The Conversion (Amanda Lohrey, Text)

When Zoe’s husband, Nick, dies unexpectedly, she finds herself adrift. Recently retired and unable to afford to continue living in the city, she purchases an old and rundown church in a country town. Her husband had dreamed of converting the church into a home, and Zoe, initially reluctant, decides to take on the task without him. Haunted by Nick’s memory and the events leading up to his death, Zoe attempts to find solace within the church and contemplates what makes a space a home. The Conversion marks Amanda Lohrey’s ninth work of fiction, following her 2021 Miles Franklin–winning novel, The Labyrinth. Much like her previous novel, The Conversion takes on a dreamy tone to explore the complexities of love, loss, family and home. Lohrey’s writing is pared back and contemplative but also often lethargic in tone, making it difficult for this reader to fully engage with at times. The book includes a whole host of side characters that I found served little purpose and a secret that is never fully fleshed out or resolved, leading to a slightly frustrating reading experience. However, the process of grief is rarely logical and straightforward, and in reflecting this, the book holds true. The Conversion may appeal to fans of introspective Australian literary fiction, such as the work of Gillian Mears, Helen Garner and Kate Grenville, and those who enjoyed The Labyrinth.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Chloë Cooper is a freelance writer and librarian in Meanjin. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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