Book Review: The Byron Journals by Daniel Ducrou

The Byron Journals tracks the questionable, alternative lifestyles of a group of young adults in Byron Bay. His skilled writing paints a languid, summery tone that is undercut with the uncertainty of growing up and the bittersweet trial of identifying ourselves. The dialogue is conversational, plot realistic, and the characters are full of depth and humanity; together, they oscillate into crafting an honest and perceptive novel that looks into the mind of a new generation regarding sex, drugs, and music.

Ducrou gives some firsthand detail to the environment of Byron Bay. His portrait is clear in the reader’s mind and the swelling heat, the passion in the air, the music vibrating through the streets come alive with his words. I found the novel not so much about growing up as it is about learning to forgive ourselves and others and letting go of the past. Ducrou hints that the two are closely intertwined: we can’t begin to let go and move on until we’ve found forgiveness. The realization of that notion might be the first step. Andrew arrives in Byron Bay to escape problems at home. There he parts with his mates and meets Heidi, who has also run away to Byron. While their experiences in Byron help mask the issues that brought them there, the past haunts them like a shadow, and it’s with them always.

Daniel Ducrou has an excellent debut novel. His writing is fresh and powerfully authentic. He stirs the pot with the twists and turns and bad decisions only confused, experimental teenagers make. I started reading this novel seeing comparisons to John Green’s “Looking for Alaska,” another bildungsroman about regret, forgiveness, and looking for life-changing experiences. The particular similarity was in Alaska and Heidi. Both were troubled, guilt-ridden girls. But as the novel progressed, the two novels’ differences showed and I began to appreciate Ducrou’s book for what it is. This is a valuable addition to Australian literature. I look forward to his next.