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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A sad yet a beautiful story with important themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Alcohol
This was a powerful book. It spoke to abuse, loss, family, love, heartbreak, fate and identity.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job at distinguishing voices but also I could not get behind the way flowers was said, and it was said so many times!
I love that this was set in Australia. The settings, the language and the native plants referred to set up such a beautiful landscape. I appreciated the inclusion of Indigenous culture and Ringland's notes in the acknowledgements where she sought permission to do so.
The language was well...flowery. I can't say it's not written well, and there would be some sentences that would just make me pause...but it felt a bit much at times, like eating too much rich cake at once. It would have been good to have the writing style vary a bit. It was cool how each chapter started with a plant and its explanation and there were multiple pulled quotes to mark a new section throughout the book.
I would say there wasn't much plot, it was very much character driven and dependent on the paths Alice chose.
All of that meant enough to me that this could have been a five star (the person who recommended it to me said it was their favourite book) but the thing that brought me back were the characters. I could not abide by them and their choices.
Sure, we are exploring people here and the mistakes they can make. Sure, this all had to happen to have a story. Sure, this is all fictional anyway so who gives a crap? Well, I do damn it!
****SPOILERS AHEAD*****
I did guess where the story was going at times (e.g June turning Oggie and his mum in to get deported, Dylan being a creep etc) but the story was well-written enough to still make me gasp.
Onto the characters:
Agnes was in an abusive relationship. I can understand that she must have loved Clem very much but goddamn. Every single time we would see her covered in bruises, when he crippled Tobey, when he hurt Alice, when he seemingly raped Agnes while she was pregnant...jesus christ. I know that domesitc violence is a complex issue but I could not stop myself from internally (and sometimes externally) screaming at her to take Alice and GO.
Then there's June. First of all, separating Alice and her brother. Secondly, not communicating with her about her past and heritage. Thirdly, not being open to there being other people in Alice's life and her choices (Oggie). Nope nope nope. I did not feel anything when we learned she had a heart attack, she was not a good guardian.
Oggie! Their friendship and how it grew into a relationship was so cute and had so much potential and love. Even if he was getting deported he did not have two literal seconds to leave a sticky note for Alice? The authorities or whatever could not let him make a single phone call? And when he got there why was that not the first thing he did? It truly was mind-boggling and totally at odds with the commitment they were going to show each other. THEN YEARS GO BY and he's like "oh well, guess I have a wife and kid now?!"
Omg and then Moss doesn't even explain his tragic background and why as a vet he is treating Alice's dog Pip for free!! In this economy?!
AND THEN Lulu sees Alice getting involved with Dylan and says "you don't want to go there" instead of "I literally dated him he is mentally and physically abusive RUN SIS". \
I just...I can't. Miscommunication is my pet peeve and it was like the only thing driving this plot onwards.
I liked Candy baby, she is a ray of kindness. Twigg was also really cool and strong. Sally was nice but I thought nothing of her helping Alice and giving her books in the hospital lol. Turns out she is the guardian of her little brother Charlie.
It was nice Alice found her way back to them but also what if she hadn't gone back? Sally was just going to let her not know? It was cute with her meeting Charlie though and how they became friends.
I don't get how she wrote a book and has a writing residency but then she burns her book at the end?? Or was the book she wrote not the one that she has been working on this whole time?
I liked the part in the desert, like how she found her own way and got a job working at the crater and started to build a life for herself there.
I thought it was really cool how Ruby sits and waits for poetry to strike her from the ancestors. A good explanation for inexplicable inspiration.
Overall I thought it was a beautifully written book set in Australia, with a strong female character focus. While parts spoke to me I would say that it didn't generally and is probs a 3.8 for me.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job at distinguishing voices but also I could not get behind the way flowers was said, and it was said so many times!
I love that this was set in Australia. The settings, the language and the native plants referred to set up such a beautiful landscape. I appreciated the inclusion of Indigenous culture and Ringland's notes in the acknowledgements where she sought permission to do so.
The language was well...flowery. I can't say it's not written well, and there would be some sentences that would just make me pause...but it felt a bit much at times, like eating too much rich cake at once. It would have been good to have the writing style vary a bit. It was cool how each chapter started with a plant and its explanation and there were multiple pulled quotes to mark a new section throughout the book.
I would say there wasn't much plot, it was very much character driven and dependent on the paths Alice chose.
All of that meant enough to me that this could have been a five star (the person who recommended it to me said it was their favourite book) but the thing that brought me back were the characters. I could not abide by them and their choices.
Sure, we are exploring people here and the mistakes they can make. Sure, this all had to happen to have a story. Sure, this is all fictional anyway so who gives a crap? Well, I do damn it!
****SPOILERS AHEAD*****
I did guess where the story was going at times (e.g June turning Oggie and his mum in to get deported, Dylan being a creep etc) but the story was well-written enough to still make me gasp.
