Reviews

Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville

3wilcotroad's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad 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

4.0

laura_corsi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

This book was beautifully made. It had amazing endpapers and was just the right size to hold in your hands. It reminded me so much of journal entries of I have read written by my ancestors during this time. Kate Grenville does an excellent job of writing the story from her grandmother's point of view without poisoning the story with our more modern perspective. Touching and heartfelt.

chrissiereads's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

naomilovestoread's review

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

sportula's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

peita_hansen's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

miss_bct's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

bookmarkonthewall's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

annrhub's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

lvleggett's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Dolly Maunder is restless - she wants a different kind of life from the first time she meets a female school teacher and realizes that there's more out there for her than she had been told. She sets out to make it happen. Of course, it's not a smooth path. Her father prohibits. Her lovers make choices that aren't her. But she finds a way to build something for herself in early 1900s Australia. 

I enjoyed the first two-thirds of this book tremendously. Dolly is messy. She is a woman at a point of transition in history and as such, she doesn't make the right or the best decisions always. She is still fixed within certain norms. Her central relationships are all flawed. But she continues to strive to attain a different version of herself. Rising through the business ranks was the most enjoyable part of the story for me. Loved seeing her take risks and trust herself. The final third follows the final years of her life. There is more reflection and coming to terms. It is a solid conclusion for Dolly but I personally didn't need it. 

This book seeks to understand the lives of the women who came before us. And in doing so, it prompts us to reflect on our own journeys and what we might hope to see for the future of the next generations of women - and men. 

I'm glad I picked up this book. I think Dolly will stick with me for a while.