Where We Begin

contains mild spoilers of sensitive issues such as family violence, abortion, alcoholism, physical and emotional abuse, colonisation, genocide, prejudice and racism
Where We Begin
Written by Christie Nieman
Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Australian
Published August 28th 2020
368 Pages
Add to Goodreads
★★★★★
Seventeen year old Anna is running into the night. Fleeing her boyfriend, her mother, and everything she has known.

She is travelling into the country, to the land and the grandparents she has never met, looking for answers to questions that have never been asked.

For every family has secrets.

But some secrets, once laid bare, can never be forgiven.
Anna could see the ramshackle, debilitated home from the roadside as the coach drove into the night, the letter from her grandmother safely in her pocket. Anna departed Sydney for the small country town in Victoria, a life of uncertainty among the dry, desolate pastures, anxious and alone.

Anna's estranged grandparents hadn't expected their seventeen year old granddaughter to visit, considering their daughter abandoned the family home and her family before Anna was born. Anna is in turmoil, her mother is attending a business conference in New Zealand, her father visiting his dying father in Germany and Anna is pregnant, unbeknownst to her boyfriend Nassim.

Anna's narration is harrowing, she's anxious, alone and navigating a new relationship with her estranged grandparents. In her final year of school, Anna is intelligent and motivated, wanting to study medicine at university. Escaping to the small country town, Anna plans to abort her pregnancy. The nonlinear narration shifts between the present and the events leading to Anna's decision to leave, moments from her mother's adolescence as the past and present converge.

In the present day, Anna's mother Cathy is an absent parent, businesswoman, entrepreneur and alcoholic, Anna's father excusing her behaviour, encouraging Anna to practice understanding and forgiveness. Anna's relationship with her mother is irrevocably fractured when as she introduces her mother to Nassim, her boyfriend. Cathy overindulges and becomes verbally and physically abusive.

As the storyline unravels, we learn about Cathy's adolescence, her parents Bette and Hessel, a stoic and racist Danish man. The Krause family colonised the local Indigenous land, white farmers who decimated the landscape. As children, Cathy and Leonie shared a wonderful friendship, Leone an Indigenous girl who Cathy was forbidden to see. Leonie, a local nurse, remained in the small country town and raised a wonderful son in Basil. Cathy and Leonie are no longer in contact with one another.

First Nations communities continue to endure racism and prejudice and with the permission from the Dja Dja Wurrung community, Christie Nieman explores the Blood Hole Massacre, a horrific incident of genocide. Basil, Leonie's son, is a storyteller and a beautiful character. The life he's endured, carrying the stories of his community. Basil's enthusiasm and effervescence is infectious, his character is incredibly endearing and proudly Indigenous, although also recognising his colonist ancestry. 

Where We Begin raises awareness and encourages discussion of family violence, alcoholism, adolescent pregnancy, abortion and physical and emotional abuse. First nations, colonisation, Indigenous genocide, prejudice and racism. Although the narrative is harrowing and poignant, Where We Begin is written with compassion, delicately and an intricate tenderness. Often we choose novels without realising the impact they leave upon us and as readers, we experience our world through fictional characters. When We Begin is a remarkable read and I thank Christie Nieman for sharing her words.

11 comments

  1. It sounds like this book touches on a lot of tough topics - - definitely adding this one to my TBR. Thanks for bringing it to my attention! I hope you're doing well and staying safe. <3

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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    1. It's absolutely beautiful! It's been one of my favourite reads this year, captivating and so incredibly consuming. Can't wait to see what you think of it!

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  2. This sounds like a wonderful exploration of some pretty tough subjects, and I love that authors can educate us and bring their stories to life, even if they're painful. his sounds like a fabulous read.

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    1. It's such a wonderful aspect of reading, education through fiction. Where We Begin is a book that touched me deeply, having shared so many of aspects of Anna's story. A brilliant read!

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  3. Tough topics, but I like too that it goes into Cathy's life as much as Anna's. I think both sound like complex characters

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    1. To understand Anna's story, it was important to include Cathy and what happened when she was Anna's age. We see very few multigenerational narratives in young adult and even given the confronting themes, it was a wonderful read Verushka, I think you'll really enjoy this one.

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  4. This sounds like such a powerful read and that it does a wonderful job handling some sensitive topics. I hadn't heard of the book before but definitely need to pick up a copy after reading this review.

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    1. It's wonderful Suzanne, such an emotional read. You'll love this one, it's beautifully written and feels quite cathartic.

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  5. My heart was breaking for Anna just from reading your review. I could see myself rooting for her.

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    1. I felt so incredibly deeply for her. Pregnant and although Nassim would have supported her decision, she was incredibly isolated and unable to speak to her parents. It's beautifully written and you'll really enjoy this one.

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  6. I have to admit that I have been missing Australia a lot lately so I think reading books set in the country will definitely be a way for me to reconnect and to travel through the pages! I am amazed with how many themes this one touches on and manages to handle really well too ^.^

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