The Knowing (Madeleine Ryan, Scribe)

Camille works for a semi-famous florist in Armadale, where she commutes daily from her home in the country. She yearns for a life full of beauty and meaning and can’t understand why, despite her efforts, she is unhappy. Like Madeleine Ryan’s first novel, A Room Called Earth, The Knowing unfolds across a single day in the close third-person perspective, giving the reader an intimate window into Camille’s thoughts, memories, hopes, dreams and fears. On this day, Camille forgets her phone and faces her long commute without the comfort of distraction. On her journey, she contemplates how she betrays herself to please those around her, whether it be her boyfriend, Manny; her toxic boss, Holly; or her family. Millennial Camille, with her phone-obsessed and idealistic nature, will be a character many will relate to, though her true depth emerges more through the eyes of other characters than through her own actions and opinions. The vignette-style chapters address timely topics such as capitalism, feminism, burnout, addiction, work culture, relationships and women’s bodily autonomy. Much like Camille, these ideas are rich with potential; the book would benefit from deeper exploration of both. Still, Camille offers an authentic portrayal of the inner conflict many women face when self-doubt clouds their path and they downplay their talents out of uncertainty and insecurity. The Knowing will resonate with readers of autofiction and those who enjoyed Ryan’s debut, offering a thought-provoking exploration of self-discovery and the complexities of modern life.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Kate Dunphy is an emerging writer and bookseller based in Meanjin. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews