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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
I gave up. I tried and tried and tried and got past 200 pages, but this is just no fun at all. I think i see why his writing appeals and won awards because it is flowery and attractive and nice to look at from a distance, but after trying hard for weeks, i don't understand what is going on at all, and cannot stand it any longer. We (my global book club) chose it because we wanted a great aussie writer this month and he won awards, so it had to be good! Too bad, awards dont mean everything i guess. Just no accounting for taste. On to find something more enjoyable.
After reading this book I understand why it is an Australian icon. He captures the pulse of Australia in the 1950s/60s as our identity shifted from British to Australian in our own right. The characters are odd but very believable. You can imagine the younger ones still living in Perth now, with Cloudstreet as their past.
The only reason I gave it four rather than five stars is because at times I found it difficult to connect to. When Winton strays away from the lives and motivations of his characters the story is hard to relate to as a young-ish urban Australian reader. His characters, however, draw every reader back in. As soon as they become the focus again, the story flourishes. A must read Australian classic.
The only reason I gave it four rather than five stars is because at times I found it difficult to connect to. When Winton strays away from the lives and motivations of his characters the story is hard to relate to as a young-ish urban Australian reader. His characters, however, draw every reader back in. As soon as they become the focus again, the story flourishes. A must read Australian classic.
A tale of two families living in Western Perth that spans over 20 years.
Heavy and impacting. This book will have you nostalgic to a place you've never been, and a time you (possibly) never lived through. There's this weird dynamic of fragility mixed with ironclad strength in the families overall personalities. Definitely worth your time.
This book just soars. I fell in love with Dirt Music six years ago, and I always knew I'd come around to this one -- somehow, while part of me can't believe I waited so long, I also believe that the right books tend to find us at the right time. This felt like a perfect time to read this one, and now it's going on my list of very favorites.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was told I would enjoy Cloudstreet more than Dirt Music, and said persons were correct. A pity Short Story Day Africa has made reading things other than short stories a bit tricky (kid stories abound!). But the epic tale has enough humour mixed with the somber to keep one coming back.
Some great lines. Be tricky to decide which to put on the blog.
Decisions. Decisions.
Some great lines. Be tricky to decide which to put on the blog.
Decisions. Decisions.