I read this book through the lens of a funeral celebrant. This spare, stunning novel explores the workings of the self in the wake of devastation and deep regret, and reveals the infinite ways that the everyday offers solace and hope. It is a contemporary read written by a young Australian author who experienced the death of a parent by suicide. Contemporary in its use of language, the role of social media and the nature of the relationships portrayed. This Guardian article gives more background as to how Isobel Beech came to write Sunbathing.
As a funeral celebrant I find it helpful to read widely about death, dying and grief. Isobel ably portrays many of the stages and functions of grief, taking us through the complexity, denial, heartache, guilt and so on of suicide. It is through Martina’s eyes and reflections that we experience all the weirdness of time, timelessness, the need for solitude and the essential nature of companionship.
Generally, we will experience suicide funeral clients in the early stages of grieving. As part of developing our capacity to understand and to be able to language our clients’ experience, this book is worth a read. Its content will still be difficult for some, but it is an easy read in terms of its structure as a novel and its length.