Illywhacker

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Herbert the misunderstood philanthropist. - Rated
I think that simply to dismiss Herbert as "dishonest" is to miss the central theme of this tale. The one thing which many a comedian, romancer or flim-flammer has in common is their desire simply to be loved. Thus Herbert is more to be pitied and admired by turns than scolded men of his ilk who afford the rest of us the chance to escape the humdrum and enter their carefully woven web of the warming fellowship of the fantastical can have a quid of mine anyday of the week. Read it, its dinkum.

Surreal comedy, heart rending tragedy - Rated
Illywhacker is an Australian word for a con-man. The books' illywhacker, and narrator, is Herbert Badgery, who suffers the fate of many dishonest people. Writing from his old age of 139, he weaves us an extraordinary tale of his life as reptile catcher, car salesman and aviator. A chinaman teaches him how to become invisible, a useful skill when out in the bush. His aviation attracts him a lovely wife, but married life is less than satisfactory, ending in tragedy. And so we move on to the life of his son, sent off as a student to the big city, consorting with communists and jews, and then setting up as a pet shop to make ends meet. The tragedy carries on.
Within the context of the book, we find ourselves asking how much of this conman's story is "true". It leaves you wondering, and that is really the key to the book.
Its a toss-up whether my favourite Australian novel is this, or Tim Winton's Cloudstreet. In both books, the Australian accent jumps off the page at you. Among Carey's other books, my literary friends prefer Oscar and Lucinda, perhaps because it is more perfectly formed, a typical Booker Prize winner. But I find Illywhacker funnier, more exciting, more original.

turn-off-the-phone-lock-the-doors-the-Illywhacker-arrived - Rated
You cannot help falling in love with the Illywhacher, a tale that takes shape in the mind.. vividly coloured with classic tales that take the reader into the magical and enchanting world of Herbert Bagery. Herbert Bagery's story is entertaining, funny and exciting, Carey's simply a comic genius! If he were living next door, I'd fall in love with him, too. This book manages to give you a sense of the real battler inside of everyone. It's a monster journey, the epic tale of an life of 139 years of trickery, fraud and deception. Beg, steal or borrow, you MUST read it!

Duuuuuuuuulll. - Rated
I loved "The amazing live of Tristan Smith". I can't say the same about this. It's slooooow and uneventful. Although it's beautifully written it lacks a sense of rythm and it just doesn't grip you. You can get away with a book like this only if you're a shalman Rushdi or a Gabriel Garcia Marquez but I think Carey just didn't pull it off. I could have read One hundred years of solitude for another 20 thousand pages but with Illywhaker I just don't think 567 pages are in anyway justifiable. I found it all so boring that it's a wonder how I manage to finnish reading it. Anyway I'll give myself a break from Carey and then I'll give him another chance. I've got "bliss" in the pipeline.

Entertaining, but not sure I really understood it - Rated
Having loved Oscar and Lucinda, and enjoyed Jack Maggs, I thought I'd try Illywhacker.

I enojyed it, but was left with the feeling that I just hadn't understood it at all.

The story of 139 year old Herbert Badgery (born in 1886)(the reason is explained) and his family, the book covers 80 odd years of his life and loves and the problems he has with his children and grandchildren. It's populated with some wonderful characters, and there are some tremendous passages and ideas in it. But I was left vaguely unsatisfied throughout - I felt there was something I'd missed (and I really didn't get what the ending was about at all).

So if you're a Carey fan, then read it, you'll enjoy it, but anyone who's new to him should start with Oscar and Lucinda - easily his best book.