Read This: The Tangled Branches of Lech Blaine’s Family Tree
Feb 1, 2025
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Lech Blaine, a writer and journalist known for his memoir, Australian Gospel, delves into his family's complex dynamics, revealing the entwined fates of two couples and their children. He discusses the healing power of storytelling and how it helps document challenging family histories. The conversation touches on themes of coercive control and the struggles of his stepmother, Mary. Blaine also reflects on his 11-year writing journey, detailing how personal experiences shaped his craft and narrative style.
Lech Blaine's 'Australian Gospel' explores the intricate dynamics between his biological parents and foster families, revealing the lasting impact of trauma.
The podcast sheds light on the chaotic lives of Michael and Mary Shelley, showcasing their descent from privilege to instability and its effects on Blaine's upbringing.
Deep dives
Lech Blaine's Journey Through Memoir
Lech Blaine's memoir, 'Australian Gospel: A Family Saga,' chronicles the intricate and tumultuous history of his family and foster siblings. Despite being only 33, Blaine's rich life experiences have already led him to write two memoirs, the first being 'Car Crash,' which details the aftermath of a tragic accident that claimed the lives of his friends. His new book shifts focus to the complex dynamics between his biological and foster families, particularly highlighting the collision between the lives of his foster parents and the chaotic presence of his biological parents, Michael and Mary Shelley. This narrative structure reveals the scars of trauma and the enduring impact of familial ties, making Blaine's storytelling both compelling and relatable.
The Allure of the Shelley Family Saga
The podcast delves into the fascinating misadventures of Michael and Mary Shelley, whose story resembles a true crime narrative filled with unexpected twists. Once privileged socialites in Sydney, the Shelleys became roving Christians battling their own demons of drug use and mental illness, reflecting the juxtaposition of their former lives with their erratic behavior after abandoning stability. Their children, three of whom were adopted by Blaine's parents, serve as a focal point in this saga, emphasizing the complex interplay between birth families and foster families. The dramatic shifts in the Shelleys' lives frame the larger narrative of Blaine's upbringing, illustrating how their chaos casts long shadows over his childhood.
Exploring Family Dynamics and Personal Growth
Blaine's reflections on his upbringing reveal the emotional labor involved in reconciling the past with personal identity, particularly with respect to his mother’s role. He emphasizes the profound influence of both Michael and Mary Shelley on the narratives surrounding his family, while ultimately recognizing the resilience and love his adoptive parents provided. The writing process allowed Blaine to explore his family's history with nuance and empathy, leading to a deeper understanding of Mary Shelley’s struggles and the societal pressures that shaped her. In sharing this complex family tale, Blaine not only honors his roots but also enriches the reader's comprehension of redemption and the multifaceted nature of love in blended families.
Lech Blaine’s debut book Car Crash, told the gripping story of his life in the aftermath of a horrendous road accident that killed several of his friends. Since then he’s written political essays and thoughtful journalism for The Monthly, the Quarterly Essay and beyond. On this week’s episode of Read This we’re bringing you Michael’s conversation with Lech at Canberra Writers’ Festival, where they discussed his latest book Australian Gospel: A Family Saga. The book details the outrageous true story of the tangled fates of two couples and the children trapped between them.
