Sheri Holman: The Mammoth Cheese

Reviewed by BRONWYN BANNISTER

Sheri Holman may have wanted to replicate the slow maturity of the mammoth cheese that features in her latest novel. Certainly, this 468-page tome takes its time to tell the intertwined tales of Three Chimneys, Virginia, but then, there is a lot to tell. And that's without the extended discussions of Thomas Jefferson's ideals and policies.

Mostly this is a gently unfolding narrative, stuff
happens and people react, but it does send up the causes and characters of small-town America and American politics. Neither of these make difficult targets and Holman makes her strongest points through her engaging characters.

The main storylines concern cheesemaker Margaret and her teenage daughter Polly. Margaret supports presidential candidate Adam Brooke, the protector of small family farms and farmers such as Margaret. Imitating a group of farmers who
presented Jefferson with a 1235-pound (560kg) wheel of cheese to celebrate his election victory, Margaret and her community make their own big cheese for the newly elected President Brooke.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Polly is struggling with her own issues. The relationship developing between Polly and her charismatic history teacher unfolds with disturbing undercurrents, the adults oblivious to the teenager's situation.

The book opens with the story of Margaret's neighbour Manda Frank who gives birth to 11 babies.

The national media, and Brooke himself, come to Three Chimneys. Donations and offers of support flood in and the town rallies around this family — rural poor and looked down on before their newsworthy achievement.

But the Franks' shift in fortune is only temporary and the drop away is brutal and believable. Holman captures with mordant insight the frenzy following the birth of the Frank Eleven as Manda struggles to cope with the situation.

Unfortunately, with the real presidential candidates in the media spotlight, Brooke's concerns are too far removed from the real arguments over the war in Iraq and military service.

Still, rural concerns such as the loan amnesty are no doubt of equal concern to many of the American voters and these are the day-to-day realities that Holman explores. Her leisurely style allows a carefully crafted portrayal of class and
religious issues to come through the complex and layered storylines. This is a panoramic and honest story of a community, with its fill of flawed and compelling characters.

Publisher: Virago

Price: $27