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jol69's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Dragged a bit in the middle. Overall I enjoyed it, but felt the ending was a little rushed.
ellathelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved this one, made me well up a few times.
_inge_'s review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
emmalemonnz's review against another edition
4.0
I started reading this the day before my parents came to visit. Mum picked it up and I didn't get to continue until after she left.
Mid 19th century Australia is not a setting I've encountered in my reading before; I'm glad I picked this book up. I know a little of the time simply from existing in (post-?)colonial New Zealand (different from Australia in many ways, but also similar, especially in the colonisers' disturbing opinions and actions) and from absorbing information about the stolen generations and general knowledge of Australia, colonialism, and 19th century British rhetoric. Salt Creek helped me see the history in a more personal way. I like that the narrator is largely honest about her own faults, and is able to be flexible in her opinions of others, though many characters felt two-dimensional to me.
While I didn't fall in love with the characters or get emotionally swept up in the story, I did enjoy it. Hester (it's hard for me to think of that name as belonging to anyone but she of The Scarlet Letter fame) is a Mighty Girl in many ways, and I really appreciate how she doesn't change her mind about the dangers of marriage, even after meeting (and - spoiler alert - re-meeting) Charles.
The ending felt a little too neat for my tastes, but it's hard to please with endings. I enjoyed this book the whole way through, but it's not one I'll rave about.
Mid 19th century Australia is not a setting I've encountered in my reading before; I'm glad I picked this book up. I know a little of the time simply from existing in (post-?)colonial New Zealand (different from Australia in many ways, but also similar, especially in the colonisers' disturbing opinions and actions) and from absorbing information about the stolen generations and general knowledge of Australia, colonialism, and 19th century British rhetoric. Salt Creek helped me see the history in a more personal way. I like that the narrator is largely honest about her own faults, and is able to be flexible in her opinions of others, though many characters felt two-dimensional to me.
While I didn't fall in love with the characters or get emotionally swept up in the story, I did enjoy it. Hester (it's hard for me to think of that name as belonging to anyone but she of The Scarlet Letter fame) is a Mighty Girl in many ways, and I really appreciate how she doesn't change her mind about the dangers of marriage, even after meeting (and - spoiler alert - re-meeting) Charles.
The ending felt a little too neat for my tastes, but it's hard to please with endings. I enjoyed this book the whole way through, but it's not one I'll rave about.
krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/day-1199-salt-creek/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/day-1199-salt-creek/
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of an English family who move to the Coorong coast, a remote part of South Australia, in 1855. Stanton Finch has had a series of business ventures that have gone poorly and as a result he decides to try his luck at farming cattle. His wife and children are less than enthusiastic about the move and the very basic living conditions that await them. They are also apprehensive about the indigenous Aboriginal people who live in the area, some of whom were potentially involved in the massacre of the survivors of a shipwreck in the area 15 years earlier. The story is narrated by Hester, the eldest daughter, who is 15 when they move there.
Initially I thought this was going to be the story of a clash between European settlers and indigenous people, but it is more about clashes within the Finch family. Stanton is a complex character, highly religious and forever chasing new opportunities for financial gain. He believes that his six children as there to do his bidding and as they get older, tensions will arise.
It's a very interesting story, with intriguing characters (although oddly, Hester our narrator feels somewhat underdeveloped). It also feels extremely well researched. As the author explains in the author's note, some of the characters are based on real people and events. There were parts when I found myself rapidly turning the pages, completely caught up in it, but the pace is uneven and some other parts seem to drag. I also thought that a lot of the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural.
Initially I thought this was going to be the story of a clash between European settlers and indigenous people, but it is more about clashes within the Finch family. Stanton is a complex character, highly religious and forever chasing new opportunities for financial gain. He believes that his six children as there to do his bidding and as they get older, tensions will arise.
It's a very interesting story, with intriguing characters (although oddly, Hester our narrator feels somewhat underdeveloped). It also feels extremely well researched. As the author explains in the author's note, some of the characters are based on real people and events. There were parts when I found myself rapidly turning the pages, completely caught up in it, but the pace is uneven and some other parts seem to drag. I also thought that a lot of the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural.
terrypaulpearce's review against another edition
5.0
In the tradition of The Mosquito Coast and The Poisonwood Bible -- a driven father drags his clan to the middle of nowhere to serve God and his own pride -- but a book all its own. Prose that sings. Characters that breathe and ache and make you ache and want what they want. Plot that doesn't try to hard but makes you stay up late to read another page. What is not to love with this book? Gripping, thoughtful, brooding.
tonyriver's review against another edition
5.0
A moody, beautifully written story of a harsh country, a family challenged by the country and their mis understanding of both the land and the original inhabitants.
It is troll with the voice of a strong girl/woman determined not to lose her independence. The family is interesting and troubled with a flawed father driving all to ruin.
A delightfully subtle love story.
It is troll with the voice of a strong girl/woman determined not to lose her independence. The family is interesting and troubled with a flawed father driving all to ruin.
A delightfully subtle love story.
gemmaduds's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written historic Australian fiction, beginning in the 1850s.
The Finch family move from Adelaide to a remote location in the Coorong, and struggle to settle a farm together in the wilderness.
Salt Creek is a captivating coming of age story and family drama that I found myself absorbed in. Wonderful characters wrapped in romance, tragedy and hardship - a dream to read.
The Finch family move from Adelaide to a remote location in the Coorong, and struggle to settle a farm together in the wilderness.
Salt Creek is a captivating coming of age story and family drama that I found myself absorbed in. Wonderful characters wrapped in romance, tragedy and hardship - a dream to read.
katdid's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This was good (“competent” is the right word, maybe?) but nothing special. (I feel really bad writing that.) I spent the whole novel with a sense of dread, because anything depicting interactions between colonials and Indigenous will almost certainly pan out badly for the latter. But it felt timely to be reading this on Australia Day. (Afterwards I was talking to my neighbour Will, an Indigenous man – to my shame I have no idea who his mob are, except that they’re from out past Bourke – and he’d been at the local Redfern event and said he’d never seen so many white people at it before, all wearing the Aboriginal flag and sporting face paint. “It was like spot the blackfella!” he said. #changethedate)