Bad Behaviour is the fifth novel by British-born Australian author, Liz Byrski. The story is told in three main narrative strands, and over two time periods, the late1960s and the current time, beginning in 1999. In Fremantle, Western Australia, a question from Zoe’s youngest daughter, Gaby causes her to reflect on her life in London in 1968. In Rye, England, Julia’s husband, Tom and her brother, Richard are working on a multi-media project focussing on 1968, causing her too, to think back to that turbulent period of their lives. And in Cottesloe, Western Australia, Justine reflects on the tumultuous changes that occurred in her life in 1968. How their lives interact, and their ultimate fates are what comprise this excellent novel.
Byrski uses her story to touch on the Stolen Generation, racism, Y2K, the connection of indigenous people to the land, forgiveness, ageism, mentors, discovering one’s talents, the importance of a sense of purpose and retirement. Byrski exposes her characters to racial discrimination, child abuse and rape, and terrorism. She involves them in Vietnam protests, demonstrations against Nuclear Weapons, the Women’s Movement, racially mixed marriages and some quite bad behaviour.
Along their journey in life, her characters are occasionally given some surprising insight and words of wisdom: “Losing those few people who knew you well in youth is not just painful, it’s strangely disturbing; as though your youthful self might cease to exist with the death of the last remaining witness” and “Knowing there are people who are worse off doesn’t make one’s own hurt any easier” and “It’s odd thinking of something you’ve lived through as history but, of course, it is” are just a few examples. Her plot is completely credible and her characters are familiar, the sorts of people one regularly encounters daily. Their dialogue is completely natural, overheard often in cafes, shops and around the family home.
This is a moving, thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable novel and readers will look forward to Byrski’s next novel, Last Chance Cafe.