Reviews

I’m flying to Singapore to transit to London. I have taken this physical book — a story of my own land as I leave it behind. Much heavier in itself than the 30 audiobooks I’ve downloaded to my phone. Each page curls a bit as it is exposed. It’s a strange phenomenon.

I’m enjoying the story of parallel lives some 170 years apart. The earlier setting of 1854, where Aboriginal people live near European colonists and are still numerous enough to have strong cultural practices, which are described. Described not as an anthropologist might, but from inside the mind and personality of the practitioners — particularly youthful Mulanyin, about to see his fifteenth mullet run, eagerly seeking to be accepted into adulthood.

And the present day, strangely for a book published in 2023, being designated as 2024. I wonder why. I don’t know yet. There’s Grandma Eddie, about to turn 103, her granddaughter Winona (who I’m thinking would therefore be about 60 on that basis so must be a great-granddaughter if not great-great, despite Eddie’s appellation).

So the stories separated by some 170 years continue in parallel; Mulyanin witnessing the growing dominance of the Europeans over the Aboriginal people and angry Winona, caring for Grandma Eddie and testing Johnny.

Mulyanin witnesses the hanging of Aboriginal resistance leader Dundalli (a real person). It is powerfully told. As is Winona’s brutal questioning of Johnny’s claim of Aboriginality.

This made me laugh — at the writer’s craft as much as the words — and 1855 conversation about a telescope between two Aboriginal women, one of whom is grooming the other’s hair:

“… 'But probably it will show me Jesus on his golden throne,' Nita proclaimed happily, while Dawalbin added the last of the parrot feathers to her fringe.”

The stories continue, no links apparent, no great dramas as it is calmly told. But within this calmness is the inexorable spread of European domination and displacement and death of Aboriginal people.

I was so moved — moved to tears whilst on a tourist bus through Cymru (Wales) in fact — by how this book ended. #areadersjourney

emkate21's review

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reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

thedaydreamerdiary's review

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jadereads_'s review

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

taralouise's review against another edition

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Not in the headspace to cram this into 2 days

rhiannem's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

maree_k's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I’ve lived in Brisbane most of my adult life so it was fascinating to read this novel for its First Nations perspectives on the colonisation of this area and the frontier wars sitting alongside contemporary Brisbane. i’m also a huge Lucashenko fan so this book was always going to be a winner for me. She has a style of writing that is both poetic and no bullshit, and cuts to the heart of the matter.

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