Anonymous by Di Enw.

Anonymous is an account of a Welsh blokes’ one year backpacking trip to New Zealand in 1997. It is told as a first person narrative by an unnamed author and I assume that “Di Enw” is part anagram and stands for New David. Throughout this book his first name is never used and anyone talking to him calls him “you” or “Welsh bloke”.

His aim whilst travelling around New Zealand is to become windswept and interesting. It was getting him down that he appeared so anonymous and that nobody cared for him. So he went on his way travelling around and staying at backpacker hostels. This is his tale where he meets many interesting and colourful characters.

The writing is good and you really get the feel of the time and location. His story is easy to relate to and you get a full and lively picture because of his skill at describing the people around him…

...He wore a vest, shorts, footy socks and work boots every day, and was louder than a fat Hawaiian shirted Texan with hearing difficulties…

…”Aussie Dyke,” or Toni as others knew her, was the first to extend the hand of friendship my way. Despite her skinhead, multiple piercings and frightening tattoos in none of the places chosen by glamour models, but all those chosen by soldiers, sailors and Maori rugby stars, Toni was the hostel’s mum…

...With The Barber’s hands on the wheel, my head resting on the seat, and her wearing a baggy vest with no bra, I can see the entire west face of her tits…

I enjoyed reading Anonymous and found it a good read. I liked the way his story unfolded and it was very much like getting to know a new workmate as they reveal their colourful past. The whole feel of this book was rites of passage, growing up and forging an identity. He really got to grips with anonymity when he writes…

...Their smart appearance sets them apart from the rest of us, and I suddenly realize that all backpackers and travellers look the same. Each one of us does something to try to show our freedom and independence, but the more we seek not to conform the more we look like a herd. Each extra piercing or tattoo, each new scruffy shirt and every extra inch of hair marks us as different from the worlds we came from, but actually serves only to make us even more conformist. Like sheep we are individually anonymous and only recognizable as an indistinguishable part of a wider flock…

Anonymous has a happy ending and was a good reading experience. I always enjoy reading first person narratives and this one has an honesty and warmth that makes it such a pleasant read. Yes, it is not the best first person narrative I have read but it is a truly good read that I will vote 4 stars.

When I got to the end it reveals the author’s real name which I assume is to leave the reader with an understanding of how anonymous we all are in different fields. He does put over the very transient nature of human relationships and how some are very highlighted and named while others are anonymous and go unnoticed. With social mobility being so great nowadays, even in small towns you will not be able to recognize that face in the street. Recognizing names across the internet is easy and a good place for book lovers is a website called Goodreads. I put book reviews on there but sadly Anonymous by Di Enw or the author’s real name is not listed on there which is a shame but I am sure he has his reasons.

Anonymous is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2014.