Reviews with content warning for Infertility - Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray

Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is my first pick from the Stella Prize longlist, and it was a stellar one. It’s the story of Wagadhaany, a young Wiradyuri woman who works, under conditions akin to slavery, in the house of a white settler family. It’s my favourite sort of historical fiction, a novel that includes specific historical events, most notably the devastation to Gundagai caused by the flooding of the Murrumbidgee River in 1852.

This is unabashedly a Wiradyuri novel. The reader gains a strong appreciation of certain aspects of the culture, especially their deep connection to the land, and the central importance of family, living and ancestral, to their lives. The Wiradyuri language is liberally used throughout the novel and it added real richness, authenticity and a strong sense of immersion. I listened on audio which I recommend. Appreciation of the language is enhanced by hearing the correct pronunciation.

The book is a searing indictment of racism, sexism and especially colonialism. The superior attitude of white settlers who depended on and profited from indigenous knowledge and labour while treating the indigenous people with contempt was depicted in infuriating detail.

I appreciated the nuanced way the relationship between Wagadhaany and Louise played out. There were many layers, some good and some bad, and I valued seeing them unfold in all their subtle, messy complexities.

This stands in contrast to my one criticism of the book. Sometimes I felt the author was a little too heavy-handed and didactic. There were plenty of places where readers were explicitly told things when what we had already been richly shown clearly conveyed the message - at least to this reader.

Overall though the storytelling was superb. I was engrossed and captivated from beginning to end. My heart still hurts from sharing Wagadhaany’s joys and sorrows. She’s one of those special characters who will stay with me.

Content Warnings

theunrealerin's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is an excellent ownvoice indigenous Australian story, the use of Wiradjuri language is wonderful and centering an Australian colonial story on the experience of a Wiradjuri woman is great. However I found the female friendship at the heart of the book lacked believability/depth.

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