Soft Serve, the debut novel by playwright George Kemp, is not the "drive-thru Chekhov" as marketed, but it powerfully addresses themes of grief and life's pivotal moments. Set in a regional Australian town, this coming-of-age story uses climate carnage as a backdrop to delve into the pain of loss and the struggle for renewal.
A Tale of Mourning and Metaphor
After the accidental death of Taz, a teenager with aspirations beyond his hometown, his mother Pat leaves her career as a school counsellor to work at the local McDonald's, finding solace in routine. Taz's friends—Ethan, Fern, and her brother Jacob—gather annually at the fast-food restaurant to honor his memory with soft serves. As nearby bushfires threaten, a sudden wind change traps them under the golden arches, forcing them to confront their inner turmoil.
Characters Caught in Transition
Each character grapples with personal demons. Fern eagerly anticipates a future with Ethan, while Ethan secretly yearns for Jacob, with whom he shared an unexpected kiss years earlier. Jacob, described as having "something bright and sad clanging about" inside him, navigates chaos and aimlessness. Pat serves as a maternal guide, watching over the group as they all burn with loss and uncertainty, stuck between their past and potential futures.
Kemp, known for his award-winning play Shack, skillfully uses the bushfires as both plot driver and metaphor. The raging flames symbolize grief as an engulfing blaze, with themes of resilience and rebirth emerging through the narrative. While some moments border on schmaltz, such as resilience likened to "tiny green shoots after a fire," the novel offers evocative ideas about change and recovery.
Strengths and Limitations
Soft Serve has a stage-like quality, with a confined setting and dialogue-driven plot that creates a vivid tableau. However, this approach sometimes keeps readers at a distance, as character psyches are not deeply explored, making poignant moments feel stilted. The novel's brevity also limits the development of multiple perspectives, including Pat, Fern, Ethan, Jacob, a Māori firefighter named Lotte, and Taz through flashbacks. Pat, in particular, is an immersive character whose potential is not fully realized.
Regional Australia Portrayed with Wit
Despite its flaws, Soft Serve shines in its wry depiction of regional Australia. Kemp captures the town's essence, where excitement over new traffic lights is tinged with sadness, and life events like funerals are interrupted by trivialities such as a priest's lawn bowls final. His affectionate sarcasm adds a relatable, droll layer to the novel's tender undercurrent, making the setting feel authentic and engaging.
Inspired by Emily Dickinson's poetry on grief, Soft Serve reflects on the "formal feeling" after loss and the gradual process of "letting go." It speaks to life's thresholds, where individuals must choose between clinging to the past or embracing renewal. Ultimately, this debut may not live up to its Chekhovian comparison, but it resonates with its moving exploration of human resilience in the face of environmental and emotional devastation.
