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Five Bells

by Gail Jones
Picador. Mar. 2012. c.224p. ISBN 9781250003737. pap. $15. F
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Jones (Sorry) follows the journeys of four people spending a day at the harbor near the Sydney Opera House. As the characters move individually toward their common destination, they take the reader back in time to expose the forces and events that shaped each of their lives. These four have come to Sydney bearing heavy histories that appear to have predestined their futures. In the span of a day, all will face the harsh truths of the past and reveal their essential natures in the choices they make. Jones infuses the book's scenery with energy and light; she shapes her scenes to create a striking contrast between the bright, dynamic atmosphere of the present and the darker memories of the characters' pasts. Jones's narrative offers insight into both the strength and the fragility of the human spirit.
VERDICT With its deliberate pacing and introspective style, this is a book for contemplative readers willing to lose themselves in the characters' journeys between present and past.
Reviewed by Catherine Tingelstad, Pitt Community Coll., Greenville, NC , Dec 01, 2011
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