Sisters’ Stolen Songs

Paula Xiberras

At least once a year Dr Louise Allan makes a house call to see family in Tasmania. And it is family is the inspiration behind Louise’s debut novel ‘The Sisters’ Song’.

When I spoke to Louise she told me ‘The Sisters’ Song’ was a ‘good 6 years in the making’ and says the ‘first draft in 2010 was drivel’.

‘The Sisters’ Song’ is set in rural Tasmania, taking us on a journey from the 20’s to the 90s as it documents the very different lives of two sisters. The sisters are living an idyllic existence until their father passes away and their mother finds she cannot cope, releasing the girls to their grandmother’s care. One sister, Nora is musically talented and her grandmother encourages her, to pursue a career in music. The other sister, Ida finds herself in the more mundane job of nanny. However the nanny role increases her desire to marry and raise children. The fact that her own wish for family will be a rocky path is predicted early on in two metaphorical incidents when Ida loses two of her beloved dolls, one left behind when the girls relocate to their grandmother and another destroyed by the girl’s mother when Ida has an argument with Nora. These incidents predict Ida’s fragile relationship with motherhood.

Like Ida in the novel Louise’s grandmother suffered the same medical condition which saw her unable to have healthy babies. Louise’s grandmother’s child, Louise’s uncle was stillborn. Louise with her medical knowledge was able to write clearly and sensitively on these traumatic situations.

While Ida struggles realising her family dreams, Nora leaves home to follow her musical one but things take an unexpected turn and Nora finds herself back home, a wife and mother, the very role her sister craves. Ida instead remains bitter at having her musical ambitions truncated. Ida fails to see all the things she should be thankful for, especially family, the very thing that evades her sister. Tragically she realises this too late. When Nora’s own daughter shows an inherited talent history seems like repeating itself.

Nora is aptly named for Ibsen’s housewife in The Dolls house. Louise tells me she didn’t consciously name her protagonist Nora but perhaps it was her subconscious at work and that the moniker certainly works well with the story.

‘The Sisters’ Song’ is out now published by Allen and Unwin.