Birds of Passage

A thought provoking book that covers the parallel lives of a post WW2 ABC (Australian Born Chinese) and his ancestor, Shan, who came to Australia to seek his fortune during the gold rush of the late 1850's to early 60's. Seamus, the ABC, is born and bred in Australia and speaks no Chinese language at all but from the beginning senses his differences to Anglo Australians. When he, coincidently, finds some writing from an ancestor he ascertains to understand what it means and with that takes a parallel journey that leads to a frantic end.

The major theme running through the novel, for me at least, was one of Seamus searching for his identity and his past. The double narrative had me enthralled as the past and the present took similar routes. Both protagonists have to deal with their own fear and states of uncertainty as they deal with the inherent and violent racism of the past by Anglo Australians or the cultural misunderstandings of the modern equivalent.

Released in 1983 this was a fantastic debut by Brian Castro and I look forward to reading him further.