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zozosbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Sad because I wanted this to be as good as Boy Swallows Universe but it ended up just feeling like a book that was written by that kid in highschool that talks like they’re on broadway all the time
ebonykriewaldt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marandi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
dbrhplcd's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I can't tell if I loved the narration style or if I thought it was a self-indulgent pretentious pseudo-deep drawl
It felt like a very long way to tell us "maybe the real treasure is the friends we met along the way ❤️"
Still – couldn't put this one down
I enjoyed the simplicity and repetition of the voice, it suited Molly the protagonist very well. Also the descriptions of the Top End landscape !!!!! stunning !!!!!
Minor issue with Yukio's characterisation. Were the ellipses between all his words necessary? Felt like a bad stereotype honestly.
It felt like a very long way to tell us "maybe the real treasure is the friends we met along the way ❤️"
Still – couldn't put this one down
I enjoyed the simplicity and repetition of the voice, it suited Molly the protagonist very well. Also the descriptions of the Top End landscape !!!!! stunning !!!!!
Minor issue with Yukio's characterisation. Were the ellipses between all his words necessary? Felt like a bad stereotype honestly.
kat7890erina's review against another edition
5.0
Just like Boy Swallows Universe, All Our Shimmering Skies gets off to a slow start. Stick with it.
nicolemctye's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cnolz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Adventure & magic. Heartbreaking and hopeful. Trent Dalton 🙏🏼
seclement's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
After having read 2 Trent Dalton books that I loved, I was pretty disappointed in this. It had a lot of Australian stereotypes in it, which isn't necessarily unique for him, but it really didn't land for me this time, especially with the Aboriginal characters and the Japanese pilot who drops from the sky. There's the usual mix of magic and reality, and the young, naive central character, which you see in his other books. But when you combine it with WWII Australia (and the Australian mythos around what it was like then), a mix of stereotypical characters who were difficult to connect to, and an account of Australian landscapes seemingly written by someone who doesn't seem to have spent much time there; I just struggled to even get through the story. Although the stereotypes might have aligned with the time at which the story takes place, he doesn't really nail the narrative to make that work. I have said a few times that I think Dalton is one of Australia's best modern fiction authors, but I think I have to put a caveat on that now to say he is at his best when he writes more in line with his own experience, with characters who have tough lives and weird, wonderful, and sometimes tragic coping methods, in Australian cities and suburbs. This book had its moments, but don't start here if you are new to his work.
Also, this was far longer than it needed to be, given the story
Also, this was far longer than it needed to be, given the story
Minor: Death of parent, Xenophobia, and War