A. L. McCann. Subtopia. Carlton North: Vulgar Press, 2005 [Book review]

Subtopia is A.L. (Andrew) McCann’s second novel. The book initially appears to be a standard ‘coming-of-age’ narrative. However, it quickly transforms itself into a treatise on a broad range of issues: suburbia, sex, politics, memory, death. The result is a dark and dense, but also highly imaginative read that avoids clichés and provides its readers with some rich (if at times troubling) food for thought.