","date":"October 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Black is the New White, not to be confused with the television series Orange is the New Black, is about racism, class and identity. Humour is the principle vehicle used to highlight inequity, but perhaps not as you might have expected it. Charlotte Gibson (Miranda Tapsell) is a hot shot\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theatre"","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rsz_mtc_black_is_the_new_white_photo_jeff_busby_1322.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rsz_mtc_black_is_the_new_white_photo_jeff_busby_1322.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rsz_mtc_black_is_the_new_white_photo_jeff_busby_1322.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rsz_mtc_black_is_the_new_white_photo_jeff_busby_1322.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":144883,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/birnam-wood-eleanor-catton-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":320,"position":4},"title":"Birnam Wood (Eleanor Catton) – book review","author":"Robert Goodman","date":"March 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Eleanor Catton shot to literary fame by becoming the youngest winner of the Booker Prize in 2013 for her luminous historical novel The Luminaries. Ten years later she returns with Birnam Wood, much more contemporary, no less New Zealand but at the same time just as universal, a deep exploration\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Birnam-Wood.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3465,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/works-movie-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":320,"position":5},"title":"What If It Works? – movie review","author":"David Edwards","date":"October 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A decidedly offbeat love story between two troubled individuals, What If It Works? is a heap of fun. It's the first feature film for writer, director and co-producer Romi Trower. Adrian (Luke Ford), an irrepressibly chirpy tech nerd, suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder \u2026 and how.\u00a0He walks around wearing trousers\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Movies"","block_context":{"text":"Movies","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/movies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/What-If-It-Works-02.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/What-If-It-Works-02.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/What-If-It-Works-02.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/What-If-It-Works-02.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}