12. Let’s Get Friendly with Jack - creativity, life paths and the next great Australian novel

This novel follows the lives of four friends—Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a painter; Malcolm, an architect; and Jude, a brilliant and enigmatic litigator—after they graduate from a small Massachusetts college and move to New York. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, influenced by addiction, success, and the profound impact of Jude's unspeakable childhood trauma. The book is a vivid, hyperreal portrait of human existence, exploring themes of male friendship, race, sexuality, and love in the twenty-first century.

In 'Island', Aldous Huxley presents a vision of a utopian society on the fictional island of Pala. The island, isolated in the Pacific, has developed a unique culture over 120 years, blending spiritual, philosophical, and practical wisdom. The story follows Will Farnaby, a cynical journalist who becomes shipwrecked on Pala and is introduced to the island's harmonious way of life. Through his interactions with the islanders, Farnaby undergoes a transformation, learning about the importance of interconnectedness, respect for nature, and a balanced approach to life. However, the idyllic society is threatened by external forces, including an expansionist neighbor and the lure of modernization, highlighting Huxley's philosophical musings on the sustainability of utopian ideals in the face of real-world pressures.

Written in 1931 and published in 1932, 'Brave New World' is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic World State where humans are bred in vitro and predestined into a rigid social hierarchy. The novel explores themes of technological advancement, social conditioning, and the loss of individuality and freedom. The story revolves around characters such as Bernard Marx, an Alpha who questions the society, Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, and John, a 'Savage' from a reservation who introduces elements of emotion and individuality into the highly controlled World State. The novel critiques the optimism of technological progress and its potential to create a society that values stability and happiness over humanity and freedom.