Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
Ugh. It’s just men talking about themselves. I’m pretty sure, at least, because there is only maybe 1% coherent storyline. It’s like, there were words, and those words were surely in sentences, but I could not tell you what they were actually saying at almost any point. I’m giving up.
I loved the writing. But felt Ellen was a bit like Richardson’s Pamela. The author’s idea of their perfect woman …
This was a wonderfully strange book. Dealing with detailed classification of eucalyptus trees, the book lays out questions of landscapes and identities produced via landscapes and nationalism. I found myself looking forward to reading about eucalyptus trees and how they transformed multiple cities across the world; in fact, I enjoyed reading about the trees more than I did about the humans in the book. Added to the botanical detailing is the fairy tale-esque elements that Bail weaves into the narrative, which makes it a good testament to the power of story telling. Read it for the trees!
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not what I expected, and still enjoyed it. Count me in as one of those people who loved the endless passage about eucalyptus rather than turning me off. But that’s because I love being out in the Aussie bush, and it makes me wonder what species I have on my 100 acres in south east Qld. Minus 500 points for #menwritingwomen style. Would also be a very low candidate along the Bechdel Test scale.
A slightly retrospective post .. I have just finished reading Devotion by Hannah Kent and was reminded of this etherial but quite real story. I remember a feeling of floating through the landscape as the trees were revealed but at the same time being in a fairy story as well.
I read this book years ago and have just revisited it in audio book form. It remains an intriguing story. Who would have thought hundreds of varieties of gum tree could be so spellbinding - or at least the stories around them? Recommended!
reflective
slow-paced
Wonderful romantic read and I learned a lot about trees and parts of Australia that I didn't know. Rumpelstickson meets the real world (or Australian Bush in this case)!
Winner of the 1999 Miles Franklin Award, Holland takes his daughter to live on a property in New South Wales. Over time, Holland has sourced and planted hundreds of varieties of Eucalyptus trees. As Ellen reaches marriageable age, Holland declares that he will marry her to the man who can name every Eucalyptus on his property. While the suitors try their luck, Ellen meets a stranger near the river. This is an unusual story. A fairy tale moved to the Australian bush, with stories within the story. As you might guess, there is a lot of information about Eucalypts.