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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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
If this book were a feeling, it'd be like when everything is going wrong but you are laughing, laughing despite it all and somehow still in love with life. I felt a lot reading this, I can tap into the nostalgia for Western Australia, and all the imagery of Perth with its pretensions and ambition, and I don't know what it would be like reading this without that.
I need to read more Tim Winton
Quotes
"He still smells like home, like other times, better times, and she feels everything inside tighten up on her and hurt just a little." (42)
"But she learnt to be strong; she grew it in herself." (185)
"She had long distance eyes." (240)
"Perth is the biggest country town in the world trying to be a city. The most isolated country town in the world trying to be the most cut-off city in the world; trying desperately to hit the big time." (289)
"She felt like she was made of steel, shiny and bitter and shining all around her." (338)
"She was alive despite herself." (358)
"As long as it takes - a day, a week, a Test match, a session of parliament, a decade, I don't know." (421)
"The boards rattle and ring with nails and years and spikes and barnacle clatter and dried bait leaps behind him. Below, the water flexes and falls silver brown gold black." (423)
I need to read more Tim Winton
Quotes
"He still smells like home, like other times, better times, and she feels everything inside tighten up on her and hurt just a little." (42)
"But she learnt to be strong; she grew it in herself." (185)
"She had long distance eyes." (240)
"Perth is the biggest country town in the world trying to be a city. The most isolated country town in the world trying to be the most cut-off city in the world; trying desperately to hit the big time." (289)
"She felt like she was made of steel, shiny and bitter and shining all around her." (338)
"She was alive despite herself." (358)
"As long as it takes - a day, a week, a Test match, a session of parliament, a decade, I don't know." (421)
"The boards rattle and ring with nails and years and spikes and barnacle clatter and dried bait leaps behind him. Below, the water flexes and falls silver brown gold black." (423)
I thought this book was terrific. I loved the narration; finding it calming and consistent.
The story was told well switching between the two families and the language used kept you right there in WA alongside them.
The way Winton shared tragedy was the thing I found most compelling. He delivered it in an almost nonchalant way, describing a death as casually as a setting. It often made me do a double-take and I had to go back and re-read what I'd just read to confirm that what I thought just happened had in fact happened.
I took a liking to all the characters and I felt as though they were all presented in a gentle way, with always at least one character exposing or noticing the softer side in them. I especially liked Rose and I liked her even more when she became an item with Quick.
I can see why this has been dubbed an Australian Classic.
The story was told well switching between the two families and the language used kept you right there in WA alongside them.
The way Winton shared tragedy was the thing I found most compelling. He delivered it in an almost nonchalant way, describing a death as casually as a setting. It often made me do a double-take and I had to go back and re-read what I'd just read to confirm that what I thought just happened had in fact happened.
I took a liking to all the characters and I felt as though they were all presented in a gentle way, with always at least one character exposing or noticing the softer side in them. I especially liked Rose and I liked her even more when she became an item with Quick.
I can see why this has been dubbed an Australian Classic.
Extremely evocative of place, which is cool if you live in Perth. Weirdly compelling for a book that almost entirely lacks a plot. The seemingly magical Indigenous man who shows up now and then to do something mysterious and lucky makes me cringe.
I waffled between loving this book and hating it. There are flashes of brilliance interspersed throughout and those are amazing enough to keep reading. There are also some moments of WTF that are so bizarre that I considered walking away from it altogether. It's not a book for a lazy reader, which I admit to being most of the time, nor the faint-hearted who yearn for tidy, happy endings. It is not easy; it makes you work for the story, for understanding, but there are many nuggets of wisdom worth absorbing as you go on the journey. Depending on the day, or chapter, I could give this book 1 star or 5 stars. It may not be very helpful, but there you go.
One of the best Australian novels ever written, and that’s saying something! Full development of characters and story, just fantastic. I got this romantic feeling of family and society togetherness, although the story is almost the opposite. I suspect this novel is more than a little autobiographical.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very Australian
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder
Minor: Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, War
fantastic. tim winton is a great author and i enjoy how he makes the setting its own character. i also loved the progression of the two family's relationship with each other. one star removed for the writing characteristic of 1992 australia, and at times i felt that sections of the book were either too rushed or too slow. either way, fantastic book, recommend to everyone with a spare three weeks.