Holier Than Thou

Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo (Allen and Unwin)
PB RRP $17.99
ISBN 978-1-74175-998-3
Reviewed by Ann Harth (www.annharth.com)

Holier Than Thou is a journey through a difficult time in the life of a strong, young woman who has learned to hold her emotions in an iron grip. The death of her father, a demanding job and the confusion of a solid relationship threatened by temptation, combine to take 23-year-old Holly to the brink of despair.

Holly Yarkov is smart, funny and real. Even as she is tormented with pain from her past and the uncertainty that comes with making decisions about the rest of her life, the core of her character is consistent and strong.

Laura Buzo’s experience as a social worker is evident in her realistic portrayal of Holly’s work which adds a poignant backdrop to this plot, and offers a glimpse of the sadder side of Sydney. It highlights the challenge of remaining optimistic when dealing with the daily pain of people’s lives.

Holier Than Thou deals with difficult issues, and yet it is infused with humour. Holly’s powerful feelings for her friends and family, as well as her slightly cynical view of the world in general, offer a way of looking her life with warmth and wit.

Laura Buzo has surrounded Holly with a cast of unique (a sensitive, dreadlocked circus enthusiast) and recognisable (a selfish, dramatic beauty) characters who breathe life into the pages of this book. The development of Holly’s own personality allows me to identify with her and become involved in her story.

Holier Than Thou would appeal to the upper end of the young adult market as well as adults. There are a few references to drug use and the honest portrayal of a mature relationship. The characters and quality of the writing will ensure that an older reader will savour this book.

Laura Buzo is the author of Good Oil (read Buzz Words Books review here) which was shortlisted for the 2011 Prime Minister's Literary Awards for Young Adult Fiction. It was also listed as a Notable Book in 2011 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year - Older Readers. Holier Than Thou is Laura Buzo’s second novel.

Ann Harth is a published children's author and writing tutor at Australian College of Journalism. She loves to read and is committed to creating children's literature that inspires, entertains and triggers a tiny twist in the mind. Her latest middle-grade novel, The Art of Magic, will be released in 2012. 

Good Oil

 Good Oil by Laura Buzo (Allen and Unwin)
PB RRP $18.99
ISBN 9781741759976
Reviewed by Jenny Sharp http://whispersandwhiskers.wordpress.com/

15 year old Amelia is in year ten and thinks boys are brainless beings who shouldn’t exist. Chris is 21, in his final year of university and is recovering from a breakup. For Amelia, the supermarket job is a way of gaining independence; for Chris, it’s a dead end.

Amelia is unlike any girl Chris knows and is always amazed at how her mind works, she makes him question his own thoughts and the way he thinks. They exchange letters of things that they dislike. Amelia thinks her mum has been screwed over by feminism; Chris hates the injustice of people getting everything in life while he struggles at the bottom.

Chris and Amelia discover a passion for the classics which leads to continual chats about literature. Amelia uses this to her advantage; using certain characters’ situations to tell Chris how she is feeling as it can be taken at face value but it also allows her to tell him how she feels if he chooses to read into it. This witty banter throughout the text is entertaining and the story itself is a funny and realistic image of young love.

The story is engaging and the dual narration adds depth to the storyline and has so many subtle details that come together to create this image of what being a young adult is really like, not what people think it’s like.

Good Oil isn’t your typical love story; there isn’t a fairytale ending. It’s honest, bittersweet and insightful with the characters lending you their lives to let you look into your own.