What a gem of a book.
Sita Walker was born in Australia, growing up in a country town. She lived with her family in an ‘intensely faithful home’, enveloped in the Bahá’í faith. This religion believes there is only one God, unknowable in his essence, who is the Creator and absolute ruler of the universe. Bahá’u’lláh says, ‘It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.’
Sita married and had children. She had opportunities to live in other countries. But as she lived her adult life, everything she did seemed to chip away at what she was brought up to believe. Her marriage was faltering. When did she pray last?
She questions her sexuality. She is looking at the world and digging deep into her existence.
Sita says she considers herself a professional doubter. She is jealous of those with certitude. She says Christians are sure that Jesus is God, that He died for their sins, was resurrected and will come again. Muslims are sure. They’re sure that Mohammad is the last in a long line of Prophets to receive revelation from God. Even the Jews are sure – they’re surer than the Christians are, and believe the Muslims are wrong. But Athiests are the most confidently sure. Athiests are really, really, really sure. They’re positive everyone else has been duped.
If you grew up in a religious household you will get something extra special from this book. It is wonderful. Bursting with the full ammunition of human emotions and deep thoughts. It’s wildly funny in parts and terribly sad in others. It’s about pain that goes with the secrets we hide from those who are most important to us.
But as Sita says ‘My book is about love.’ In the end, isn’t everything?
Reviewed by David Clive
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sita Walker is a senior English and Literature teacher in Brisbane. Her first piece, Love in the Time of Grandmother, was shortlisted in the SBS Emerging Writers Competition and was published by Hardie Grant in the anthology, Roots: Home is Who We Are. Before that, she dabbled in blogging and wrote short letters to her students. The God of No Good is her debut book.
0 Comments