Ruby Jones

About 3/4's of the way into BARRENJOEY ROAD, in the week starting 15th March 2021, I did wonder if it was possible to physically explode from rage whilst simultaneously feeling so desperately desperately sad that so many young women have been raped, and sometimes murdered in this country, and it constantly looks like nobody in authority gives a shit. (And honestly, if you're going to get all po-faced over a bit of language in a review of an account of an appalling travesty of justice in this show more country (in a long list of appalling travesties of justice against women, people with disability and people of colour), then my timeline is not the place for you.)

Because, frankly, the true story behind BARRENJOEY ROAD is rage inducing, it's infuriating to the point of making you swear loudly and insistently, rant, seethe and frankly question everything and everybody.

It's not just the desperately tragic story of young Trudie Adams, who disappeared one night, never to be seen or heard of again. A young woman simply enjoying a night out, doing the sorts of things that all young women in that day and age did (as did I). It's the story of countless young women who were abducted and raped, yet the prosecution for sexual assault that the police bought to court was one where the victim was a young man. It's the story of two potential offenders identified and then just seemingly filed in the who gives a shit basket, until years later some cops did their jobs and were given the resources to do so. But by then it was too late. The evidence that was initially dismissed, discarded (left lying around in a clearly described crime scene in the bush for god's sake), or just flat out ignored... The multiple identifications of perpetrators that were just ignored... The obviousness of timelines of offender presence and absence in the area, versus abductions and rapes... It would be gobsmacking if we all didn't know exactly what was going on here.

Divided into three sections, BARRENJOEY ROAD starts out with Part One - covering the disappearance of Trudie Adams and the story into the investigation of that. Part Two gets into the background of the prime suspect, and Part Three covers a plethora of cases that fit patterns around Adams disappearance and the inquest into that. There is some attempt to explain the issues with resourcing and certainly individual police had made attempts to look into the suspected murder of Trudie Adams, but really, the blasé manner in which a truly staggering number of abductions and rapes were regarded is utterly unforgivable. It does, however, provide a perfect example of why so many women don't even bother reporting sexual assault. The victim blaming that went on is staggering, the disregard palpable, the entitlement breathtaking. Then there's the police corruption - and whilst it could be argued this is also the story of a single cop who managed to cover up a lot of (mostly non-related) crimes by one man, it's also the story of a police force that didn't police its own.

Inspired by the Walkley Award-shortlisted #1 podcast and acclaimed ABC TV series, this is one of those true crime books that's really hard reading because of the subject matter. It's also particularly illuminating that there's an entire section devoted to the main suspect, with a record that goes back to his childhood, and so much known about him. Yet on the victim's, and the impact of the crimes ... so little. So depressingly, tellingly little. It's distressing, rage inducing and it's books like this that remind you it bloody well has to stop.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/barrenjoey-road-neil-mercer-ruby-jones show less

In a Nutshell: A collection of affirmations presented through some powerful illustrations. Not exactly my type of book, but a great option for those who enjoy self-help and inspirational works.

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As the tagline suggests, this promises to be a little book of kindness. Of comfort. Of strengthening and inspiring advice one needs to hear while battling life’s lows. (Or while listening to the news these days.) As a compilation of some impactful and thought-provoking show more affirmations, this book does all this and more.

The author's little note at the start explains how the book came into being. The rest of the book is a mix of affirmations and illustrations.

The book seems hefty at 128 pages, but the affirmations are probably on just a third of those pages. The rest are just positive, mood-boosting, heart-touching illustrations. As such, it is a very quick read for those who wish to go cover to cover. But such books are best read when opened at random and you treat the affirmation on the open page as your thought for the day, get your boost of motivational energy, and face the world just a little bit brighter and stronger.

The affirmations are excellent, I give you that. Many of the inclusions are of ideas we already know but forget during tougher times. It’s good to have a book refresh our memory for morale boosters such as “Nothing is gonna be perfect but everything is gonna be okay.”

The full-colour illustrations are decent enough. Not exactly in my kind of style, but some of the graphics stand out.

On those who enjoy motivational quotations or self-help books, this book might create a much better impact. I am not a fan of the inspirational nonfiction genre, even when it comes packaged in a graphic comic format. So my feelings about this compilation are somewhat muted.

As such, I wouldn’t pay to purchase such a book, despite the excellent affirmations it contains; it is just not for me. But to the right reader, this would make a worthy gift.

Recommended to those interested in self-help or inspirational nonfiction presented in an artistic format.

3 stars.

The book opens with this excellent, timely affirmation. I shall close my review with it:
"This can all feel overwhelming sometimes. It won't be like this forever."

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Ruby Jones Büchlein nahm seinen Anfang in einer Zeichnung, mit der sie auf dei Terroranschlänge von Christchurch, Neuseeland, im März 2019 reagierte.

Jeweils eine Doppelseite ist zu einer Aussage zusammengefasst - wenig bis gar kein Text, immer grafisch gestaltet.

Zusammenfassen kann man das Buch mit "du hast das Recht, dich um dein Wohlbefinden zu kümmern" - und dunkle Tage gehören einfach auch dazu.

Ich habe es mit einem Lächeln nach dem Durchblättern wieder abgelegt - und ein show more entsprechendes Gefühl stellt sich immer wieder ein, wenn ich es in die Hand nehme. show less