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brona's review
3.0
Till Apples Grow on an Orange Tree was a memoir told via unconnected essays-as-memory.
Pybus' essays started in the 1960's with her high school years, her best friend, Chloe, their uni years, messy love affairs and Chloe's eventual and tragically dramatic suicide. She explored her parents back stories with sensitivity and love.
I responded to her discussions about not belonging and transitory migration.
I thoroughly enjoyed her history pieces about Tasmania. Lower Snug, Bruny Island and the Indigenous history of this area.
We cannot remake the past, but surely the promise remains that we can remake the future, if only we can find it in ourselves to acknowledge the injustice of the past - from which we have benefited - and make some recompense.
Her pieces on Port Arthur and the Chinese in Tasmania felt less convincing though. A bit too meandering, and at times they felt like a writer in search of a story, any story.
Reflections on the Vietnam war protests from someone who actually participated in them will always be interesting for those of us too young to really remember this time.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Pybus' hands and will happily read more by her in the future, especially if it's about Tasmania. Her connection to the home of her early years, shines through with an authenticity and heart that makes these pieces rise up above the rest.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/till-apples-grow-on-orange-tree-by.html
Pybus' essays started in the 1960's with her high school years, her best friend, Chloe, their uni years, messy love affairs and Chloe's eventual and tragically dramatic suicide. She explored her parents back stories with sensitivity and love.
I responded to her discussions about not belonging and transitory migration.
I thoroughly enjoyed her history pieces about Tasmania. Lower Snug, Bruny Island and the Indigenous history of this area.
We cannot remake the past, but surely the promise remains that we can remake the future, if only we can find it in ourselves to acknowledge the injustice of the past - from which we have benefited - and make some recompense.
Her pieces on Port Arthur and the Chinese in Tasmania felt less convincing though. A bit too meandering, and at times they felt like a writer in search of a story, any story.
Reflections on the Vietnam war protests from someone who actually participated in them will always be interesting for those of us too young to really remember this time.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Pybus' hands and will happily read more by her in the future, especially if it's about Tasmania. Her connection to the home of her early years, shines through with an authenticity and heart that makes these pieces rise up above the rest.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/till-apples-grow-on-orange-tree-by.html
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