The Heaven I Swallowed, by Rachel Hennessy, is a great prelude to Indigenous Literature Week next week at ANZ LitLovers. I was completely riveted by this novel.
The Heaven I Swallowed stems from historical truth, the personal, and the political. The granddaughter of a woman given up for adoption because of her Aboriginal heritage, Hennessy was stung to write this novel because of former Prime Minister John Howard’s statement that Aboriginal children were taken away from their families for their own good. But the book is a subtle indictment of the policies and practice behind the Stolen Generations, not a bitter attack. And singularly, for a novel involving this chapter in our nation’s history, it presents not so much the perspective of the stolen child, but rather the perspective of the very strange woman who adopts her. The Heaven I Swallowed is such an accomplished novel that it was runner-up for the Vogel Prize in 2008.
The rather odd title is an allusion to the Roman Catholic communion service. Grace is a devout Catholic, but her devotion to the church seems to be a warped substitute for normal human affection. Brought up herself in an institution where she herself was physically and emotionally abused, in the aftermath of World War II, Grace lives alone as a widow. She attends meetings of the Widow’s Group but their malicious gossip and craft projects do nothing to assuage her loneliness and so she decides to take in an Aboriginal child. While she dearly longs to be thought of as a ‘good woman’ doing a worthy deed, she also craves affection, though she has no idea about how to give or receive it.
Grace believes that Aboriginal children are born with a stain on their characters, but that she can redeem Mary by giving her the benefits of living in white society. It isn’t easy for Grace partly because of her own ingrained racism, and partly because her decision isn’t accepted by her fellow-parishioners. She has, however, a powerful motivation. She is in need of redemption herself.
An unexpected plot twist in this novel reveals the extent to which this woman is living a lie, but along with this masterful plotting, Hennessy depicts the small town racism, the casual way in which the local women deride young Mary in front of her as if she weren’t there, and the petty meanness which characterises the way that Grace uses Mary as a domestic, deprives her of an education and skimps on her clothing. But it’s not a simplistic portrait: she also shows the moments when Grace stands up for Mary – there’s a poignant moment when one of the widows is making snide remarks about the child, and Grace says that she trusts her. I almost wept as I read this while on the plane coming back from Queensland because Grace is not a woman who has ever learned to trust anybody.
Unfortunately Grace can’t trust anyone quite enough, and Mary’s desperate search for information about the mother she is sure is looking for her brings matters to a head. Part II brings a resolution Grace wasn’t expecting but leaves the reader haunted by the character of Mary and the thousands of other children that she represents.
Join me, please, in reading works by indigenous authors next week during NAIDOC Week celebrations of indigenous achievements and culture, July 8-15. Click the ILW logo above to sign up and to access reading lists.
Author: Rachel Hennessy
Title: The Heaven I Swallowed
Publisher: Wakefield Press, 2013
ISBN: 9781862549487
Source: Review copy courtesy of Wakefield Press
Availability
Fishpond: The Heaven I Swallowed: A Novel
Also available from Wakefield Press as an eBook.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
Ah Lisa … I have scheduled my review of this to post tomorrow. A very enjoyable read – and an enjoyable review. Watch for mine tomorrow
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By: whisperinggums on July 2, 2013
at 9:40 pm
Great timing LOL, but I am really pleased because I was very impressed by this book, and I hope it gets lots of publicity and good reviews. It is triggering a memory of something sort-of similar with a mother made monstrous by religion, but I can’t think what it is…
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By: Lisa Hill on July 2, 2013
at 9:57 pm
Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges are not the only fruit? Fancesca Rendle-Short’s Bite your tongue? There are probably others. Yes, I became more impressed as I read along.
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By: whisperinggums on July 2, 2013
at 10:21 pm
Yes, Oranges are not the Only Fruit, I think. I read that ages ago, but it rings a bell…
I haven’t read the other one, is it worth chasing up? (I rather like novels about evil mothers LOL)
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By: Lisa Hill on July 2, 2013
at 10:32 pm
Oh yes, you’d like this. I reviewed it early last year … it’s a fictional memoir about Francesca and her morals crusader mother.
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By: whisperinggums on July 2, 2013
at 10:44 pm
Ah yes, I remember now. I must get hold of a copy…
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By: Lisa Hill on July 2, 2013
at 11:21 pm
Beautiful review, Lisa. This looks like a very fascinating and powerful book. I have read a little about the lost generation, but I need to read more. It is unfortunate that former Prime Minister John Howard keeps making statements like this. I will keep an eye for this book. It is wonderful to know that next week is Indigenous literature week! I can’t wait to read the book reviews and get more suggestions. This is totally awesome :) Thanks for this wonderful review.
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By: Vishy on July 2, 2013
at 9:54 pm
You are right, Vishy, Mr Howard made some most unfortunate remarks in his day, and offended many members of our indigenous community.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 2, 2013
at 10:35 pm
Wonderful review, Lisa – I’ve just ordered it through Fishpond as a result :)
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By: Sylvia Johnson on July 2, 2013
at 10:00 pm
That’s great Sylvia:) Where are you now? Back in France?
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By: Lisa Hill on July 2, 2013
at 10:36 pm
Back in Australia – just moved down to Bowral in the Southern Highlands. Magical place :) Three bookshops!
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By: Sylvia Johnson on July 2, 2013
at 10:38 pm
Ah, not far from me … lovely place. Love visiting the Southern Highlands. Have you been to Biota yet?
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By: whisperinggums on July 2, 2013
at 11:07 pm
This one arrived last week and I read it this afternoon. You’re quite right – it is lovely. Thanks for suggesting it :)
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By: Sylvia Johnson on July 27, 2013
at 5:53 pm
Ah, that’s a comment dear to my heart:)
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By: Lisa Hill on July 27, 2013
at 10:35 pm
[…] Read for ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week, as did Lisa herself who liked it too! […]
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By: Rachel Hennessy, The heaven I swallowed (Review) | Whispering Gums on July 3, 2013
at 11:01 am
[…] – in Australia at least. If you’d like to read one, I suggest you do so now and join ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week. Lisa will, I understand, accept reviews after the week has […]
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By: Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian memoirs | Whispering Gums on July 8, 2013
at 11:02 pm
I have just finished this book which I picked up after reading your review. I found the novel very moving and beautifully written. I love how it was written from the perspective of the “mother” and how imperfect she was, but that there was no judgement as such.
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By: Sharkell on July 31, 2013
at 4:29 pm
Yes, that’s what I liked about it too:)
I must thank you for dropping by to let me know that you enjoyed the book, it’s really encouraging to get this kind of feedback:)
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By: Lisa Hill on July 31, 2013
at 6:35 pm
[…] Lisa’s review at ANZ LitLovers […]
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By: 2018 Indigenous Literature Week – a Reading List of Indigenous Women Writers | ANZ LitLovers LitBlog on June 5, 2019
at 11:31 am
[…] Lisa’s review at ANZ LitLovers […]
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By: Indigenous Literature Week – a Reading List of Indigenous Women Writers | ANZ LitLovers LitBlog on June 5, 2019
at 11:35 am