The Last Paradise
by
Di Morrissey
Publication date: 24th October 2019
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 416
RRP: $34.99AUD
Format read: Hardback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
Grace has the perfect life: a job she loves, a beautiful daughter and a rich, successful husband. But one night, when their world falls apart in a shocking disaster, Grace suddenly sees what she couldn't admit - her marriage and her husband are a fraud.
With the life she knew in tatters, she takes an assignment promoting the launch of a unique luxury hotel, hidden in a stunning, untouched oasis in the heart of tourist-crazed Bali.
Here, in this last paradise, Grace gathers the strength to take charge of her world. And, inspired by a woman's story from long ago, she discovers a path to a future she'd never dared to imagine . . .
The Last Paradise
is the latest novel by prolific best-selling author Di Morrissey.
With the majority of the story set in Bali, Morrissey brings to the
fore her powerful ability to evoke a sense of time and place.
Grace
has lost everything, her house, her car, her every possession in a
devastating house fire. She takes her young daughter to live with her
mother whilst her husband moves closer to his place of work. Away
from her husband’s ever controlling presence Grace starts to see
that a lot of things about his life don’t add up.
Through
Grace we see how a lot of women can become controlled and repressed,
especially when they leave their jobs to care for a new baby. Grace
had slowly surrendered all decisions over to her husband. Some
because she simply didn’t have the time and others to avoid another
argument.
Now
in desperate need of money Grace secures an advertising job which
requires her to spend time in Bali. We watch as Grace grows in
confidence as she embraces her job and knows this is something she is
good at. As she battles her
husband for custody of their daughter Grace grows strong and
resilient.
Morrissey’s
descriptions of Bali are vivid, with mentions of Bali in the 70’s
before it become a cheap haven filled with noisy holiday makers. The
island becomes as much a part of the story as the characters.
Morrissey’s aim is to
show her readers the other side of Bali, without the buckets of
alcohol but with exotic food and pristine beaches.
Some
history of Bali is introduced with excerpts from Revolt in
Paradise by K’tut Tantri. I
found myself interested in K’tut’s story and more so after the
introduction of Tim Lindsey
who wrote The Romance of K’tut Tantri and Indonesia,
after her death.
I
enjoy a good mystery so I would have liked the mystery surrounding
Grace’s husband. Lawrence, to have been a bit more fleshed out and
it was wrapped up much too quickly.
Morrissey
has given her readers a world that embraces the true Bali, showcasing
a connectedness to the land, and where love and hope ultimately
triumph.
🌟🌟🌟
My rating 3/5
Explaining
my 3 star rating: As much as I loved Di Morrissey’s writing and I
think The Last Paradise will
be a huge success, the setting of Bali just didn’t, doesn’t, will
never interest me and the setting
is a large part of this
story.
 |
| Photo credit: Coastbeat - Aaron Cuneo |
Di Morrissey is one of the most successful and prolific authors
Australia has ever produced. She trained as a journalist, working in
newspapers, magazines, television, film, theatre and advertising around
the world.
Her fascination with different countries, their landscape,
their cultural, political and environmental issues, has been the
catalyst for her novels which are all inspired by a particular
landscape.
Di lives with her partner, Boris Janjic, in the Manning
Valley, NSW.
In 2017, in recognition of her achievements, Di was
inducted into the Australian Book Industry Awards Hall of Fame with the
Lloyd O'Neil Award. In 2019, she was made a Member of the Order of
Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
This review is part of the Australian Women Writers challenge #AWW2020
the Booklover Book Review Aussie author challenge
the Booklover Book Review Aussie author challenge
I’ve not had much luck with Di Morrisey’s books to be honest, despite her popularity.
ReplyDeleteI’m keen to try another of her because. I think this was purely a setting thing.
DeleteWell... I guess if the setting is that much of the story and you're not into it, that makes sense that the book didn't speak to you.
ReplyDeleteI will be trying more of her books.
Delete