Max, an accident waiting to happen

ACCIDENT Dawn Garisch Loot.co.za (R231) Modjaji

REVIEWER RENIER NOLTE

CAROL Trehorne is a single mother and a suburban GP whose turbulent relationship with her only son, Max, has been continuously tested throughout his adolescence, due to his erratic and reckless behaviour. This reaches breaking point in Accident.

Max is a performance artist who specialises in public disruptions through near-death escapades. His intention is to question the public’s relationship with morality. Carol is powerless in the face of her son’s unstoppable drive to identify the limitations of his body with stunts that defy a mother’s only wish – the wellbeing of her child.

Garish teases the reader by slowly revealing the rich back story of the mother-son relationship, all the while delving deeper into Carol’s tragic inability to tame her son’s wild nature.

Carol is made to be a spectator in her son’s life when his stunts begin to gather publicity and acclaim from the art world. Where the broader public sees a brilliant young man who sees the shortcomings of society, Carol cannot help but see her only child acting out.

The novel investigates the accident that is existence in all its forms as the relationship between life and death is constantly enquired through a vast spectrum of characters.

Although the diversity of the ensemble of confidants Carol interacts with is broad, Garish does not unnecessarily occupy the novel with characters. The complex central theme of the story is well contained and fleshed out.

As a doctor, Carol is placed firmly at the centre of the question of when life becomes not worth living. She provides an intelligent lens for the reader to survey the detailed landscape of the doctor’s fascinating struggle.

Accident is an incredibly satisfactory read and one of the best books I’ve read this year.