The Buried Life

This is the ninth novel from Miles Franklin-shortlisted author and Melbourne Prize winner Andrea Goldsmith. Through three characters, she explores the notions of death, love and friendship, and, at the same time, she throws in a fair dose of Mahler. The result is a novel that, despite its title, brims with life.

A feature of much of Goldsmith’s work is the exploration of ideas and how they impact our everyday lives. She manages to produce work that both stimulates and entertains. The Buried Life is probably her finest novel, with characters with whom you can fully empathise – and a few villains whom you can despise.

Academic Adrian Moor’s field is Death Studies; it’s rather specialised, but it’s gotten him tenure at a prestigious university, inspired a couple of books and every two years there is the Biennial International Congress of Death Studies, where the attendees seem to have a rather jolly time. However, Adrian’s 10-year relationship with Irene has ended suddenly, Irene accusing him of being more interested in death than in life, and he’s struggling to move on. By chance, on a trip back from the conference in Adelaide, he discovers the music of Mahler, which helps him escape from his thoughts of Irene. He is also supported by his friend Kezi, a young lesbian artist, who is struggling with demons from her past. Their friendship is one of mutual support and is beautifully drawn.

In a cheese store, Adrian is entranced when he meets Laura, an accomplished town planner. However, Laura is married to Tony, a man she idolises and whom she believes is responsible for her growth as a person. In spite of this she is attracted to Adrian, to the ease with which they can converse and his uncritical acceptance of her; with Tony, she is constantly afraid that she might offend him or say or do something which he might criticise. The book’s exploration of this emotional abuse is particularly – excruciatingly – fascinating.

When Tony is away for four weeks, the relationship between Adrian and Laura develops, and she starts to question Tony’s controlling behaviour. Laura also wonders about the impact on Adrian of losing his mother at three and his father at seven; Adrian has always denied that these losses have had any impact on his attitude to death, but Laura’s questioning leads him to reassess. When Adrian’s friend Kezi initially finds out about Laura, she is angry with him, angry at the inappropriateness of his relationship with Laura and not being consulted, but she is drawn to Laura despite this. The Buried Life is a big, terrific book that will entertain and inspire you.