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judygold's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Nicely written but very slow and the main reveal was predictable long in advance. Unsatisfying ending.
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
The setting is a small Australian town and my sense is that it's the 1950s. The Jensons are new to town. Rex is a dentist and his two boys - Colt and Bastian - seem an exotic breed to the local kids, surrounded by toys and altogether shinier and more golden. Freya is from a large, working class family and she and her brothers are smitten with the Jensons. However underneath the golden exterior there is a sense that something isn't quite right, much as there are deep cracks in Freya's own family life.
This is a book told from the point of view of the children and it takes quite a while for much to happen. It's full of descriptions and atmosphere and the characters are all real, fleshed out people. Nevertheless I found it slow going for the first half, until the plot really takes shape and it's evident where the hints are leading. The ending is confronting and shocking and sticks with you. I wouldn't say I loved this when I was reading it but it will definitely stay with me.
This is a book told from the point of view of the children and it takes quite a while for much to happen. It's full of descriptions and atmosphere and the characters are all real, fleshed out people. Nevertheless I found it slow going for the first half, until the plot really takes shape and it's evident where the hints are leading. The ending is confronting and shocking and sticks with you. I wouldn't say I loved this when I was reading it but it will definitely stay with me.
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
Some monsters look like monsters, others hide behind an attractive personality, a good upbringing and a cheerful smile. That they are " ordinary people" is even more disconcerting, especially to kids.
Two very different families live on the same street, in an Australian lower-middle-class suburb (I can't remember if the city/town was named). Rex Jenson, his wife and two boys, Colt and Bastian, have just moved into the neighbourhood. They're an affluent family, the kids have lots of toys and gadgets, and a pool. On the other end of the socio-economic spectrum are the Kileys, made up of Elizabeth, a stay-at-home mum, her blue-collar, violent and alcoholic husband, Joe, and their six children, ranging in age between two to twelve year old, Freya.
This novel is written through two twelve year old's eyes, Freya Kiley and Colt Jenson. They are both going through their own realisations about their parents. They are not necessarily happy to discover how flawed their parents are.
I haven't had much success with Aussie kids characters, as sometimes I find them too grown-up and unconvincing. I never doubted these kids and didn't raise my metaphorical eyebrow once.
It is a difficult read, about domestic violence and paedophilia. I was impressed by Hartnett's writing and her restraint. She also avoided creating those omniscient, know-it-all kid characters, who don't exist outside a novel's page. What she did brilliantly was to capture the kids' vulnerabilities, their struggles and impotence.
Golden Boys is a small but powerful novel, nuanced, realistic and a bit different. It'll make for a great book club read.
This book goes towards my Aussie Author Challenge 2018, on www.bookloverbookreviews.com
Two very different families live on the same street, in an Australian lower-middle-class suburb (I can't remember if the city/town was named). Rex Jenson, his wife and two boys, Colt and Bastian, have just moved into the neighbourhood. They're an affluent family, the kids have lots of toys and gadgets, and a pool. On the other end of the socio-economic spectrum are the Kileys, made up of Elizabeth, a stay-at-home mum, her blue-collar, violent and alcoholic husband, Joe, and their six children, ranging in age between two to twelve year old, Freya.
This novel is written through two twelve year old's eyes, Freya Kiley and Colt Jenson. They are both going through their own realisations about their parents. They are not necessarily happy to discover how flawed their parents are.
I haven't had much success with Aussie kids characters, as sometimes I find them too grown-up and unconvincing. I never doubted these kids and didn't raise my metaphorical eyebrow once.
It is a difficult read, about domestic violence and paedophilia. I was impressed by Hartnett's writing and her restraint. She also avoided creating those omniscient, know-it-all kid characters, who don't exist outside a novel's page. What she did brilliantly was to capture the kids' vulnerabilities, their struggles and impotence.
Golden Boys is a small but powerful novel, nuanced, realistic and a bit different. It'll make for a great book club read.
This book goes towards my Aussie Author Challenge 2018, on www.bookloverbookreviews.com
desterman's review against another edition
4.0
Hartnett is an incredibly talented writer. Her books for young adults always deal with the hidden dark lurking under the surface, and her novel 'Golden Boys', written for an adult audience, doesn't deviate from this recurring theme. Told through the eyes of a group of neighbourhood children in the late 70s, early 80s suburban Australia, we are exposed to the way in which the children are helplessly exposed to the complex and often dangerous world of adults. The most terrifying aspects of this novel are often in what is inferred, rather than fully exposed, providing unique insight into the way children often understand the ways of adults all too well.
booksandladders's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This was alright. The writing was okay but very long winded and it kinda made all the different perspectives mesh and muddle together which made it difficult for me to read. I enjoyed seeing adult topics through the minds of children, but I knew what the "revelation" would be the first time we were in Colt's mind, like 5% into the story. And the ending left much to be desired. It is an okay read but not one I would necessarily recommend.
I don't actually have a whole lot to say about this one. I thought that the children were alright but I didn't really connect to any of them. Even the adults left something to be desired and I thought a lot of the characters were really one dimensional. I read some of the positive reviews for this one once I finished and feel like I missed something because not only was the writing subpar for me, but the characters were meh and the "drama" was super easy to pinpoint immediately. I don't feel like this book really adds anything new to the heaps of other books that tell a similar story except we got to see it from both sides of the story.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
This was alright. The writing was okay but very long winded and it kinda made all the different perspectives mesh and muddle together which made it difficult for me to read. I enjoyed seeing adult topics through the minds of children, but I knew what the "revelation" would be the first time we were in Colt's mind, like 5% into the story. And the ending left much to be desired. It is an okay read but not one I would necessarily recommend.
I don't actually have a whole lot to say about this one. I thought that the children were alright but I didn't really connect to any of them. Even the adults left something to be desired and I thought a lot of the characters were really one dimensional. I read some of the positive reviews for this one once I finished and feel like I missed something because not only was the writing subpar for me, but the characters were meh and the "drama" was super easy to pinpoint immediately. I don't feel like this book really adds anything new to the heaps of other books that tell a similar story except we got to see it from both sides of the story.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
marymanor's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book a lot. The story was told quietly and built to an unexpected end. Very nice.
grclnntt's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Exactly what I’d expect from Sonya hartnett. Dark but enjoyable
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Gore
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
momo1129's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kellytsak's review against another edition
3.0
A tale of two families from the eyes of their children and the darkness that lurks within, hidden and secrets witheld. The story follows Freya and Colt mostly and their very different families, Freya who comes from a large family that never seems to end and Colt who is one of 2 children. It shows trouble in families comes in many shapes and forms. This book was very well written and I finished it very quickly. I was left wanting more answers as I felt the ending did not complete the story, (but if that is the way it was intended then that is ok). The only other complaint I had was Freya had dialogue that did not suit someone her age while the other children did. It was a good book and I would recommend it to people who are after some easy fiction and I would like to thank the reading room for my free copy.