The plot and characters may not hold any surprises, but Kwon tells the mythic story with conviction, maintaining the suspense throughout this well-structured tale. A rhythm and urgency drive this story, which is at its best in the vernacular dialogue and plain language, though the pace is marred, especially in the opening chapters, by forced imagery and a confusion of the subject ‘she’.

In her strongest characters, Merna and Frank, Kwon fleshes out familiar archetypes. Frank is seen through Merna’s eyes: a stubborn, taciturn man, who cannot let go of the past. His silence defines him. It is a powerful, unflinching portrait of an Australian veteran. Merna, who keeps a hold on reality by baking scones and bread, is a woman who is always giving and waiting, intent on uniting the family. It seems a hopeless mission. But there is a fine redeeming moment, near the end, when Merna breathes deeply and sees clearly, free momentarily from the need to subordinate her life to others.