Red Herrings for Breakfast
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley April 17, 2020
Author Annabet Ousback
Distributor: Bad Apple Press
ISBN: 9780648556923
Publisher: Bad Apple Press
Release Date: April 2020
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He was a Swedish Maritime Naval Officer who wanted to marry her; she was not at all interested but thought his lovely uniform was rather nice. Both had been raised in difficult and challenging households, growing up with hard work as the maxim, inflexible attitudes and exacting parents.
Annabet was the first-born child, unwanted, grudgingly accepted and cared for; Anders, born prematurely, sickly and difficult was the second born; Amanda the third born child, several years younger, was their fathers’ favourite.
Annabet Ousback presents their life for public inspection as she recounts their childhood growing up in what is now the iconic Balmoral Boatsheds, owned for many years by her parents, through whose hard work, took the business from a post-war run-down outfit, to a thriving undertaking.
Annabet and Anders had had each other’s backs from a very young age; in a household where the emotion of domestic violence was prevalent, emotions uncertain, life was hard with little or no exception. She was outgoing and an extrovert, Anders far more introverted, challenging the status quo from a young age and always ripe for mischief of one sort or another.
Both went on to achieve much in their adult lives; Annabet eventually became a children’s clothing designer of repute in Australia: Anders carved out a career in the food industry which was to see him become one of the most influential figures world of the fledgling Sydney and the International food scene in the 1970’s and ‘80’s. He also became a potter of note, his work highly sought after, purchased by Galleries and collectors world-wide.
Neither of them ever overcame the legacy of their childhood: For Annabet it was trying to overcome her mothers’ lifelong criticism, for Anders it was a secret involving his father he took to his grave. The permanent shadow of growing up with domestic violence never left either of them. Andres committed suicide in 2004 a deeply troubled man, Annabet left to once again to sort out the estate and once again rebuild her life after several difficult marriages.
Red Herrings for Breakfast is a brave, introspective and wonderfully rich look at life as it so often was in the post war years, the toll dysfunctional families take on the emotions and what is termed as success. This telling also lays wide open the love and destructive emotional ties of family.
From the first page the story is riveting, a window into another world, time and place, to an eventual acceptance and forgiveness as life finally offers a form of peace and understanding.
Brilliant, topical, honest and compelling reading, Red herrings For Breakfast will remain long after the last page is read, offering much for contemplation and understanding.