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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD performed by Cat Gould.
A mini-series soap opera of a novel, following four sisters (two sets of twins) in early 20th century Australia. The Latimer girls have the same father, but different mothers. Edda and Grace’s mother died in childbirth, and their father later married the housekeeper originally hired to help the young widowed father. Early on their goals and dreams for themselves diverge: Edda wants to be a doctor, Grace to marry and raise a family, Tufts expects to stay single, and Kitty wants more than anything to known for something other than her extraordinary beauty.
McCullough does a great job of crafting this sweeping novel. I was engaged and interested in the story and in exploring life in Australia at this time frame. I really enjoyed learning about the nursing training the sisters underwent, as well as the early limitations and advances in medicine during this time period.
Ultimately, however, I did get frustrated by Grace’s manipulative “woe-is-me, I’m so helpless” attitude. Even Kitty – the extraordinary beauty – showed more gumption and grit. However, Grace did eventually grow up and showed some of the strength of her twin, Edda. I really liked Edda and the way that her story played out. She was the consistently strong one and seemed to naturally take on the mantel of oldest child and leader.
There were a few story lines that McCullough seemed to abandon for a time, and then reintroduce simply to resolve them.
Cat Gould does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and has clear diction and enough skill as a voice artist to differentiate the many characters. I was listening during a long road trip and it made the miles fly by! 4**** for her performance.
A mini-series soap opera of a novel, following four sisters (two sets of twins) in early 20th century Australia. The Latimer girls have the same father, but different mothers. Edda and Grace’s mother died in childbirth, and their father later married the housekeeper originally hired to help the young widowed father. Early on their goals and dreams for themselves diverge: Edda wants to be a doctor, Grace to marry and raise a family, Tufts expects to stay single, and Kitty wants more than anything to known for something other than her extraordinary beauty.
McCullough does a great job of crafting this sweeping novel. I was engaged and interested in the story and in exploring life in Australia at this time frame. I really enjoyed learning about the nursing training the sisters underwent, as well as the early limitations and advances in medicine during this time period.
Ultimately, however, I did get frustrated by Grace’s manipulative “woe-is-me, I’m so helpless” attitude. Even Kitty – the extraordinary beauty – showed more gumption and grit. However, Grace did eventually grow up and showed some of the strength of her twin, Edda. I really liked Edda and the way that her story played out. She was the consistently strong one and seemed to naturally take on the mantel of oldest child and leader.
There were a few story lines that McCullough seemed to abandon for a time, and then reintroduce simply to resolve them.
Cat Gould does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and has clear diction and enough skill as a voice artist to differentiate the many characters. I was listening during a long road trip and it made the miles fly by! 4**** for her performance.
mimigard124's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
varsh31's review against another edition
3.0
Perhaps not as good as her beloved The Thorn Birds, McCullough still manages to weave a sublime story in Bittersweet. Beautifully crafted, gorgeous language and memorable characters, this is truly a book you can delve into.
cemoses's review against another edition
4.0
I would give this book a 3.5. The book provides an interesting picture of Australia during them between the wars. However, the stories about the sisters is mediocre.
he best part of the book is about Australia. I enjoyed reading about the differences between the Australians and the English. Maybe because I work in a hospital, I enjoyed the parts about running a hospital.
The stories about the sisters I felt was average-neither good nor bad. I found it hard to believe that women of their social background would all become nurses since that was a lower class profession and their father in many ways is quite conservative. I felt that women of their social class who did not have money were more likely to become teachers. Perhaps the author made them nurses to introduce the hospital setting. I was interested in some of the older more lower class nurses and felt it was too bad we did not find out more about them. Contrasting these original nurses with the physicians could be a sort of hospital Upstairs/Downstairs.
I found it hard to keep the different sisters straight in my mind. It was confusing to remember whose twin was whose twin and which twins had Maude for a biologic mother.
The character who seemed most real to me was Kitty. I felt the author could have gone deeper into the different sisters personality.
he best part of the book is about Australia. I enjoyed reading about the differences between the Australians and the English. Maybe because I work in a hospital, I enjoyed the parts about running a hospital.
The stories about the sisters I felt was average-neither good nor bad. I found it hard to believe that women of their social background would all become nurses since that was a lower class profession and their father in many ways is quite conservative. I felt that women of their social class who did not have money were more likely to become teachers. Perhaps the author made them nurses to introduce the hospital setting. I was interested in some of the older more lower class nurses and felt it was too bad we did not find out more about them. Contrasting these original nurses with the physicians could be a sort of hospital Upstairs/Downstairs.
I found it hard to keep the different sisters straight in my mind. It was confusing to remember whose twin was whose twin and which twins had Maude for a biologic mother.
The character who seemed most real to me was Kitty. I felt the author could have gone deeper into the different sisters personality.
maryehavens's review against another edition
4.0
I have a hard time finding romances that I like. I can't say that this IS a romance except it's says "Romantic Saga" on the cover :p
Anyway, I did like this book and it kept my interest throughout most of the story. The lagging part for me was all the political stuff but I see the point. The characters of the four girls, each with her own personality but all with the same grit and determination, kept me enthralled. The ups and downs, the ambition in a male-dominated world, the changes of the times, all of these elements captivated me. There were shocking parts, funny parts, and just downright "what?" parts.
I can see why people don't like. The repetition of exact phrases at times, the "flickering of lilac in the eyes"type of phrases. Every time McCullough mentioned fat lambs or kid anything, it could have been annoying. I've abandoned other books because of these slights (see Fiercombe Manor) so I don't know why this was different except that the women were always changing. From the first strike of the snake to nursing to marriages, there was always something going on and not much time to whine about it. Even Grace, the whiniest, grew up and became a Steel Magnolia. And for that, I give it high praise!
Anyway, I did like this book and it kept my interest throughout most of the story. The lagging part for me was all the political stuff but I see the point. The characters of the four girls, each with her own personality but all with the same grit and determination, kept me enthralled. The ups and downs, the ambition in a male-dominated world, the changes of the times, all of these elements captivated me. There were shocking parts, funny parts, and just downright "what?" parts.
I can see why people don't like. The repetition of exact phrases at times, the "flickering of lilac in the eyes"type of phrases. Every time McCullough mentioned fat lambs or kid anything, it could have been annoying. I've abandoned other books because of these slights (see Fiercombe Manor) so I don't know why this was different except that the women were always changing. From the first strike of the snake to nursing to marriages, there was always something going on and not much time to whine about it. Even Grace, the whiniest, grew up and became a Steel Magnolia. And for that, I give it high praise!
michellel123's review against another edition
3.0
Wanted to love this. Two sets of twin sisters grow up in small town Australia in the years around the Great Depression. All are very different, but they all fight against the roles young women are supposed to play and train as nurses at the local hospital thanks to their progressive church minister father. Some lovely parts, but a bit too unrealistic with two of the sisters snaring two of the richest men in Australia.
marshdr's review against another edition
2.0
I had received a copy of this as a Goodreads giveaway back in August (I know, kind of a late review). To be honest, I never really was able to get into this book. The plot development felt a little slow and, although I like the characters, it felt sort of like a chore to read. I guess this just wasn't to my taste, though the writing itself wasn't bad.
heartofoak1's review against another edition
2.0
meh. confusing and odd. lots of eyes changing color, lots of dissatisfied women. BORING!!!
a_friendlyghost's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Historical fiction without enough history. Little character development. A surface treatment of four sisters without endearing the reader to any of them.