Murray Bail, Eucalyptus *** 1/2

I was made aware of Eucalyptus when Jane Alison referred to it in Meander Spiral Explode. She held it up as an example of a book that eschewed the traditional dramatic arc in favor of a different organizing principle, in this case, a catalog of Eucalyptus species. ("In the world of trees, only the acacia has more species that the eucalyptus––but look at the acacia, a series of pathetic little bushes.")

In fact, though, Eucalyptus has the most traditional of narrative arcs: it's a fairy tale. "Once upon a time there was a man...who couldn't come to a decision about his daughter. He then made an unexpected decision." The daughter is shut up in a tower, and suitors come to contest for her hand.

It's true that the chapters are named after eucalyptus species and that the test for potential husbands is to name all of the species on the father's property. Eucalypts serve as a flexible metaphor for Australia, art, and the multiplicity of life, much like whales do in Moby Dick.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book, with its subtle connections between the species names in the titles and the action of the chapters and wonderful offbeat descriptions. The latter stages, which introduce numerous stories within the story, felt rushed, especially the final chapters. I plan to track down more of Murray Bail's books.