One wonders what Gail Bell has in store for her next memoir. Her first book, The Poison Principle, was an exploration of the history of poisoning (especially in her own family). Shot, her second, is an extended meditation on the place and meaning of guns in our society, taking her own experience of being shot at age 17 as a starting point. The first part of the book starkly evokes the horror and confusion of her experience, which has understandably continued to haunt her. By breaking down the degrees of separation that serve to distance most readers personally from this well-worn debate, Bell has created a truly unique book. She interviews other gunshot victims, attempts to speak to those who have shot people and visits a shooting range, taking up the psychological challenge of shooting a gun herself. Along her journey, she shares with the reader both her emotional and logical thoughts about the place of guns in our society - and indeed, the question of whether they do have a legitimate place. The result is a searing, personally resonant examination of Australians' relationship with guns, with a similar gut-impact to Michael Moore's documentary film on the US experience, Bowling for Columbine.

Jo Case is a bookseller at Avenue Bookstore.

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