Dairy farms and sharemilkers in 1970s New Zealand may not seem the stuff of a riveting read, but The Party Line by Sue Orr turns that notion on its head. Not only is it a finely tuned portrayal of adolescent activism and adult inertia, it will also give a nudge of nostalgia to those familiar with the time and place.
Named for the shared telephone lines common during those years – which made it possible for neighbours to eavesdrop on each other’s lives – this is a story that challenges the collective moral stance of a rural community. It is 1972 and a new sharemilker, Ian Baxter, arrives on the neglected farm of Jack Gilbert.
Jack is known for his stingy ways so the employment of a sharemilker on his property near Paeroa is in itself an extraordinary event. But Ian and his precocious 13-year-old daughter Gabrielle are about to have an even greater impact on the district.
Grieving the death of his wife, Ian is largely oblivious to his daughter’s needs, although he works hard to do his best for his employer’s herd – even more of a challenge given he’s bluffed his way into the job.
Gabrielle starts at the local school, and becomes best friends with Nickie Walker, who is entranced by Gabrielle’s self-confidence and worldliness, not to mention her pierced ears and make-up. As the stronger character, Gabrielle entices Nickie away from her compliant childhood towards teenage rebellion. Then one night, when the two girls are out defying parental authority, they witness a shocking assault – and unable to talk about it to anyone, they attempt to address the situation themselves, with unforeseeable consequences.
Penguin/Random House, $38.