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teeharry's review against another edition
madiscone06's review against another edition
1.0
If I could give this less than 1 star I would.
I had to read this for year 11 english ATAR, and let me tell you.. this was the worst book I have EVER read.
I have never been more bored when reading a book in my life.
Sure it tells you a lot about Aboriginal history, which I thoroughly appreciate, but it has been done in the most boring way possible. I wish I just watched the film instead.
Part 4, especially the chapter ‘the verdict’, was the best part of this book and even that wasn’t very good.
Thank god i never have to read this book again. Worst 2 weeks of my life.
I had to read this for year 11 english ATAR, and let me tell you.. this was the worst book I have EVER read.
I have never been more bored when reading a book in my life.
Sure it tells you a lot about Aboriginal history, which I thoroughly appreciate, but it has been done in the most boring way possible. I wish I just watched the film instead.
Part 4, especially the chapter ‘the verdict’, was the best part of this book and even that wasn’t very good.
Thank god i never have to read this book again. Worst 2 weeks of my life.
blisseh's review against another edition
5.0
Utterly harrowing, every single page. I had intended to read this book year’s ago and wished I’d done so much sooner. Chloe Hooper’s writing is impeccable and this had me gripped from the beginning.
seclement's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book a few years ago, not too long after I first moved to Australia, but was only reminded of it recently when a documentary was played on SBS of the same name (which included an interview with the author). This is a moving and relatively unbiased account of the actions leading to Doomadgee's death and what happened soon thereafter. It also gives you a taste of the career and character of Chris Hurley and of what life is like in remote communities such as Palm Island. To be honest, I was still rather conflicted about the whole thing (in the sense that I don't think we'll ever know exactly what happened) after reading it, which I think is a testament to Hooper's handling of the story. One thing I did feel pretty strongly after reading it was a sense of despair, as there is a big part of me that suspects this was a breakdown of an officer who spent too long in these remote communities. Not many officers would want to dedicate two decades of their life to working in remote Aboriginal communities, and I do think that his heart was in the right place. But what if he had a breakdown? What if that could happen again, to another officer? Reading this book, one gets the sense that many people do not believe this was an overt act of racism, even if Hurley did cause Doomadgee's death. Rather, given his dedication to these communities, and the heartbreak he inevitably experienced over the years, it's quite possible that he just snapped. What can we do to stop this happening in the future? This story is tragic, and it would be even more tragic if we let it happen again. At any rate, I highly recommend this book - just don't expect to leave it feeling like you've got it all figured out.
Note: I read an earlier version of this book. The more recent version may be worth getting, as it might have the most recent developments in the legal cases.
Note: I read an earlier version of this book. The more recent version may be worth getting, as it might have the most recent developments in the legal cases.
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
4.0
The last thing THE TALL MAN needs is another review - the book is winning awards left right and centre at the moment. I must confess it wasn't a book I was particularly looking forward to reading, suspecting that the subject matter was going to be very very confronting. After it won the DAVITT AWARD from the Sisters in Crime, the judges comments on the night, were the little extra push required to make me stop dithering (well sooking really) and pick up the book.
Whilst I'm very very glad I finally did, reading THE TALL MAN was not a pleasant, easy or necessarily an ultimately satisfying task. Not, I hasten to add because of the standard of the writing, but because there's is no resolution to the mess that is Palm Island and the death of Cameron Doomadgee in particular, and white-Australia's relationship with the Indigenous People in general.
But then there are some very unpleasant, unbelievable and just flat out unsatisfactory and unacceptable aspects to the story of Palm Island and death of Doomadgee. (For some reason I still can't seem to get out of my head the fact that when Australia did the last census report - 2006 - Palm Island was "forgotten". How the hell do you "forget" an entire community? Just to add insult to injury it's a community that many many indigenous people were forcibly moved to.... it beggars belief).
There are aspects to the way that this community was setup, works and lives which are confrontational, and there are aspects to the death of Doomadgee and to the subsequent investigation, inquest and trials which just don't do a lot to give you much faith in justice, or even in the truth being paramount. THE TALL MAN delivers this story in a matter-of-fact, restrained, observant and respectful manner. There's no sensationalism of the events, it's up to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
It's a book that had to be written, and it really is a book that should be read.
Whilst I'm very very glad I finally did, reading THE TALL MAN was not a pleasant, easy or necessarily an ultimately satisfying task. Not, I hasten to add because of the standard of the writing, but because there's is no resolution to the mess that is Palm Island and the death of Cameron Doomadgee in particular, and white-Australia's relationship with the Indigenous People in general.
But then there are some very unpleasant, unbelievable and just flat out unsatisfactory and unacceptable aspects to the story of Palm Island and death of Doomadgee. (For some reason I still can't seem to get out of my head the fact that when Australia did the last census report - 2006 - Palm Island was "forgotten". How the hell do you "forget" an entire community? Just to add insult to injury it's a community that many many indigenous people were forcibly moved to.... it beggars belief).
There are aspects to the way that this community was setup, works and lives which are confrontational, and there are aspects to the death of Doomadgee and to the subsequent investigation, inquest and trials which just don't do a lot to give you much faith in justice, or even in the truth being paramount. THE TALL MAN delivers this story in a matter-of-fact, restrained, observant and respectful manner. There's no sensationalism of the events, it's up to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
It's a book that had to be written, and it really is a book that should be read.
scarlettmg's review against another edition
5.0
A breathtaking book. Hooper has done an astounding job of confronting the sordid truths of Australia’s dark history and current racist systems. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It pulls your heart apart piece by piece and leaves you angry and heartbroken and dazed. Every sentence is enthralling, without a doubt the finest book I’ve read in a long time.
gaaaaaaaaaaaaab's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a necessary read !!!! This book made me cry multiple times, and when I finished it, I cried again because nothing has changed in this country.
It has lost a star, because I believe that some of the language used has not aged very well.
It has lost a star, because I believe that some of the language used has not aged very well.