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deepfriedgoogs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Hate crime
Moderate: Pedophilia
bobbijopmh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
A moving story of finding home, connection and country.
It's a really captivating plot and is written across multiple perspectives and timelines. At first, I found this a little jarring, switching between modern-day August & the 1900s; but the perspective switching really adds to the pacing of the story and sort of helps to gradually feed the reader the right emotions and information at the right points in the main narrative.
This book deals with some painful themes, but Tara June Winch's writing is beautiful and emotive. I'd definitely classify this as an #OwnVoices read, and I really loved the inclusion of Wiradjuri language as central to the book. I also really enjoyed the connection to the land and the environment that was so central to the plot.
The only, singular reason this was not a five-star book for me was the way it ends. I would have liked it to go on just a little longer, but I loved it regardless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence
avadore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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? No
5.0
I struggled a bit with the pacing to begin with, it is admittedly a slow start, but please stick with it until the funeral where August really starts to wake up to what is happening not just with herself but with her family. You just have to make it through the weight of August's malaise to get there. I raced through the other sections of the book to get to Albert Gondiwindi's part-dictionary part-memoir sections, which were sad and delightful and beautiful all the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Genocide, Murder, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
This book does not shy away from the experiences faced by Aboriginal people on missions in Australia during the late 19th and through the 20th century, including rape of women, violence, forced work, and the removal of children. The author is not overly graphic in her descriptions but she does not shy away from the realities faced by Aboriginal people who lived through the start, establishment, and continuation of the colony.egg_cup's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A tale of grief, trauma, and the healing power of family and connection to culture - the range of this book and it's ability to capture the way the past trickles down into the present results in a heartwrenching narrative. The characters feel candid and authentic, and the masterful way Tara weaves together three separate stories from three different time periods creates a rich tale of history and healing. This is a story that is sure to stay with anyone who reads it long after the last page has been turned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, and Pedophilia
Minor: Genocide, Violence, and Slavery
spacelime's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Pedophilia, Violence, Police brutality, Genocide, Racism, and Rape
graceesix's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book needs to be the next book you read, especially for Australians. It discusses the loss of connection to culture by Australia's Indigenous people after the invasion by British colonists. The devastating impact of the stolen generations and how it contributed to the loss of language, practices, traditions and people throughout Australia's terrible and bloody history. Winch finishes the book with a dictionary from the Wiradjuri language, and provides resources for how readers can further learn about Australia's Indigenous land and cultures.
This land was stolen and never ceded. Always was, always will be.
This land was stolen and never ceded. Always was, always will be.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, and Genocide
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