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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel like I should have liked it but there was just something that was jarring with it.
3.5 stars
The writing flows well and the book had great themes about family and guilt. Winton has the ability to create this beatiful images in our mind while mixing more casual diction in at the same time. Some characters were well-writtena and complex, such as Oriel, Fish, Quick. But this is nullified amount of useless two-dimensional characters (Chub, Elaine, Lon etc..) that had no development and were just there to fill the numbers. Unfortunately it was difficult for me to immerse myself and resonate with the story.
It started off alright but was a real struggle to get through near the last quarter. Maybe it was because I was too dumb to understand some of that nonsensical madness or maybe I was feeling fatigued at that point.
The writing flows well and the book had great themes about family and guilt. Winton has the ability to create this beatiful images in our mind while mixing more casual diction in at the same time. Some characters were well-writtena and complex, such as Oriel, Fish, Quick. But this is nullified amount of useless two-dimensional characters (Chub, Elaine, Lon etc..) that had no development and were just there to fill the numbers. Unfortunately it was difficult for me to immerse myself and resonate with the story.
It started off alright but was a real struggle to get through near the last quarter. Maybe it was because I was too dumb to understand some of that nonsensical madness or maybe I was feeling fatigued at that point.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great characters. Interesting plot. Perspective shifts are somewhat jarring. Rich themes. Great representation of the period and setting. Very unique.
Started reading this after I left Perth, and before I'll go back to it in a few weeks. It's great to read this "modern Australian classic" while spending some time around here. Whereas I normally struggle more with spiritual writing, this time it didn't make me want to leave the story too much. It did get a bit boring in some parts, though. The different characters are so well-developed and relatable, that for all their flaws and unlikeable traits, I wished all the best for them, and I literally squirmed at the idea of something bad happening to them. I'll be sad leaving those two families now.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
I bought this book back into 2018, started reading, got overwhelmed by Winton's complete hatred of quotation marks and forgot the book at the bottom of my work bag.
Found it and picked it back up a week ago and relieved that I didn't give up. Honestly this book is a master class in portraying the complexities of family relationships, especially within f_cked up families. Yes, there are arguably too many characters (which Pickles and which Lamb is that?) and some of the narrative shifts are jarring at first but I strongly recommend sticking with this one. Winton ultimately builds the story into beautiful collision of the two families with a wallop of an ending.
Found it and picked it back up a week ago and relieved that I didn't give up. Honestly this book is a master class in portraying the complexities of family relationships, especially within f_cked up families. Yes, there are arguably too many characters (which Pickles and which Lamb is that?) and some of the narrative shifts are jarring at first but I strongly recommend sticking with this one. Winton ultimately builds the story into beautiful collision of the two families with a wallop of an ending.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
╰┈➤ 4 stars! *ੈ✩‧₊˚