Prehistoric Joy (Andrew Sneddon, UQP)

In Prehistoric Joy, archaeologist Andrew Sneddon applies his knowledge of prehistorical cultures to his past, specifically the years when his mother was in a relationship with a violent conman. After Sneddon’s argumentative parents divorced when he was nine, his father all but vanished and his mother rapidly fell into a relationship with a barely charming drunk and sociopath who was constantly running small scams (and later, one big one) on the Gold Coast, and Sneddon’s description of him as a ‘prick’ is well-deserved. Chapters begin with what we understand about prehistoric cultures from their remains—houses in tight community patterns, sculptures and trinkets celebrating love and family. Meanwhile, Sneddon’s youth was spent on the fringes, a figure of pity to day drinkers and social workers, while his mercurial mother swung between running to refuges and running to bars to bring her abuser back into their lives. Sneddon’s eye for details is sharp whatever the time period (one brief childhood acquaintance is named Graham ‘Saliva’ McGyvar), and the occasional moments of dark humour or unexpected grace go some way towards leavening the otherwise remorseless cycle of violent exploitation. The memoir is a vivid look at a world of petty crime, abuse and poverty, with Sneddon’s insights into prehistorical cultures serving as a reminder that humanity, with all its flaws and virtues, is universal. This is one for fans of gritty memoirs that don’t shy away from the hard side of life, or for those interested in a clear-eyed look at the shady side of the Gold Coast during the 1980s.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Anthony Morris is a freelance reviewer, novelist, and podcaster. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews