The Montegiallo School of Swearing, Andrew HC McDonald | Book 52, May 2025

The Montegiallo School of Swearing, Andrew HC McDonald | Book 52, May 2025

Ahhh, this was the first book launch I’ve attended in years – and I stumbled into it almost by chance. I’d seen a promo for The Montegiallo School of Swearing, checked my calendar, and somehow, the stars aligned. A solo outing while the kids were visiting family? Absolutely yes.

I picked up my copy of the book from Boffins in the City the day before, during a wander to the Art Gallery. The team at Boffins pointed out it was signed by the author – a small but exciting detail.

The event itself was held at the State Library, and before I even walked in, I overheard a man outside grumbling, “thirty-five dollars,” like the price was outrageous. But once inside, that comment sat with me – especially after hearing from Andrew HC McDonald himself. He spent two full years on this book: 38 days of solid writing, 15 drafts before submitting it to a publisher, and another 18 months in editing. That “thirty-five dollars”? Absolutely earned.

I was the first person to arrive in the seminar room – a space that looked part lecture theatre, part intimate conversation zone. Two armchairs were positioned at the front beneath track lighting. Andrew and his co-host held the room effortlessly. There was no awkward fumbling or dead air – just easy, flowing conversation, humour, and insight. When Andrew read an extract aloud, he brought it to life in a way that had me even more excited to dive in.

This wasn’t just a book launch; it was a celebration of the weird, wonderful, often chaotic process behind writing and publishing. Andrew wore his great-grandfather’s pocket watch and everything else he had on – apart from the hat – was Italian. There was a sense of homecoming, of affection and nostalgia, even in his reflections about bureaucracy, small-town quirks, and the frustrations of renovating a one-euro home in rural Sicily.

Takeaways from the Event

There were so many brilliant little nuggets:

1. The “one euro” house scheme isn’t just an Instagram fantasy. Andrew shared that it was happening decades ago in Bruce Rock, WA.
2. He worked with an Italian swearing consultant (yes, that’s a real thing). One of the swears that didn’t make the cut translated to something along the lines of “your mother urinated while standing up.” Ha!
3. He chose not to explore mafia or church politics in this book – “that wasn’t the story,” he said.
4. The priest character is based on a real priest from Kalamunda. (It shows – the character’s warmth and groundedness come through.)
5. Andrew didn’t design the cover, despite being a graphic designer. Publishers had their strategy: women buy more books, so the cover design leans toward them.
6. Even though he’s a stand-up comic, writing this book was a team effort – unlike being on stage, where you’re on your own.
7. He still works at Curtin Uni and paused other creative projects while focusing on this novel.
   

He admitted there’s a lot of him in Brian, the main character. Brian’s internal dialogue, his efforts to change, and that raw, messy search for connection and meaning? All very real.

Thoughts on the Book

This novel was such a joy – funny, warm, and full of irreverent charm. From counting the six toilets in his dilapidated villa to finding 1950s porno comics titled Pussycat and Ultra Pussycat (complete with a woman in a cat costume and a massive red strap-on – honestly, what a moment!), I was laughing out loud.

I loved the camaraderie among the expats at the bottom of the hill – dubbed “the Ghetto” – and the unspoken hierarchy that dictates how and when you can get any work done. The book captured the frustrations and beauty of being an outsider trying to build a life somewhere new.

What hit hardest, though, was Brian’s self-talk – the contrast between “old Brian” and “new Brian” – a theme that resonated deeply. It’s something many of us struggle with: trying to pivot, reinvent ourselves, or find peace with past mistakes while carving out something better. The priest’s gentle, wise presence gave that process emotional weight, and his scenes with Brian were especially touching.

And yes – I squealed when Brian and Vivian finally sorted things out. That moment, and the arrival of his mate from Australia, gave me all the feelings.

Final Thoughts

Accidentally buying a villa in Sicily for one euro doesn’t sound like a real problem – but in The Montegiallo School of Swearing, it becomes the setting for a deeply funny, unfiltered exploration of culture, connection, and self-discovery. McDonald writes with heart and wit, giving us a protagonist who is flawed but determined, tired but hopeful, and unexpectedly lovable.

I went to this event on a whim. I left feeling inspired, a little lighter, and with a book I couldn’t put down.