MARGARET BEARMAN
ABOVE THE WATER
WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS
“Stark but absorbing, this interesting novel charts a journey through psychological fragmentation, exploring the harsh emotional landscape of life on the periphery.” Sun Herald
"… the book reveals the huge courage it takes to recover from mental illness, to be part of the world again – and it makes a compelling story. Bearman underwrites the narrative with a lament to women who don’t’ take themselves seriously, who define themselves by their rleationships, and reveals the gross vulnerability of such a position, both mentally and physically … a pacey read that is painful but finally hopeful and very moving…” Bookseller + Publisher
“… savvy, funny and compelling. Bearman creates real characters deftly and economically … We know these people. Bearman also write extremely good dialogue … I can’t wait to see the film.” Australian Book Review
Mandy Gill in the Australian Book Review writes:
"... In many ways, this work is about courage, why it is difficult to be morally brave, especially when much is at stake. Margaret Bearman interrogates how history contextualises life and art but refrains from moralising. We Were Never Friends is a work of ambiguity and nuance..."
Kerryn Goldsworthy in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age writes:
"...This intelligent, subtle novel is a complex study of family dynamics, class divides, adolescent pecking orders, and the murky moral landscapes of artistic practice and inspiration."
Full review is at the end of the column - the online version was published on the 3rd of April 2020.
Very thoughtful author profile by Karen Hardy in the Canberra Times - Peeling back the many layers of Canberra.
Podcast on 3CR (community radio) - Published or Not.
On Readings list of 2020 fiction to be excited about: https://www.readings.com.au/news/australian-books-to-get-excited-about-in-the-first-half-of-2020
Booktopia’s Ben Hunter tweeted: Update: I finished the @margaret_bea - We Were Never Friends and it’s FANTASTIC! Thank you @BrioPublishing for getting me an early copy.