“Imagination should be nurtured”
Review of The Book of Everything, Guus Kuijer, by Kara Martin

Thomas is a nine-year-old with a vivid imagination, but he soon realises that not many other people see the world the way he does. He decides to copy what he sees down in a book, called the Book of Everything.

One day, Thomas sees tropical fish swimming in the local river, a whole school of fish, he knows no-one will believe him but he tells one of his sister Margot’s friends Eliza, and she explains that it is because people flush fish down their toilets when they go on holidays, and in fact she saw a crocodile in her toilet bowl once. People like Eliza help Thomas to feel more comfortable about what he sees.

Although the book sounds fun and quirky, there is a darker side. The quirkiness is in contrast to what is happening in Thomas’ home. His father is a strong character, a bully, who uses his religious beliefs to keep his family under his tight control. He is a joyless character, stern and prone to violence in the name of headship and not sparing a rod to spoil the child.

Thomas is at the age where he is bursting with ideas and curiosity, but there is no room for questions or flippancy at home. His Mother is sweet but reasonably ineffectual. His sister is defiant but clever and avoids the brunt of their father’s anger.

However the situation does change for Thomas. The novel traces a movement from restriction to freedom and from fear to love that is brought about by three things:

1. Firstly, there is his journaling in his Book of Everything, which allows his imagination to roam.
   
2. Secondly there is affirmation and nurturing from Eliza, and Mrs van Amersfoort, a widow neighbour who is labelled a witch because she is strong and independent.
   
3. The third aspect is Thomas’ regular chats with Jesus. This is where Kuijer’s skill as an author is particularly adept. Conversing with Jesus could have degenerated into something saccharine or plain farce, but the conversations are beautiful and Jesus has a pretty good sense of humour.

There is a contrast between the God of Thomas’ father, who is mean and tough; and the Jesus that comes to Thomas when he prays, who is a loving and encouraging figure showing Thomas he is special.

There is so much in this book, about how restricting relationships can be; how people can twist the Bible for their selfish means; and how Jesus will not be restricted in his access to people. The book is about Thomas’ journey of integrating his inner world, which is stimulating and curious and courageous, with his outer world which has been full of fear and regimentation.

There are some weaknesses in this book, but they come from its structure, because the narrator is a nine-year-old. For example, the father seems one-dimensional, and there is a stereotypical portrayal of fundamentalist Christian beliefs. Also, this review comes with a warning that the domestic violence is described quite graphically... but maybe we need to be shaken up, to see it for what it is.

Ultimately, though this book is a fascinating story, beautifully told, it focuses warmly on Jesus and is ultimately life-affirming and heart-expanding.

Open House fiction reviewer KARA MARTIN is a lecturer with Macquarie Christian Studies Institute (www.mcsi.edu.au), and an avid reader and book group attendee.