A LIFE OF PROSE

Day: 10 February 2025

  • Afghani: A Contemporary War Fiction With a Captivating Narrative

    Afghani: A Contemporary War Fiction With a Captivating Narrative

    War is a racket and culture is blind! This fascinating Afghani novel, a piece of contemporary war fiction, features a dual timeline that vividly explores war and culture.

    Welcome to the world of contemporary war fiction where Brendon Patrick’s “AFGHANI” stands out as a lone, but powerful and uncompromising voice that dares to explore the dark side of military life.

    Set against the backdrop of Australia’s longest running war, in Afghanistan, this captivating novel offers readers a visceral journey through two interconnected timelines. It is here where Brendon masterfully weaves together the modern-day experiences of soldier with the historical narrative of George Sher Gul, a 19th-century cameleer who ventures off into a collision course with a ‘White Australia’.

    The Dual Timeline and Contemporary War Fiction.

    Brendon combines these two characters in an intimate and innovative narrative:

    Modern-day Conflict: The primary timeline follows Patterson, a young and naïve recruit who quickly finds himself dumped into the heart of the brutal Afghanistan War. His narrative offs a raw and unflinching look into the fatuous and often corrupt nature of modern war.

    19th Century Australian Frontier: The secondary timeline traces George Sher Gul’s journey from a war-torn Afghanistan to outback Australia where he plays a crucial role in the country’s early development.

    Brendon has employed this structure to draw deep and profound parallels between the historical contexts and the contemporary experiences of both Afghans and Australians. It is here that he can highlight themes of cultural discord, human resilience, and the enduring impact human connection.

    George Sher Gul: A Pioneer and a Pariah

    At the heart of the historical story, George Sher Gul arrives as a complex but integral figure. As a cameleer, in 19th-century Australia, Sher Gul also represents an often forgotten, but vitally important passage in Australia’s early history—that is the significant contribution the Afghan Cameleers made to the early exploration and development of the nation.

    Brendon brings Sher Gul’s experiences to life with his colourful prose:

    “I’m a goddamned Cameleer, and there’s nothing more to it!”

    Affirming Sher Gul’s powerful sense of identity, with being a cameleer and his straightforward nature.

    Several other aspects of Sher Gul’s story include:

    The challenges faced by the Afghani under the rule of a ‘White Australia’ policy. The forgotten role of the cameleers in exploring and connecting remote regions of Australia. And the cultural discord and conflict that often occurred between the Afghani and White Australia.

    Themes Which Bridge Time and Culture

    By crossing over these two narratives, Brendon explores and even shines a spotlight on several overarching themes.

    Afghan Cultural Heritage and Understanding

    Each timeline expresses the distinct nature of the challenges, and the rewards when two foreign cultures meet. In the modern narrative, we see a young Australian grappling with his role in a misguided war. While in Sher Gul, we see the struggle, and the triumph of an immigrant navigating often hostile environments.

    Brendon illustrates this through poignant moments of connection and conflict:

    “This here’s Miriam, my daughter. She’s as stubborn as a Mallee Bull, and refuses to stay at home, like a good woman should. I tell yers, what she needs is strong man to straighten her out. But if I catch any of you savages messing about, I swear to God, I’ll hang you by the short and curlies.”

    Resilience in the Face of Adversity

     In the face of adversity, each of our protagonists display remarkable resilience. There’s the soldier’s ability to cope with the harshest realities of an unjust war. This is paralleled by Sher Gul’s grit and determination in his endeavours to carve out a life in the unforgiving Australian outback.

    “I pulled aside a green Army trunk and sat on top, with a clear view West to the Sar-e Tangi Mountain. It towered over the valley, with its brown, demonic and razor-sharp craggy edges. We were sitting in the middle of hell on earth, but those mountains were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”

    Wars Impact on Identity

    In writing “Afghani” Brendon emphasises how individual interactions can have far reaching consequences, and rewards. Sher Gul’s contribution to Australia’s early development leaves behind a long-lasting legacy. While the soldier leaves Afghanistan with feelings of grief, guilt, and a crisis of identity.

    Conclusion

    Brendon Patrick’s “Afghani” is more than just contemporary war fiction, it’s a historical journey across generations. It’s a nuanced tale and a deep exploration into the heart of cultural interaction. And the atrocities of war, creating a legacy that stays buried within those who experience it first-hand. By bridging the experiences between those of a modern soldier, and that of a 19th-century cameleer, a rich tapestry is created. It will challenge readers to consider the complex relationships between nations, both across culture and time.

    If you are looking to explore the complexities of modern warfare, and the early days of Australia’s multicultural resistances, I highly recommend “Afghani” by Brendon Patrick as an essential read. It offers a unique, and often first-hand perspective that spans centuries, connecting past and present in a thought-provoking way.

    [Brendon Patrick is a retired Australian soldier. A veteran of Afghanistan and Timor-Leste campaigns, and is a descendent of the Afghan, Muslim Cameleers. “Afghani” will be available through most online retailers in July-August 2025.]

    P.S: AFGHANI can be purchased, today, from all major online retailers.

