Robert Drewe's The Shark Net

"The Shark Net", by Robert Drewe, is a vibrant memoir focusing upon the simple pleasures of growing up in Perth, Western Australia, in the '50s. Drewe examines his life in sleepy friendly Perth, using techniques such as language, structure and selection of detail. These techniques contribute to the understanding of the events in Drewe's life while growing up in the small city of Perth and the astounding change of the city when it was victimised with countless murders.

Language: Aged six, Robert Drewe moved with his family from Melbourne to Perth, the world's most isolated city. The utterly relaxed attitude and trusting environment of sun-kissed Perth and the orderly, cold and sophisticated Melbourne, is described effectively through the language
"the usual open-faced, slow strolling pedestrians and considerate motorists..." "although he was better dressed than Perth's crumpled and tweedy newspaper executives" "I couldn't remember the river looking more placid and scenic...Not a wisp of cloud, not a bird or plane or puff of smoke marred the sharp blue sky...The whole familiar scene was bathed in a generous golden light." "taking my family across the country to a bigger, busier, colder city had me feeling some where between elated and already homesick for Perth." "I couldn't help imbuing everything I saw- the suburban houses with their dogged gardens, the jaggedly pruned council street trees, even the dry veldt grass and dandelion weeds on the sandy road verge." "The way the early morning summer light struck the surface of North Street, the outlines of houses, the first scruffy dunes, and then streaked across the beach and the glassy ocean." Quite a lot of imagery is used throughout these quotes to create a nostalgic atmosphere and the reader can understand how much more idyllic and peaceful Perth is compared
However, Drewe uses a clear prose style that keeps the story moving along effortlessly. The memoir is split into four parts, each containing a large amount of chapters. The first part, however, only contains one chapter, which begins with Drewe in his early adult years. He is sitting in a courtroom watching a trial, which is dealing with the ruthless killings of many Perth people. The man accused of these killings is a man Drewe knew and one of the victims was a man he also knew. Part Two consists of many chapters dealing with Drewe's early childhood. The first chapter of part two flashes back to when Drewe was only six, living in Melbourne. His dad has scored a job in Perth and is moving the whole family there to live. Throughout the rest of part two, Drewe discusses his encounters with the people in Perth and he describes the beautiful scenery and laid back nature of the city. Peaceful Perth seemed to not care about security as there doors were never locked and anyone could wonder into their backyards. This is when the problem of prowlers occurs in Drewe's life. Drewe uses part Two to explain the growing up of Perth from a tranquil town to a secure city. When a woman is found dead in her bed, the people of Perth become less idyllic and more alert. As the story continues, Drewe examines continuous murders happening in Perth