Reviewed by Ian Lipke
Sea Change is an excellent example of an imagination at its most vivid. Here the author envisages the devastation likely to be inflicted on an island community called the Kapiti Coast. A dramatic rupture in an Alpine region triggers a tsunami that, in a series of waves of varying strength, is described as demolishing the native village and the surrounding mountains. Readers are told nothing more with respect to detail but are thrown back on the skills and abilities of their own devices.
The author achieves her effects by capturing the challenges and triumphs that reflect the community as it struggles for survival. This battle to win against the forces of nature is made more of an issue as the government forces it into ‘managed retreat’, public policy determined by a businessman with grand personal plans to maximise his interests in the area.
Author Jenny Pattrick masterfully weaves together the lives of the determined villagers. Each character contributes something to the group’s survival, in fact, they offer more than mere survival. From reclusive Lorna to blind Toddy and young Eru, each character plays a vital, even compelling, role. As they navigate the challenges of living off-grid, by securing fresh water and power, they show that this community has learnt the power of collective strength.
This novelist has been so successful because she offers more than that found at the surface. This is also a study of the human will to fight to hold on to one’s home in the face of both natural disaster and human intervention. Big Business can pursue profit with all the power that unlimited financial support may give them. However, this novel also highlights the underside of power and how some can manipulate crises for their own personal gain.
But this book ventures into healing, shown through Toddy’s physical limitations and Eru’s trauma and the resilience of those who have lost so much. Jenny Pattrick “captures the human spirit in all its complexity, balancing moments of tension with humour and warmth”.
The art of writing needs a mention. Beautifully written, Sea Change is not only a wonderful example of the right way to place words upon a page, but becomes a powerful commentary on adaptability, belonging and the strength of standing together. Highly recommended!
Sea Change
(2025)
by Jenny Pattrick
Bateman Books
ISBN:978-1-77689-134-4
$37.99; 272pp