Things Without a Name

Release date: 2008
Published by: Allen & Unwin

Things Without a Name is a curious love-story set in the chaotic universe of rape and domestic violence. Faith is a legal counselor at a women’s crisis centre. She’s a hardened vegetarian, a rabid anti-smoker, who doesn’t kill spiders, and her best friend Carol, a social worker at the centre, is intermittently suicidal. Faith’s younger sister Libby is getting breast implants as an engagement present from her fiancé and wants Faith to be her maid of honour. Having heard one too many stories, and lost one too many clients, Faith’s belief in her ability to make a difference, or to save her clients from their misery, is struggling as is her trust in others. And just for good measure, it now appears that there is a particularly sadistic serial rapist in their midst. All Faith wants is to meet a normal bloke and have a normal relationship. But, seriously what are the chances of that? One night in the waiting room of a veterinary clinic will change everything. As her own history, frailties and vulnerabilities interact with the world around her Faith finally begins to see what she has always needed to understand: that those who are looking to save others need to save themselves first.