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iamthebeesnees's review against another edition
4.0
A really beautiful lyrical book (provided you're okay with a tone of similes). Was extra nice to read a book set in my home!
lisadowdell's review against another edition
5.0
Swallow the air tells the story of a young Wiradjuri girl growing up in Dharawal country in the Gong. It tells the story of her finding her place in modern Australia who doesn’t want you to be Aboriginal. She is on a journey to find her self. To find her father, to find her mob to go to county.
It’s a beautiful story. Raw and emotional. So familiar to me who is a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in dharawal country 1/2 hour from the Gong.
It’s a beautiful story. Raw and emotional. So familiar to me who is a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in dharawal country 1/2 hour from the Gong.
lisadowdell's review
5.0
Swallow the air tells the story of a young Wiradjuri girl growing up in Dharawal country in the Gong. It tells the story of her finding her place in modern Australia who doesn’t want you to be Aboriginal. She is on a journey to find her self. To find her father, to find her mob to go to county.
It’s a beautiful story. Raw and emotional. So familiar to me who is a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in dharawal country 1/2 hour from the Gong.
It’s a beautiful story. Raw and emotional. So familiar to me who is a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in dharawal country 1/2 hour from the Gong.
mandi_m's review against another edition
4.0
Our 5 book club groups read this one for March. Everyone agreed that the writing was beautiful - lyric, poetic and evocative - but some felt there was too much of that. Some liked the vignettes as we saw little pieces of May's life, but some felt that it was disjointed. We had great conversations about language, May's journey and the book's listing on the HSC. I really enjoyed this and the insight into the impact of poverty and violence on a young woman. We don't get enough indigenous fiction, and this is one I think that is an important addition.
Scores (Average across all 49 participants was 7.5)
Friday 9am: 8/6/6/8/8/8/7.5/8/8/5/8
Friday 10:30am:7/7.5/7.5/10/10/7/6/8/8
Friday 12noon:8/8/7.5/5/8/8/8
Monday 6pm: 5/6/5.5/5/7/9/8/8/8/6/8
Monday 7:30pm: 3/8.5/6/5/7/6/6.5/8/8/6/8
Scores (Average across all 49 participants was 7.5)
Friday 9am: 8/6/6/8/8/8/7.5/8/8/5/8
Friday 10:30am:7/7.5/7.5/10/10/7/6/8/8
Friday 12noon:8/8/7.5/5/8/8/8
Monday 6pm: 5/6/5.5/5/7/9/8/8/8/6/8
Monday 7:30pm: 3/8.5/6/5/7/6/6.5/8/8/6/8
overbookedproductions's review against another edition
4.0
Swallow the air excellently captures the spirit of discovery, youth, pain and yearning all set in a wonderfully vivid and beautifully described backdrop of the Australian coast.
The prevalent themes of belonging, journey and self discovery drives the story in a compelling and sincere way. The characters that protagonist May Gibson meets along the way offer their own unique story, motivation, influence and range from heartwarming, compassionate & hopeful to cruel, cynical and defeated by a system put in place to victimise the indigenous people.
The Aboriginal influence and background gives the story a spiritual and uplifting feel where perseverance through the odds to find home is the only path.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is fantastic is it's setting and descriptions. The emotions and experiences of characters are well represented and developed and all together makes a great book exploring belonging, journey and finding oneself along the way.
The prevalent themes of belonging, journey and self discovery drives the story in a compelling and sincere way. The characters that protagonist May Gibson meets along the way offer their own unique story, motivation, influence and range from heartwarming, compassionate & hopeful to cruel, cynical and defeated by a system put in place to victimise the indigenous people.
The Aboriginal influence and background gives the story a spiritual and uplifting feel where perseverance through the odds to find home is the only path.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is fantastic is it's setting and descriptions. The emotions and experiences of characters are well represented and developed and all together makes a great book exploring belonging, journey and finding oneself along the way.
kaet's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book after coming across the "Cloud Busting" chapter in a collection of short stories and I found it beautiful, so thought I would read the whole book. The novel is written in a lyrical fashion, with beautifully descriptive language. However the plot was not as strong as the language. The short chapters and the jumping in time and place were easy enough to follow, but meant I hadn't fully engaged with the character's life. I gave it four stars overall because I want to give the language 5 starts and the plot 3.
shaerikireads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
georgiarybanks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0