Michelle de Kretser is the author of nine books. She has won the Miles Franklin award twice for Questions of Travel and The Life to Come.
Michelle is in conversation with Andrew discussing how Scary Monsters explores the form of the novel, while confronting social monsters of racism, misogyny and ageism.
Scary Monsters…
Lili is teaching in southern France in the 1980’s. It’s a thrifty life but she is striving to be like her hero Simone de Beauvoir, strong, independent and free. All around her she sees the divides in society, watching the treatment of African immigrants and wondering at the protections her Australian passport provides her.
In a too-near future, Lyle negotiates life both within and without Australian society. Islam is banned and repatriation laws leave three quarters of the population in a state of tense anticipation. Lyle and his family work to be model citizens; virtually invisible to the state. But constant vigilance is not easy and Lyle has dreams. Can he overcome the quirks of family and relationship to climb the social ladder - a perfect quiet Australian.
