Initially I was hesitant to read this book. Grief is so personal and is experienced so differently, even in the same family, so how could this story have large appeal? My fears were allayed from the first chapter as the characters and story grabbed me instantly and I laughed and cried all the way to the end.
Ted, Connie’s husband of 40 years, passed away suddenly. Ted was a Bondi hero – lifeguard, founding member of the choir and owner of the local hardware store. His family and friends revered him yet Sebastian walks in on his mother in bed with a figure under the sheets three days after the funeral. What follows is a journey of grief with large dollops of discovery, understanding and forgiveness along the way. I won’t give away any more of the plot because it will spoil the book – just believe it’s a great story.
I really loved this book; it is very poignant yet funny and full of heart. The heart breaks at times and is full of hope and joy at others. It is above all authentic and this is largely due to the writing. The details are vivid – you can feel the hot Bondi sun, smell the salty sea and this grounds the novel in the familiar and gives that universal feeling. Grief is personal but the common factor is pain and all the characters experience pain and some form of healing.
Life After Ted is a stunning and unique book and one that I am so glad I read – please read it – it will enrich your life.
Reviewed by Nicola Skinstad
About the Author
Rick Feneley was born at Bulli in 1962 and has lived for most of his adult life at Bondi, where he and his wife, Donna, raised two daughters. He has been a journalist for four decades and currently works for the Sydney Morning Herald, where he has held editing and writing roles. His first novel, Sly, was published in 1995. This is his second novel.
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