18th October 2020
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, about 18 months ago, I was making my way back to my bookstall at CERES Makers and Flea market after a short walk around the grounds to stretch my legs when I spotted a gentleman browsing the selection of books out on the tables. As I made my way back to my little spot behind the tables he looked at me and said “Can you recommend the most interesting book you have?” He may as well have asked me if I have a favourite child, actually that question may have been easier to answer. Kidding…..sort of.
I was inititally taken aback by his question, I threw a quick glance at all the books on the stall which by my estimation would have been at least 250-300 in total. I did not know this gent, what his interests were or his reading habits. How could I be sure I would be recommending the “most interesting” book on display? Even if I had a definite book to recommend, it may be interesting to me but not to him. I could have easily kicked into seller mode, pulled out the script, picked a random, probably pricey book and gone on with some BS about how such and such book would change his life or how this is the book he needed to have because “it’s what everyone is reading right now” and then said “but make sure to buy now because i’ve had two other people interested” But that’s not how I roll.
After a moment of pondering what to respond, Gilgamesh by Joan London popped into my head. I don’t know why. It hadn’t even been a book I had recently read but one that has remained with me since I did. Was it the most interesting book out on the stall? That would depend on a range of things. Is it an interesting book? I would definitely say so. I have to start off by saying that I absolutely loved this story, the word epic comes to mind and I hope i’m not exagerating when I use it.
Originally published in 2001 and spanning the years between world war I, World war II and somewhat beyond, Gilgamesh was inspired by The Epic of Gilgamesh the worlds oldest known poem which tells the story of an acient Mesopotamian King and his friend Enkidu who undertake an epic journey. Joan London’s Gilgamesh tells the story of Edith who arrives in Western Australia as a child from England with her family. We are told the story of how they arrived, set up a life and struggled to adapt to life in a new country, faced difficulties and for a while it seems as if we are in for a story of struggle and poverty. I have to admit that I almost put the book down at this stage as I thought it would be another classic Australian novel about the struggles of the bush, or the struggles of a rural family contributing to the foundations of this country as we know it today. Of course there is nothing wrong with these stories, they are part of the history, but we have plenty of them. Once the story started focusing on Edith, I felt as if I was re-reading Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career, young girl breaks with the norms of society and what is expected of her. However, this book tells a coming of age tale if you will, which is played out on a more epic scale.
One day the family is visited by cousin Leopold and his Armenian friend and travel companion Aram. They regale Edith with their tales of travel to foreign lands. Edith becomes close with Aram, however he and cousin Leopold eventually leave to continue their travels. Soon after Edith discovers she is pregnant.
The baby is born and Edith faces the difficulties that come along with this during that time period. She cannot however stay idle and decides to journey in search of Aram who is clueless about the birth of his baby son. What follows is a journey of epic proportions. From England, to the Soviet Union and the Middle East during a world war. We meet a cast of characters who could easily have novels written about their own lives and they would be just as interesting. I honestly cannot understate what and amazing job Joan London did with writing this story. We travel with Edith and see this cast of characters come into her life and help to form her and who she becomes by the end of the story. We watch as her son Jim, grows up and is influenced by his own journey and experiences a type of reverse migration having to come to terms with who he is as he tries to fit into his country of birth.
I think this is more than just a coming of age tale or even one of finding yourself. It shows us that yes we are confined to our own little corner of the world, but there is a vast expanse out there. one filled with diverse cultures, experiences and even though set in a completely different time period and parts of the world our human responses to these experiences really aren’t that different. It is a tale of loss and longing, coming full circle. There is a lot playing out in this book. Not just with Edith but with all those that come into her life. But one isn’t overwhelmed by all that goes on. It is truly an engaging read.
This was difinitely one of those books that stays with you once you’re finished reading it. I cannot recommend it enough.
As for the gent who I recommended this to, I gave him a quick run through of the plot. I told him how much I had enjoyed the book and he seemed happy with that. He said that it did in fact sound interesting and he bought it. Before leaving he also mentioned that his wife was from the Middle East and he thought she would probably be interested in reading it as well. I can’t be certain wether he and his wife did in fact enjoy the book ar at least found it interesting. but I never saw or heard from him again. Well at the very least he didn’t return to throw the book in my face and ask for his money back which can only be a good thing right?
Thanks for reading.
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