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justheretoread_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence and Racism
Minor: War
forte_forte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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
5.0
Incredible but most heart breaking story I've read in a long time
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Racial slurs, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Bullying, War, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Death
ammbooks's review
5.0
Courtenay has a true gift for capturing the color and flavor of the land. His characters always leave me astounded an hopeful for mankind.
dozylocal's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the writing but some parts of the story felt a little cobbled together. Especially the bit at the end with Mary and the court case. It was a bit of a leap in terms of relevance. I am glad we did eventually confirm who the father of Jessie's child was right at the end. That would have irritated me otherwise, although by the time we did find out it seemed almost irrelevant. I somehow think that the plot would have worked better had Jack somehow survived the war. It has been a while since I read Bryce Courtnay, so my memory of his other books may perhaps be rose-tinted, but although enjoyable, I wouldn't count this one among his best stories.
I really enjoyed the writing but some parts of the story felt a little cobbled together. Especially the bit at the end with Mary and the court case. It was a bit of a leap in terms of relevance. I am glad we did eventually confirm who the father of Jessie's child was right at the end. That would have irritated me otherwise, although by the time we did find out it seemed almost irrelevant. I somehow think that the plot would have worked better had Jack somehow survived the war. It has been a while since I read Bryce Courtnay, so my memory of his other books may perhaps be rose-tinted, but although enjoyable, I wouldn't count this one among his best stories.
kimcheel's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a long time since I've read a Bryce Courtenay book, but I do believe this is my favourite. That doesn't mean I don't think it could have been about 100-150 pages shorter, and I wish there was added historical notes about the people in question, but it was a good book, worthy of the description, "shattering in its brutality."
tawntawn's review against another edition
5.0
I was captivated from page one. I love the writing and the characters (well, sometimes I hate them) but this story had me all the way through. Not for people who like the happily ever afters...
jehsface's review against another edition
5.0
I read this after watching the mini-series on TV. I'm not usually one for any of this "Australian drama", anything with an outback setting and what not, but this book was just amazing.
I could not put it down. I read it again as soon as I was finished, I loved it that much. I cried at the end both times.
It's not my normal type of book by any stretch, but I'd still recommend it to everyone. Just a really great book.
I could not put it down. I read it again as soon as I was finished, I loved it that much. I cried at the end both times.
It's not my normal type of book by any stretch, but I'd still recommend it to everyone. Just a really great book.
michellel123's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great story in terms of plot, but I confess that I didn't like it as much as I wanted to as the writing wasn't always strong and some of the characters were so awful that they became caracatures. Jessica is a tomboy growing up in rural Australia. Her mother pins all the family's hopes for an advantageous marriage on her refined, beautiful sister, while Jessica is content to help her father with the shearing and ride around with her best mate Jack. Jessica stands up for the local outcast when he murders the awful station masters wife and daughters, and becomes pregnant to an unknown father, later revealed to be station owner son Jack. Meanwhile, cold and calculating Mum conspires to trick jack into marrying the sister on false pretences, and later steals Jessica's baby and has her committed to a mental institution. Jessica is repeatedly struck by misfortune, but manages to befriend and charm all sorts of people - a Jewish butcher, an alcoholic lawyer, local aboriginal women. A great yarn, but not my type of thing.
treetops's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5