Over the past few months we've mentioned, from time to time, the rather peculiar difference in review tone associated with Richard Flanagan's latest novel The Unknown Terrorist. Basically, non-Australian reviews have tended towards the very enthusiastic, while those published in Australia have been, well, rather more lethargic. You'll remember that the novel made this year's Miles Franklin Award longlist - though not the shortlist - which gave us some sort of benchmark.
And now "The Sydney Morning Herald" is reporting that Steven Spielberg's production company Dreamworks has purchased film rights to the novel. While we need to be well aware that such a transaction means nothing more than an increased income for the novelist, at this time, it does continue this dichotomy of acceptance. I must read it and find out why.
