I became mesmerised by Bri Lee’s writing a few years ago when I read her memoir, Eggshell Skull, so as you can expect, I was thrilled to hear she was making her debut in fiction with The Work. Through the novel, Lee takes us deep into the world of contemporary art as we are introduced to Lally, a successful New York gallery owner, and Pat, a Sydney scholarship student who has entered into the antique dealership scene. When their worlds collide while Pat is travelling to New York for work, they form an instant connection and try to navigate a relationship with an ocean between them, all while chasing their own ambitions.
Lee knows how to capture an audience with her writing. The Work is the type of book that leaves you craving more after each chapter, making it easy to devour in just a few sittings (which is quite the fete given it sits at almost 400 pages). On top of compelling writing, Lee’s intelligence shines through as she tackles big themes of privilege, entitlement, misogyny, power and the tension between art and capitalism. While they are complex issues to explore, her presentation of these ideas doesn’t feel at all showy or intimidating but comes across as accessible to the reader. I found Lee’s exploration of class really impressive, drawing out the juxtaposition between Lally and Pat’s backgrounds, and the distance Pat puts between himself and his family to feel as though he belongs in this new world he’s entering.
Coming into a book with sky-high expectations is always a little dangerous and while you can see there is a lot I enjoyed and admired about The Work, I wasn’t left feeling wholly satisfied. I didn’t quite gel with Lally and Pat as characters – I struggled to understand them as individuals and as a couple and to understand Lee’s perception of them. Lee knows how to write good smut and there was no lack of physical chemistry between Lally and Pat, but through much of the novel, that felt like the depth of the relationship (apart from their interest in art). As we near the end of the story, there are moments where I could see the emotional intimacy begin to develop, but my investment in their relationship had already begun to wane.
As individuals, Lally and Pat make questionable decisions and feel morally grey as characters. While this is glaringly obvious in parts, there are more subtle depictions of this, such as the ‘locker room talk’ that often came through in Pat’s interactions with his male friends. These are the types of characters I find really interesting and enjoy the analysis that often comes with them, but I felt the unpacking of some of their behaviour was either absent or diluted. I craved more nuance, more self-awareness, and more reflection, which led to the end of the novel feeling too unresolved.
While I felt as though my own expectations let me down a little going into The Work, it’s undeniably a very impressive piece of debut fiction. It’s already making waves in the Australian book community, even before its release in April, not to mention the stream of accolades and praise from highly notable authors as you open the book. So, I think it’s fair to assume this will be the BIG Australian release of the year that will have everyone talking, and you’ll want to be a part of those conversations.
3.5/5
Gifted by Allen & Unwin.
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