Review:

Book: "Sushi Central" by Alasdair Duncan

By John Frame 25^th September 2003

John Frame’s comments re Sushi Central: (as read at the official launch at Avid Reader 25^th Sept 2003) In "Sushi Central" the main character, Calvin, is a 16 year old who’s looking for meaningful depth in his reason for being.  Calvin hasn't ever struggled for any physical provisions in his life - being born with a reasoning brain, cute looks, and into a quite comfortable middle-class family. He's also blessed with a best friend who accepts him totally - and Calvin is, without question, a gay man. Calvin knows, from a past family tragedy, that life can be very short. He also knows that "cute and young" equates to "hot and desirable", and that being found desirable is the ultimate affirmation that you're truly alive.  At 20 years of age, Alasdair Duncan writes from recent experience of the agony and ecstasy of being a teenager, but he lays the heart, mind and body of his character wide open for the reader to empathise or scrutinise.  I believe that youth will find "Sushi Central" to be an extraordinarily reflective experience - especially Brisbane youth, who will also know the suburbs, streets and clubs that feature so prominently. Older readers will know the truth of what he writes in how they themselves have experienced their sexuality and their process toward self-acceptance. They will also know that at 16 you've only just got your foot in the door to the meaning of life. "Sushi Central" is not merely about angst - it's about music and beauty, friendship and lust, love and loss - and it’s a quite lot about obsession and abandon. Alasdair writes an entertaining, realistic and utterly honest snapshot of a young gay life in Brisbane - a city big enough for vice to exist untouched, and small enough for everyone to seem to know everyone else.

Alasdair Duncan “Sushi Central” Brisbane’s Alasdair Duncan, is perhaps Australia’s youngest published novelist and he’s certainly our youngest gay novelist at 20. I had the honour of officially launching Alasdair‘s debut novel “Sushi Central” (2003 University of Queensland Press) on 25September 2003 at Avid Reader, West End (Brisbane, Australia).