Colleen Corkle knew her son had star quality from the moment he appeared.
Julian Corkle is diffeerent in a way that makes his father furious and his mother squeal “Twinkle, twinkle” a lot. Julian is pretty sure about what he wants in his life, but Tasmania in the seventies doesn’t have any room for a sparkling, fabulous, dreaming-big (pre-)teen.
Julian being out there, colourful and different doesn’t make him a love-able protagonist right away. He is selfish, judgmental and doesn’t want someone else to be better off than him if it means it will take something from him. He is a child with no proper role model, no support and no sense of reality.
Beside the sadness, there is some very cheeky (unintentional?) humour. The characters are absurd without losing a touch to reality and it’s definitely an unconventional way to learn more about Tasmania.
With a whirl-wind ending, Julian Corkle Is A Filthy Liar will leave you with a smile and a warm feeling.
Julian Corkle Is A Filthy Liar, D.J. Connell, Blue Door 2011
