Bri Lee – Eggshell Skull (Literature Review)

[Editor/Author Note: Trigger warning – sexual assault, mental health/illness]

Bri Lee’s memoir, Eggshell Skull, is a horrific yet determined story about overcoming adversity and standing up for what you believe in.

When Lee announced to her family that she was changing her major from journalism to law, her father – a police officer – warned her to never look for justice in the legal system.

But Lee was resolute in her decision, eventually graduating and taking up a position as a judge’s associate, where she would be witness to cases coming through the Brisbane law courts, as well as those presented in regional areas that did not have access to a full-time judge.

The position wasn’t an easy one, particularly as Lee often bore witness to some horrific cases and had a front row seat to the injustice her father had warned her of years ago. It was a big lesson for a woman in her early 20s to learn, but essential as it led her to finally confronting her own childhood trauma and, by extension, challenging the archaic and outdated policies of a system that is no longer relevant in the 21^st Century.

Eggshell Skull made a splash even before it was released, with both the publisher and literary heavyweights hyping its launch just a few months ago. Liam Pieper called it ‘courageous, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful’ and Jessica Friedman called it ‘sensitive and clear-eyed’, praise that even the most accomplished of author’s would kill for, let alone one who is making their debut.

And the accolades continue, with the memoir being shortlisted for the Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Award at the Queensland Literary Awards as well as the Nib Award for research in fiction or non-fiction. It’s difficult for me as a reviewer to add something new to the conversation. It’s just that good.

Eggshell Skull is written with such a sharpness and honesty that it’s difficult to look away. Lee does not shy away from sharing the most harrowing details of her journey from judge’s associate to complainant, seeing no merit in protecting either the justice system in which she placed her faith, or shielding how her experiences affected her mental health throughout the lengthy and drawn-out process from her readers.

At one point, Lee writes of having lodged her complaint and put herself through the trauma of the Queensland courts for the sake of the other women who may have been victimised by the same man she had encountered. That is, for me, why this Eggshell Skull is so important. It helps give a voice to those who have struggled and become marginalised because of their experiences, be it because of sexual assault or something else.

Lee is just one of many women who have faced adversity and had the strength to confront those who would try to stop her.  Eggshell Skull is a powerfully honest memoir, necessary if we (as a society) are going to affect change in a world that is often caught up in the red tape of policy and legislation. For all those who have struggled to find their place and overcome obstacles, this is a highly recommended read.

Eggshell Skull is published by Allen & Unwin. To find out more about Bri Lee, visit her website. Alternately, you can find out more about Eggshell Skull and other recent releases by clicking here.