While Bail could very easily (and justifiably) treated a large number of his characters with contempt, he doesn’t. The other thing that I really love in this book is its museums.

Each place they visit – Africa, London, Quito, New York, Russia – are all clearly different, yet there is somehow a sameness that runs through the book. This book pulls off the unenviable task of having to try and recreate six different countries in a way that makes them all seem different, yet somehow similar at the same time. The language that fills this book is some of the most beautiful and evocative I have ever read. I can’t believe it took me so long to get into this book. From the traditional married couple to the communist, the young naive girl to the wife beater, each of these characters provides a fascinating look at how people react to the changing world around them, in places they would normally never visit. They have all been pushed together on a world tour, and together, must try to deal with the differences and similarities that every tourist must face when they leave the comfort of their own home. Homesickness is the story of thirteen people who have never met before.

Homesickness is Bail’s first novel, so despite his popularity and fame as a genius short story writer, I much prefer a good novel to sink my teeth into. I think I’m glad it didn’t get made – Bail’s novels would not make very good films, I think. Which is a shame, ’cause I loved Bail’s later work Eucalyptus, that doomed film with Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. Each time, I’ve read about ten pages, and given up.

I have tried to read this book about three times in the last three years.

Eucalyptus murray bail review