Reviews

Exílio by Christina Baker Kline

melisscharber's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

nnoe's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring

5.0

muirk128's review against another edition

4.0

I love when a book completely surprises me with twists and turns and this one did several times. I would have liked to see a little more done with the Mathinna storyline as that aspect feels a little uneven.

attackofthetitans's review against another edition

3.0

This book is sad. It was a nice work of historical fiction but not the happiest story.

trynaread's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

susiereads2's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book! I had no prior knowledge of the British settlement in Australia in the 19th century so from a historical perspective it was very enlightening. I fell in love with the characters & my heart went on a rollercoaster ride throughout the entire book. Christina Baker Kline has a gift for weaving history with fiction. This was the first book I have read by this author & I can’t wait to read more of her past work.

ernis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-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

4.75

This is an amazing, heartbreaking book. There was one character that I wished we learned more about but overall it was a beautiful, important story to read. 
We follow the story of several female convicts from the UK as well as as an indigenous child from Australia who eventually cross paths. Although the story is fictional, the history it is based on is eye opening and disturbing. This novel gives a new appreciation for female rights, in modern times, in first world countries.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Excrement, Abortion, and Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

natrobuck's review against another edition

hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

A good read. I loved characters. Quite sad tbh, but it had a good ending. I wish more time was spent with Mathinna, it would have been nice to see more about what happened to her.

cassmccaff's review against another edition

4.0

I liked this book alot. It was captivating and explored a history that I knew very little about. The aboriginals of Australia. It’s so interesting to me that some cultures and people were not just left alone to do their thing. The British, and later Americans, just thinking that they need their help to “civilize” them. I wonder what would happen if they were just left alone to continue their ways in living off the land. I can see modern medicine being a big blessing having saved many lives. But it truly is amazing that people since the beginning of time have created a way of life that is purely natural. No shoes, no technology. Just humans and the earth. But I digress, this book focuses little on that way of life, but they do tell the story of Mathinna who was taken from the her people in an attempt to “civilize” her. I later found out that while this book is fiction, Mathinnas story is a true one and really quite sad. You can find the portrait of her described in the book with a quick google search. Just an innocent little girl.

The other girls and their stories were interesting. I read this book very quickly and wanted very badly to know how it ended. I will admit that I was hoping for just a bit more “story” but again, I was never bored and I was happy with the ending.

I would recommend this book to anyone! It’s more on the mild side in terms of adult themes. And it is quick and captivating. Nothing not to like, really.

jacquelyn816's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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? No

4.0