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serendipitysbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cloudstreet is a modern Australian classic. It is set in Perth from 1943 to 1963 and tells the interconnected story of two working-class families, the Pickles and the Lambs who, fleeing their own tragedies, come to share a house, the titular Cloudstreet.
The families are very different. The Lambs are hard working and religious while the Pickles tend to rely on luck. There’s plenty of tough topics in the story including addiction, gambling, an eating disorder, a child disabled as the result of an accident, ableism, trauma and guilt. Yet there is also humour and warmth. I enjoyed the exploration of themes including the stereotypes of the Aussie battler and Australia as the lucky country, as well as the characters’ search for belonging in community and family and the way this sometimes conflicted with their desire for individuality. The characters themselves were vivid and memorable. Fish will forever have a spot in my heart, while Quick’s realisation that a sadistic killer is no different from him - “there’s no monsters, only people like us” - was a poignant scene that will linger in my consciousness. However, my abiding memory of this book will be its quintessential (white) Australian-ness - the slang, the environment, the archetypal characters.
Graphic: Eating disorder and Alcoholism
Moderate: Ableism
lachie2211's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Eating disorder
Minor: Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Excrement, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
astralvirgo25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Eating disorder and Suicide
adelaide_green's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Addiction
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: War
jayeless's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Ableism
Minor: Racism and Religious bigotry
merrittbeacham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Eating disorder, Vomit, and Alcoholism
Minor: Miscarriage
kippax's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship