OUR REVIEW
The novel is set in the Scottish Highlands in a rambling mansion that used to be a zoo. The setting is as unusual and exotic as all the characters who arrive to attend the feast.
Alison is an actress who no longer acts, and Patrick a musician past his prime. The eccentric couple live an isolated, debauched existence. That is, until Patrick’s teenage daughter, Neve, flees Australia to spend a year abroad with her doting, unconventional father, and the stepmother she barely knows.
To celebrate Neve’s 18th birthday, her father insists on a special feast. Despite Neve’s objections, her mother, Shannon, arrives to join the celebrations. What none of them know, is that Shannon has arrived with a hidden agenda that has the potential to shatter the delicate façade of the loving family.As the weekend unfolds all three women’s secrets start to unravel and this creates a taunt, unsettled atmosphere, before coming to a dramatic conclusion.
Feast is essentially character driven, with all characters very nuanced and compelling. O’Grady has been masterful in taking the tension within and between the women and Patrick, creating a suspenseful, dark novel that borders on a thriller. Facets to each character are revealed skillfully and with deft writing.
Feast is a surprising read. I was drawn in from the first page and really looked forward to re-entering this weird and wonderful weekend in the wild Highlands.
Reviewed by Nicola Skinstad
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily O’Grady is a writer from Brisbane. Her debut novel, The Yellow House won the 2018 Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award and was shortlisted for the 2019 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction. Her work has been published in Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings and the The Big Issue. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Queensland University of Technology, where she also teaches.
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