The Idea of Perfection (2000)

There were no quotation marks! I had high hopes because the book contains some of my favourite elements—small town, romance between socially awkward characters, very low-key action. But as soon as I realised there were no quotation marks, I hit a wall. I skimmed ahead to see if I could get caught up in it later, but I just couldn't get past that punctuation.

A past winner of the prestigious Orange Prize literary award, The Idea of Perfection didn't blow my socks off. It was an ok read and certainly conjured up a sun baked country town in the Australian outback.

Quite a touching and in places funny read about accepting imperfection in ourselves. Very believable characters. ( )

The most beautiful golden book I have ever read. Left me with a feeling of warmth and the posiblities of life. ( )

The Idea of Perfection tells the story of Harley Savage and Douglas Cheeseman. They have both come to the small Australian town of Karakarook on business. Harley is helping to set up the town's heritage museum, and Douglas is helping to demolish and rebuild the old Bent Bridge, a safety hazard that is also a piece of the town's heritage. Harley and Douglas are both rather socially awkward, and when their paths cross, their interactions are uncomfortable. But Harley and Douglas are both endearing, and the small town setting jolts them out of their typical big-city behaviors. Grenville observes life in a small town and the interactions between Harley and Douglas with a practiced eye. Her descriptions are spot on and at times almost lyrical. ( )