Onto the characters:
Agnes was in an abusive relationship. I can understand that she must have loved Clem very much but goddamn. Every single time we would see her covered in bruises, when he crippled Tobey, when he hurt Alice, when he seemingly raped Agnes while she was pregnant...jesus christ. I know that domesitc violence is a complex issue but I could not stop myself from internally (and sometimes externally) screaming at her to take Alice and GO.
Then there's June. First of all, separating Alice and her brother. Secondly, not communicating with her about her past and heritage. Thirdly, not being open to there being other people in Alice's life and her choices (Oggie). Nope nope nope. I did not feel anything when we learned she had a heart attack, she was not a good guardian.
Oggie! Their friendship and how it grew into a relationship was so cute and had so much potential and love. Even if he was getting deported he did not have two literal seconds to leave a sticky note for Alice? The authorities or whatever could not let him make a single phone call? And when he got there why was that not the first thing he did? It truly was mind-boggling and totally at odds with the commitment they were going to show each other. THEN YEARS GO BY and he's like "oh well, guess I have a wife and kid now?!"
Omg and then Moss doesn't even explain his tragic background and why as a vet he is treating Alice's dog Pip for free!! In this economy?!
AND THEN Lulu sees Alice getting involved with Dylan and says "you don't want to go there" instead of "I literally dated him he is mentally and physically abusive RUN SIS". \
I just...I can't. Miscommunication is my pet peeve and it was like the only thing driving this plot onwards.
I liked Candy baby, she is a ray of kindness. Twigg was also really cool and strong. Sally was nice but I thought nothing of her helping Alice and giving her books in the hospital lol. Turns out she is the guardian of her little brother Charlie.
It was nice Alice found her way back to them but also what if she hadn't gone back? Sally was just going to let her not know? It was cute with her meeting Charlie though and how they became friends.
I don't get how she wrote a book and has a writing residency but then she burns her book at the end?? Or was the book she wrote not the one that she has been working on this whole time?
I liked the part in the desert, like how she found her own way and got a job working at the crater and started to build a life for herself there.
I thought it was really cool how Ruby sits and waits for poetry to strike her from the ancestors. A good explanation for inexplicable inspiration.
Overall I thought it was a beautifully written book set in Australia, with a strong female character focus. While parts spoke to me I would say that it didn't generally and is probs a 3.8 for me.
I found the writing compelling with gorgeous imagery, but the resolution and ending felt rushed. The author did a wonderful job weaving the flora and fauna into the story and bringing them to life. She also ethically tied multiple cultures together for a richer story. My main critique (reason for 4/5) is that the ending of the book felt rushed. It seemed the author was tying up loose ends and trying to answer all of our questions with a direct answer instead of taking us along the journey to find them along with Alice.
"Each flower is a secret language. When I wear a combination of flowers together, it's like I'm writing my own secret code that no one else can understand unless they know my language."
Quite lovely and a bit heart-breaking.
Quite lovely and a bit heart-breaking.
This book was not what I expected but I still found it a good read. Having worked in domestic violence and mental health I found the realistic portrayal of both sadly true to life. Important topics to explore though and done in a thoughtful and provoking way.
There were a number of interesting characters and the storytelling and descriptions of Australian outback were beautiful and engaging.
There were a number of interesting characters and the storytelling and descriptions of Australian outback were beautiful and engaging.
I just finished this beautiful book. I'll need some time to write my review, but right now it's just a 5 stars.
3.5 stars - I could tell this book was beautifully written but it didn’t land as powerfully for me as I think it is intended. Some of the plot didn’t feel fully fleshed out and the pace was a little slow for my taste.
This was an incredible debut novel and I so look forward to reading more from Holly Ringland.
That said, while the book was beautiful, the writing divine, and the plot engaging...it was slow to start. It took me longer than I would have liked to get into the story possibly because, frankly, Alice was kind of a bore. In the end, though, it was worth it and I am glad I stuck around.
It's a great story of self-discovery, feminine strength, and forgiveness. All-in-all an enjoyable read.
That said, while the book was beautiful, the writing divine, and the plot engaging...it was slow to start. It took me longer than I would have liked to get into the story possibly because, frankly, Alice was kind of a bore. In the end, though, it was worth it and I am glad I stuck around.
It's a great story of self-discovery, feminine strength, and forgiveness. All-in-all an enjoyable read.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book with a character that frustrated me as much as this one. I will say that I loved the beginning of this book and the lyrical way it’s written. But as soon as our main character grew up and ran away from her problems, everything she did made me crazy! I wanted to see her grow and find her inner strength. But she just continually melted back inside herself, leaving me yelling at the book. I got so close to dnf’ing, but I had to see it through to a hopefully happier ending. I won’t give anything away, but even though the ending was good, it just didn’t make up for the rest.