Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
This would not normally be a book that I would have picked up but my work book club chose it for our read of the month, so I found myself starting into this and I am conflicted regarding my thoughts on the book. To tell you the truth, I did debate not finishing it a couple of time.
Winton’s development of the characters was wonderful, they progress gradually and you constantly feel like you are getting to know them more throughout the book, which I know sounds obvious but there are some authors that once they set the ground work it is all about the plot, but not this one, it really is a character driven novel. The only problem with that was that I didn’t really connect with any of the characters which really made this a tough read to get through, especially sense the novel really didn’t have a plot or big build up to something. Just the viewing of the lives of two families that coexist in the same house/back garden.
After finishing this book I was with a sense that this story would have had more resonance with me if I was Australian, but due to being Irish there was a lot of things that I fundamentally struggled to understand about post war Perth – which has set me on a little tangent of looking into Australian history as I have realized a shocking lack of knowledge on the subject!
The story itself is a gritty, family epic that is beautifully written and I can see why people are raving about Winton’s writing in this book, but I still struggled to really love the novel.
Winton’s development of the characters was wonderful, they progress gradually and you constantly feel like you are getting to know them more throughout the book, which I know sounds obvious but there are some authors that once they set the ground work it is all about the plot, but not this one, it really is a character driven novel. The only problem with that was that I didn’t really connect with any of the characters which really made this a tough read to get through, especially sense the novel really didn’t have a plot or big build up to something. Just the viewing of the lives of two families that coexist in the same house/back garden.
After finishing this book I was with a sense that this story would have had more resonance with me if I was Australian, but due to being Irish there was a lot of things that I fundamentally struggled to understand about post war Perth – which has set me on a little tangent of looking into Australian history as I have realized a shocking lack of knowledge on the subject!
The story itself is a gritty, family epic that is beautifully written and I can see why people are raving about Winton’s writing in this book, but I still struggled to really love the novel.
This is an extremely hard one to rate. 3.5 if it were an option.
I think this book probably means a lot more to Australians (especially those from the country) than it ever could to me. I had no sympathy for any of the characters for the longest time, and it really prevented me from getting into the story. That being said, I really loved the last 100 pages or so, and I almost wish he'd just gotten to there sooner. It's over 400 pages, and I felt like I spent at least the first 250 waiting for him to get to the point.
It did make me fondly remember two other books I read and loved: Cold Sassy Tree (an American novel) and The Shell Seekers (an English novel). Both books were like comfort food or an old friendship. Perhaps if I were Australian I would get that vibe more from this one as well.
In the end, the Lamb and Pickles families won me over, but I cannot give it more than the 3 stars based on the slow start.
I think this book probably means a lot more to Australians (especially those from the country) than it ever could to me. I had no sympathy for any of the characters for the longest time, and it really prevented me from getting into the story. That being said, I really loved the last 100 pages or so, and I almost wish he'd just gotten to there sooner. It's over 400 pages, and I felt like I spent at least the first 250 waiting for him to get to the point.
It did make me fondly remember two other books I read and loved: Cold Sassy Tree (an American novel) and The Shell Seekers (an English novel). Both books were like comfort food or an old friendship. Perhaps if I were Australian I would get that vibe more from this one as well.
In the end, the Lamb and Pickles families won me over, but I cannot give it more than the 3 stars based on the slow start.
Two families, one house, 20 years. I read the first half with tense shoulders, waiting for the next thing to go wrong, lost interest somewhat in the middle, but then raced to the end. Very masculine.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are plenty of genuine issues with representation and discussion of indigenous issues but it’s not my place to talk about those so I’ll say this:
The writing really makes you feel like the author has a specific and terrible fetish.
The writing really makes you feel like the author has a specific and terrible fetish.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A family saga set in Perth that tells the tale of two different families living in one strange and haunting ramshackle house from the end of the war until 1964. Totally absorbing as the lives twist and turn interacting all the way to the end. The Lambs and the Pickles are great characters and I wish it had carried on to epic proportions as I didn't want to leave them behind as I closed the book.
Tim Winton's Cloudstreet is a beautiful novel, telling the tale of two families and their relationship over two decades. They are working class families, struggling with poverty, addiction, and the place in society they are given. It ponders the roles given to members of families both by society, and by the families themselves. The language matches the educational level of the characters - chapters are written form the point of view of characters, and the language matches each character subtly but effectively, but then occasionally expands into vivid, poetic beauty.
Well worth a read, and I'm looking forward to watching the TV series, which Jen got for Christmas.
Well worth a read, and I'm looking forward to watching the TV series, which Jen got for Christmas.
