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![Dirt Music [With Earphones] by Tim Winton](https://cdn.thestorygraph.com/1pfkn7s8lerg6yspnk7wv6lahl2r)
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
nomadjg's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 - Except for the penultimate part of the novel dragging on a bit and an ever so slightly overly dramatic or sentimental ending, this would have been a 5. Having said that, there are three main things I loved about the book.
First, I love the way Winton locates us in a place. He describes the natural surroundings so vividly, explains the character of the microcosm of society represented in White Point thoroughly but subtlely, and when you read his words, you know an Australian is guiding you through the sometimes frightening or disturbing tour of the lives of two rather star-crossed, seriously damaged lovers. I have a ton of Australian flora and fauna and phrases to look up at the moment. Since my primary interest in literature deals with post-colonialism and the Englishes of the former British Empire, I was rather thrilled to find that his novel seemed fully Australian without the colonial baggage and at the same time dealt with the language and problems inherited by the British. For example, he offered a sad portrayal of attitudes toward Aboriginals, partly caused by the way that the continent, a penal colony, was settled and led by the British. The two aboriginal characters in the novel were unusual and represented something bordering on mystical which is a vaguely colonial way of looking at indigenous populations. Those characters' speech was different from the non-Aboriginal Australians, but their language wasn't made to sound "broken" and included Aboriginal words. Additionally, I felt that they were pretty well-rounded characters. Winton also expressed how Australia, while vast and remote, has rather deep connections to Asia geographically which I was interested in too, but Winton also showed ways in which outsiders and Asian immigrants weren't accepted by the community.
Secondly, I enjoyed how completely messed up and loveable the two main characters were and how much their survival depended on their relationship- a bit unusual. Also, they are characters I now feel like I know and that I felt frustrated with at times.
Finally, the novel dealt poignantly with universal themes such as coming to grips with death and loss and finding meaning in life along with allusions and references to religious salvation in a Christian context with phrases such as "fisher of men" and saying "Luther" might have been named "Calvin". I love it when authors use such allusions to bring resonance to their work and he is among that number. The references to the great English writers and great music didn't hurt either.
First, I love the way Winton locates us in a place. He describes the natural surroundings so vividly, explains the character of the microcosm of society represented in White Point thoroughly but subtlely, and when you read his words, you know an Australian is guiding you through the sometimes frightening or disturbing tour of the lives of two rather star-crossed, seriously damaged lovers. I have a ton of Australian flora and fauna and phrases to look up at the moment. Since my primary interest in literature deals with post-colonialism and the Englishes of the former British Empire, I was rather thrilled to find that his novel seemed fully Australian without the colonial baggage and at the same time dealt with the language and problems inherited by the British. For example, he offered a sad portrayal of attitudes toward Aboriginals, partly caused by the way that the continent, a penal colony, was settled and led by the British. The two aboriginal characters in the novel were unusual and represented something bordering on mystical which is a vaguely colonial way of looking at indigenous populations. Those characters' speech was different from the non-Aboriginal Australians, but their language wasn't made to sound "broken" and included Aboriginal words. Additionally, I felt that they were pretty well-rounded characters. Winton also expressed how Australia, while vast and remote, has rather deep connections to Asia geographically which I was interested in too, but Winton also showed ways in which outsiders and Asian immigrants weren't accepted by the community.
Secondly, I enjoyed how completely messed up and loveable the two main characters were and how much their survival depended on their relationship- a bit unusual. Also, they are characters I now feel like I know and that I felt frustrated with at times.
Finally, the novel dealt poignantly with universal themes such as coming to grips with death and loss and finding meaning in life along with allusions and references to religious salvation in a Christian context with phrases such as "fisher of men" and saying "Luther" might have been named "Calvin". I love it when authors use such allusions to bring resonance to their work and he is among that number. The references to the great English writers and great music didn't hurt either.
johnjohnston's review against another edition
4.0
I've started this one a few times, but finally go the groove after hearing Tim Winton on a podcast. Enjoyed it. Quite preposterous ending .
elsaschuster's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.0
aimd_'s review against another edition
4.0
Tim Winton is a master wordsmith vividly bringing to life the extremes of the Australian outback. The vast spaces and lonely dusty earth. The characters have really stuck with me as did the title of the book. The solitude & cleverly woven musical elements really resonate. There aren’t many of them which makes them all the more poignant. So much loss for one character & loss in the extreme. This seemed exaggerated and unbelievable, but maybe that’s the point? The ending falls into the unbelievable category, I’d love to find out what happened next. It’s a beautiful read, I loved it.
jazzylemon's review against another edition
4.0
Different than the books I associate with Tim Winton, but I was more than impressed with his string of blues guitar players, especially Skip James. It made me wonder if Mr. Winton plays guitar. I bet he does.
jarvi_k's review against another edition
3.0
What a shame that this atmospheric book is ruined by the poor storyline. Without any of those hapless chaps, or one at max, it would have been a great read.
skwinslow's review against another edition
5.0
The first book of 2006 to truly blow me away. In some ways, it reminded me of Anne Michael's Fugitive Pieces, both for its musical language and the theme of memory and forgetting. The two main characters are Luther Fox, an illegal fisherman struggling with the memories of the accident that killed his family, and Georgie Jutland, the wife of a prosperous fisherman. I found the novel difficult to put down; at the same time, I didn't want to read it too quickly. The descriptions of the Australian landscape are breathtaking.
ms_tiahmarie's review against another edition
Hemingway, author of The Old Man and the Sea, is threaded through the narrative and echoed in style and the shape (or lack of) the characters. So a readers adoration of this book will probably hinge on how much said reader enjoys Hemingway.
lottie1803's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75