Returning to Carthage

3.5 stars. An intriguing collection of short stories from a new Australian talent. Filled with an almost tactile sense of place, these interconnected stories (which sometimes feel like essays) portray unsettling snapshots of lives where cultures, histories and relationships intercept.

The trials and tribulations of multicultural life come to the fore in this book of seemingly semi-autobiographical, six interrelated short stories.

The last story Waiting was a standout for me, as it was easily relatable to my parent's passing.

I read GR friend Nat K's review of this book a while back and have reread it just after finishing this book. Nat has covered my thoughts in his excellent summation, and I recommend both the book and Nat's review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4142728679