Little World by Josephine Rowe is without doubt a very curious little book with a very curious little story.
This is the third novel by this author who has gained great acclaim for her previous works and this latest book is destined to be another literary success. But having said that this novel is actually one that is incredibly hard to describe and even harder to categorise.
Little World begins with a deliberately fragmented structure and with a bizarre and surreal event. It’s the 1950s in northwestern Australia and a retired engineer named Orrin Bird receives the body of an incorruptible child – possibly a saint. She is contained in a box and appears lifeless, but she is very much conscious as she is quietly observing and remembering aspects of her life, though no one around her knows. Questions swirl about the origins of the child; what happened to her and is she or is she not a saint and the reader is immediately immersed in a world of bizarre uncertainty.
The novel is divided into three interwoven parts spanning several decades and numerous continents. Each part introduces a lone figure whose life is touched by the mysterious child. In the Kimberly it is Orrin, in Panama and Naru it is Kaspar Isaksen, and the last of the three is Matti Eberhart who comes across the child while on a road trip during the Australian pandemic-era. Through these characters, the author draws a sort of trinity of suffering and survival.
This book is definitely an intricately layered and atmospheric work. It often resembles poetry, or even a prayer, and within the pages lies a rich exploration of numerous issues around religion, hypocrisy, and violence – especially violence inflicted on women and the vulnerable. And, although the child is silent, the reader learns of some of her memories, her pain and the injustice she has suffered.
While Little World may be compact in length – only 130 or so pages, it is neither a quick nor easy read as the reader has to work hard to connect the threads of the story. In a way the author is inviting readers to sit with the story’s uncertainty and its persistent questions. With that in mind I would say that Little World is far from your average read and somewhat of a challenging book to read. Nonetheless it is a deeply beautiful book that is entirely unforgettable and unlike any other book you’re likely to have read.
Author: Josephine Rowe
Publisher: Black Inc Books
ISBN: 9 781760 645427
Buy through the ARR.News Store
This book review is supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund
