Georgina Young, Loner, Text Publishing, August 2020, 256 pp., RRP $24.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781922330130
Lona is in limbo. Struggling to find any purpose in life she has dropped out of art school and moved out of home. She spends her days wrangling supermarket trolleys and her nights DJ-ing at a roller disco. Her cool, confident exterior is far removed from her introverted, socially awkward self. Tab is her one close friend. They share a common world view – anti-patriarchal, anti-conformist, feminist. She joins Tab in the belief that taste is just another name for internalised misogyny. Lona often second guesses her own motives for her actions. She has many personas for social situations and only truly feels herself when she is on her own. Even Tab has not been privy to Lona’s true inner self. Her emotions and self concept are about to be tried when she begins a relationship with a med student and Tab seems to be drifting away. She needs to work out who she is and what she wants from life.
When I first read the blurb for this book, I wondered if there would be enough substance to sustain my interest. But I was at once drawn into Lona’s world, her reflections on self, and insightful observations on life. This is a refreshing, witty, cleverly written story about growing up and finding your way and I loved it.
I highly recommend this book to young adult readers and adults. There are sexual references and some swearing.
Reviewed by Sharon Seymour