    Afghani, by Brendon Patrick

  • Unlock Your Creativity with Reading and Journaling

    Unlock Your Creativity with Reading and Journaling

    Reading would have to be the simplest pastime known—universally. I mean, you can do it anywhere. You can do it at the departure lounge while you wait for your flight. You can do it on the bus. You can do it on a train. You can even do it standing on your head. However, I would leave that to the more advanced readers out there. One way to unlock creativity with reading and journaling is to make these activities a regular part of your routine.

    Unlock Your Reading Superpower: Boost Comprehension and Learning

    But there is more to reading than simply passing time—especially if you are looking to develop and explore your own creativity (drug and tech-free). And no, I am not talking about getting lost in an enjoyable book… letting that story carry you away to some far-off, phantasmagorical place… far, far, far beyond your real-world endeavours. No, I am talking about how you can turn your love of reading outwards as we go exploring our thoughts through the magic of journaling.

    And I bet you did not even know—or you did but have not tapped into this well of youth yet—but as an avid reader, you have been subconsciously preparing yourself for the journaling journey all along. Consider this: every novel you have read, every poem you have devoured, and every form of story you have read has been providing you with this gift… this masterclass… guiding you through this art of emotional exploration.

    Come to think of it… that is a formidable skill set… especially in a world hellbent on technological advancement.

    If you have already dipped their toes into writing—whether that be in the personal or professional realm—you will know it is an invaluable asset. Which leads us to creative writing. A term that sends shudders up some people’s spines and adrenaline pumping into the hearts of others.

    Immersive Reading: Journey Beyond the Page for Unforgettable Literary Adventures

    If you have ever sat for unknown amounts of time staring at either a blank page or a blank screen, you will know exactly what I mean. There is no more daunting feeling in the world—save for sleeping in when you have an appointment or when you are about to miss your flight—because writing is hard. Writing about yourself is even harder, but in a positive way (because what we are aiming to foster here is positive personal development—not self-torture).

    Master the Art of Creative Inspiration: Learning from Literary Giants

    One of my favorite authors is Hunter S. Thompson. Hunter was a wild man… there is no doubt about it. And he had a few party tricks (probably a few too many, in fact), but there is one that I found extremely useful when I was learning to write. You see, he loved Ernest Hemingway. Or, more-so, Ernest’s writing, and he used that to his advantage by copying—verbatim—his stories. From beginning to end. Not to plagiarise, or anything nefarious like that. But just to experience the art of writing great prose. And love him or hate him, it was great prose.

    I highly recommend adapting this practice—regardless of whether you have the desire to be a serious writer or simply want to expand your own journaling experience by taking your favorite books and stealing—ethically of course—some of that magic to unlock creativity through reading and journaling.

    Embrace Your Authentic Self to Unlock Creativity with Reading and Journaling

    One of the earliest lessons, in writing, I had to learn was letting go. You see, us writers can be (over-generalising here) an egotistical bunch. And, I would go as far to say that ego is the number one cause of writer’s block. We want to be brilliant. And we want you to think we are also brilliant and to love us, and to buy all our books.

    A lot hangs on that. A whole freaking lot, and sometimes—especially in my case—we become blinded by this pursuit perfection. At the end of the day, there is absolutely zero need for it. Plus, it’s unobtainable. So why go off chasing unicorns. Especially in novel writing, because—while drafting a novel—I will write eight or nine iterations. Perfection, early on at least—not only becomes redundant but it stifles creativity and steps away from authenticity.

    I would say the case stands for journal writing too. Particularly because nobody is going to read it but you. There is absolutely no benefit in being hard on yourself through this process, and it would simply serve to undermine the whole endeavour. So, be creative and express yourself, wholly and fully.

    Achieve Big Goals: The Power of Daily Creative Habits

    Rome was not built in a day, and there is only one way to eat an elephant: One Bite at a Time. In other words, take baby steps. Begin with short, daily writing habits. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and write without stopping, and absolutely with critique or judgement. Take the opportunity to let the ink flow.

    Consider a moment in your day which made you feel happy. The instance where someone cut you off in traffic and pissed you off. Or how a kind gesture from a stranger made you smile. All these experiences are writing cues and opportunities. They help you process your emotions and get stuff off your chest. You can be as creative with that as you like … or not. This is your practice … you get to approach it however you like.

    If you want to go deep here. If you dare to be brave, and you have at least some experiences with journaling, I recommend undertaking some Shadow Work exercises. This is a form of deep self discovery, fashioned by Carl Jung, is a process of exploring undiscovered parts of yourself. And it involves a whole heap of writing to unlock creativity through reading and journaling.

    What I have found since I began this journey is just how easy unlocking the cobwebs that encircle my brain’s become possible through journaling. My novel writing also flows better … because—I believe—I know and understand myself more intimately and that has delivered a massive confidence booster for my art.

    In Conclusion: Be Authentic

    There are so many benefits to journaling, eg, emotional development, greater connections—with yourself and others—and you become more empathetic. The world needs more of that, right now.

    Your experiences are going to be a thousand percent difference to mine. Embrace your uniqueness. But remember, this only works if we are being honest with ourselves. Your future self will thank you for the insights and growth that come from this simple yet powerful practice.

    P.S: Share your journaling experiences or ask questions in the comments below. Let us inspire each other on this creative journey!