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eroga's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Just wow. This is tim Winton at his finest. I have just finished this and I’m still processing. In short, an abused teenager, Jaxie, comes home to find his father dead (this isn’t a spoiler, it happens within the first couple of chapters). He then takes off into the bush and comes across an isolated older man.
As in all tim winton’s books, the landscape of Western Australia is a character in its own right. Harsh, brutal but luminescent, the desolation and loneliness underpins the book. Apart from the landscape there are only two major characters, jaxie and the older man, who I don’t want to give too much detail about (spoilers sweetie!) however tim Winton develops them brilliantly, showing Jaxie’s development and growth from a neglected, abused and angry teen into someone who wrestles with doing the right thing and loyalty and family, when he hasn’t had an example of this in his home life. He also explores growing older and regrets and paying for our past sins, and the way this plays on our minds obsessively.
As in all good literature, this book questions what does it mean to be human? What do we want in life? And how do we cope when what we want doesn’t eventuate? When life and circumstances throw a spanner in the works? What is truly important to us as humans?
At times brutal, heartbreaking, tender and humourous, sometimes all at once, the minutia of survival under the odds, whether physical or emotional, is stripped down to the bones. I hope it works out well for jaxie, and he finds what he is looking for.
As in all tim winton’s books, the landscape of Western Australia is a character in its own right. Harsh, brutal but luminescent, the desolation and loneliness underpins the book. Apart from the landscape there are only two major characters, jaxie and the older man, who I don’t want to give too much detail about (spoilers sweetie!) however tim Winton develops them brilliantly, showing Jaxie’s development and growth from a neglected, abused and angry teen into someone who wrestles with doing the right thing and loyalty and family, when he hasn’t had an example of this in his home life. He also explores growing older and regrets and paying for our past sins, and the way this plays on our minds obsessively.
As in all good literature, this book questions what does it mean to be human? What do we want in life? And how do we cope when what we want doesn’t eventuate? When life and circumstances throw a spanner in the works? What is truly important to us as humans?
At times brutal, heartbreaking, tender and humourous, sometimes all at once, the minutia of survival under the odds, whether physical or emotional, is stripped down to the bones. I hope it works out well for jaxie, and he finds what he is looking for.
katy_bee's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for a new book club I've joined and based on this, I think I'm going to like the book club!
Initially I wasn't sure if I'd be irritated by the narrator's voice- sometimes having accent and slang written down can be a bit intrusive but I actually got used to it very quickly.
Jaxie is an interesting main character- complicated, not very happy and not always completely likeable but I found his story compelling.
There are a few threads left untied at the end and I would love to have found it more, but I'm the way that I was captured by the characters and story and wanted to stay with them, rather than because it felt unfinished.
Initially I wasn't sure if I'd be irritated by the narrator's voice- sometimes having accent and slang written down can be a bit intrusive but I actually got used to it very quickly.
Jaxie is an interesting main character- complicated, not very happy and not always completely likeable but I found his story compelling.
There are a few threads left untied at the end and I would love to have found it more, but I'm the way that I was captured by the characters and story and wanted to stay with them, rather than because it felt unfinished.
hannahreflects's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Tim Winton's done it again - I loved this book! Always real, interesting, fleshed-out characters and a unique plotline. The only gripe I have is that the ending is pretty abrupt - I kind of wish it went on for at least another chapter or two!
brittn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
2.0
gbeach's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tevreads's review against another edition
5.0
A first reading of Tim Winton’s fiction, and I can see why so many people are obsessed with his work. This book had me drawn in from the very start and immersed in the distinct narrative voice of the protagonist. One of my favourite books in recent memory.
nasathespaceship's review against another edition
1.0
DNF, overblown Australian vernacular, No redeemable qualities in the “protagonist”, DNF after getting to the part about his relationship with Lee, no and goodbye
neeceym's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
starness's review against another edition
3.0
The truth is I’ve been reluctant to pick up another Tim Winton book, I tried reading Cloudstreet back in my early 20’s and only managed a third of the book before abandoning it, so for me I wasn’t overly enthusiast about picking this book up. But I’m sure glad I did. This felt different to Cloudstreet as the writing here feels raw, intense and brutal it’s a story that wasn’t easy to read but I was compelled nevertheless. The Australian remote bush setting and the language was used effectively to draw me into Jaxies’ story. The language is as rough as Jaxie himself, but it’s also it’s charm if you can get past the Aussie vernacular, it is not at all diluted, non Australian readers might struggle!
I wasn’t sure where the story was headed but I was invested until the last section where it sort of fell off and ended quite abruptly. It’s clear that Tim Winton is a writer with immense talent so I’m pleased that this book cemented my faith in him again. I might even polish off Cloudstreet finally...It was a solid 4 stars until the rushed ending.
I wasn’t sure where the story was headed but I was invested until the last section where it sort of fell off and ended quite abruptly. It’s clear that Tim Winton is a writer with immense talent so I’m pleased that this book cemented my faith in him again. I might even polish off Cloudstreet finally...It was a solid 4 stars until the rushed ending.