The God of No Good (Sita Walker, Ultimo)

The memoir of Brisbane schoolteacher Sita Walker begins with divorce papers and a side of vanilla custard slice. But there are much more pressing things on Walker’s mind than the divorce request from her soon-to-be ex-husband across a cafe table. Another relationship of Walker’s is hanging on by a thread—the one between her and God. The God of No Good follows Walker, a 35-year-old mother of three raised in the Baha’i faith, as she adjusts to her new home in the Brisbane suburb of Tarragindi and reflects on her own choices and the choices of women who have come before her, such as her mother Fari, aunties Mehri, Mona and Irie, and her grandmother Dolly. Told through vivid and evocative vignettes that span decades (1938–2022) and countries (Iran, Sri Lanka, the Czech Republic and Australia), Walker’s book tracks grief, loss and faith across generational lines. Gestures of love leave the deepest imprint, be it Walker’s grandmother brewing masala chai or plucking a jam-coated chapati from her apron pocket. The God of No Good is a moving debut exploding with heart, warmth and wisdom, for fans of Zadie Smith, Alice Pung and Candice Carty-Williams.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jasmine Pirovic is a culture writer living and working on Gadigal land. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews