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hcube3's review
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review against another edition
3.0
My second read from the @readingsbooks Prize for New Australian Fiction shortlist was The Lucky Galah by Tracy Sorensen.
This is a unique read in that it is told from the perspective of a galah, set in a small Australian town around the time of the moon landing. The Australia - Houston tie in with the town hosting a dish for communications with NASA drew me in immediately!
What I most enjoyed about this character-driver narrative was the intimacy and detail with which we got to know the characters in this small community. Lucky the galah hears all manner of stories in the time she lives with various people in the community - her time living on the shoulder of an Indigenous woman was one of the most intriguing narratives. Through the galah’s lens we hear about the politics and racial tensions of the time, including the stolen generation. On a more light-hearted front, we also hear about childhood adventures, romantic affairs, and of course the experience of the town during the famous moon landing.
Part of this narrative included ‘intercepted messages’ that the galah tuned into from the dish - a quirky concept but not one that I think the narrative needed to work effectively. If anything this sometimes confused where the narrative was coming from.
This was a fun and unique read (reminding me a little of previous winner, Ceridwen Dovey’s ‘Only the Animals’) and I’m looking forward to reading more from this award list! 🌟🌟🌟💫
This is a unique read in that it is told from the perspective of a galah, set in a small Australian town around the time of the moon landing. The Australia - Houston tie in with the town hosting a dish for communications with NASA drew me in immediately!
What I most enjoyed about this character-driver narrative was the intimacy and detail with which we got to know the characters in this small community. Lucky the galah hears all manner of stories in the time she lives with various people in the community - her time living on the shoulder of an Indigenous woman was one of the most intriguing narratives. Through the galah’s lens we hear about the politics and racial tensions of the time, including the stolen generation. On a more light-hearted front, we also hear about childhood adventures, romantic affairs, and of course the experience of the town during the famous moon landing.
Part of this narrative included ‘intercepted messages’ that the galah tuned into from the dish - a quirky concept but not one that I think the narrative needed to work effectively. If anything this sometimes confused where the narrative was coming from.
This was a fun and unique read (reminding me a little of previous winner, Ceridwen Dovey’s ‘Only the Animals’) and I’m looking forward to reading more from this award list! 🌟🌟🌟💫
hannahmayreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
3.5
This novel is so very Australian. It is dry, harsh, remote, insular and witty. It's full of subtle observation and originality, and is very evocative of a particular time in Australia's history when connections to a broader world were opening up and we started to turn away from our British motherland and look towards the sparkle of post-war USA. It's a clever novel and I enjoyed reading it.
kimswhims's review
4.0
A fresh, quirky novel. Many little flights of fancy set in the bright sunlight of a small town on the cyclone prone WA coast.
One small step for a pet Galah narrating 1960s small coastal town Australia and the human Galahs he observes. Particularly noting 'the trackers', who operate 'The Dish', and their small but essential contribution to the moon landing.
Delightfully nostalgic.
A worthy addition to the 2019 Miles Franklin Long-list. Not sure if it will make it through to the short-list but very pleased to have read it.
It will be interesting to see what this author comes up with next.
One small step for a pet Galah narrating 1960s small coastal town Australia and the human Galahs he observes. Particularly noting 'the trackers', who operate 'The Dish', and their small but essential contribution to the moon landing.
Delightfully nostalgic.
A worthy addition to the 2019 Miles Franklin Long-list. Not sure if it will make it through to the short-list but very pleased to have read it.
It will be interesting to see what this author comes up with next.
mstownsley's review
3.0
I’m not sure what I expected based on the information about the book. The story was incredibly interesting, but jumped around a lot. It challenged me as a reader.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of Port Badminton which reminded me of Carnarvon, Western Australia. The discussions into the lives of birds was also well done. As a person who doesn’t believe in birds as pets I could identify with the Galah.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of Port Badminton which reminded me of Carnarvon, Western Australia. The discussions into the lives of birds was also well done. As a person who doesn’t believe in birds as pets I could identify with the Galah.
mistymoon24's review
3.0
This was a cute, quirky read. I'm a sucker for anything with birds, and having a bird as the narrator was amazing.
lolabrigita's review
4.0
Interesting, unusual book, told in first person from the perspective of a pet Galah and third person of the inhabitants of a small Australian town on the West Coast, in the late 1960s.
Not entirely sure about the ending - falls a bit flat and the story jumps back and forth through decades without much warning.
However, it feels very Australian at its heart and I enjoyed the author’s foray into the inner workings of the mind of one of our most beautiful and playful birds. 3.75.
Not entirely sure about the ending - falls a bit flat and the story jumps back and forth through decades without much warning.
However, it feels very Australian at its heart and I enjoyed the author’s foray into the inner workings of the mind of one of our most beautiful and playful birds. 3.75.
sarahthornton's review
4.0
I gave my galah extra scratches reading this book; the emptiness and loneliness of a caged cockatoo has always struck me but never so much as with this book.
An unusual and paletable read.
An unusual and paletable read.