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emzilia's review against another edition
This could be a book I try to pick up again, sometime in the future. However this time around I just struggled to get into the reflective and observational writing, and never felt like picking it up again.
bosdaan's review against another edition
4.0
Over de fictieve Aboriginal Gondiwindi-familie die door de Europese kolonisatie van Australië haar land en taal kwijtraakt. Vergezeld door twee archiefverhaallijnen (historische brieven van Reverend Greenleaf en het verhalende woordenboek van opa Albert) ontwikkelt zich het verhaal in het heden waarin de hoofdpersoon terugkeert naar de plek waar ze opgegroeid. Het duurt even voor het boek op gang komt, maar deze roman is een vurig pleidooi voor het culturele belang van taal.
berlinbibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amaaaazing read. I loved the three narrative styles - the dictionary, the letters, and August's present-day story. So creative and perfect for slowly revealing the pieces of the puzzle of what happened at Prosperous, in the past and in the present.
Lots of difficult themes (cultural reasure, the Stolen Generations, racism) but dealt with as part of August's family history and fight against the mining company, and her grief for her grandfather.
Lots of difficult themes (cultural reasure, the Stolen Generations, racism) but dealt with as part of August's family history and fight against the mining company, and her grief for her grandfather.
ashleycornelius's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked how i’m the story built from three different perspectives. A bit of a mystery, a lot about race relations in Australia.
karennelapati's review against another edition
4.0
A little hard to follow but beautifully written!!
handheartthroatwrist's review against another edition
5.0
The Yield cracked my heart open and made me clutch it to my chest when I was finished. Based around the Gondiwindi family, their story is told by three narrators at different points in time and via different formats. There is a reason why Wiradjuri writer Tara June Winch has received multiple prestigious awards for The Yield; it’s one to read and reread then read all over again because you’ll learn something new every time. It contains the most beautiful and moving dictionary I’ve ever read; the reclaiming of language and storytelling is a privilege to be able to learn from.
megann__'s review against another edition
4.0
*uni read
i think the start of this book is so strong, but it drops off around the middle of the story.
the massive revelation is seemingly connected by a very loose thread and a throwaway line, which i personally didn't pick up on and then was confused when it was suddenly apparent to the main character.
i appreciated the addition of secondary narratives within the text, but i feel like there should've been more of a focus on the main plot of the story, rather than vague and almost filler chapters in between the main plot.
i think the start of this book is so strong, but it drops off around the middle of the story.
the massive revelation is seemingly connected by a very loose thread and a throwaway line, which i personally didn't pick up on and then was confused when it was suddenly apparent to the main character.
i appreciated the addition of secondary narratives within the text, but i feel like there should've been more of a focus on the main plot of the story, rather than vague and almost filler chapters in between the main plot.
desterman's review against another edition
5.0
Twenty something Aboriginal woman August Gondiwindi has been living in Britain for 10 years when she flies home for the funeral of her grandfather, Albert. She returns home to Prosperous House (a former mission), on Massacre Plains near the Murrumby River, to support her grandmother Elsie. The place names point to the history of this land where a darkness has fallen since invasion of the continent. Elsie is in the process of packing up the family home now that the government has repossessed the land and sold it to a tin mining company. Burdened with grief over her grandfather’s death, the impending loss of her homeland, and the memory of her sister, missing since childhood, August has to find peace with what she has lost and look to what she can gain. For, as August discovers, before he died her grandfather began writing a dictionary of sorts to try to capture the language, culture and identity of his people, save his homeland, and also reveal the family secrets he’s kept for so long.
Tara June Winch’s 2019 novel The Yield has been met with critical acclaim and last year won the NSW Premier’s Literary Award. While I’m often sceptical of hype, in this case it is absolutely spot on. I found this to be an original, powerful, educational, elegant and heartbreaking read. Remarkably, within one narrative, Winch has been able to effectively encapsulate the experience of dispossession and the ramifications that has for generations; the impact of colonisation on the environment; the importance of culture and language; and the beauty of Aboriginal spirituality. It isn’t didactic and offers examination of these complex intertwined issues in a way that is both explanatory and accessible. It is also an anti-mining novel which comments on the flagrant disregard and consideration of the land and its people on the part of mining companies and governments alike when profits and jobs eclipse all else. There is also interesting examination of the relationships between First Nations people and greenies, where the philosophies for protesting against mining development are often completely different.
The novel is written using several different forms with three different narrators. These sections are all short, providing us pieces of the bigger narrative as we go along. An omniscient narrator dominates in the longest sections and tells the story of the August’s experience of homecoming in the present day through exquisite prose. The use of third person, rather than first person (which seemed the obvious choice) allows us to get to know the other characters better too – August’s aunts, uncles, cousins, and childhood friend Eddie. This gives an insight into family bonds and the complex history of some of those relationships. August’s return is bittersweet as she is drenched in love by her family and friends but has to also face the reasons for her fleeing out of their arms all those years ago. Alternated with these chapters are excerpts from Albert’s dictionary entries and extracts of a letter written by Reverend Ferdinand Greenleaf to Dr George Cross in 1915. The letter is an account of the German Reverend’s experiences on the Mission and his observance of the sophistication of Aboriginal people and culture, as well as the shockingly inhumane and racist acts committed against them. These are difficult extracts to read as you know they are based in fact. The experience of Greenleaf shifts from optimism to desperation as he recounts his developing understanding of the systematic abuse of an entire civilisation which is regarded largely by whites as something in need of being completely eradicated, whether through slavery and massacre or stealing generations of children in order to assimilate them into the white populous. No matter how aware of this I already was, the reminders are stark and hard to face, but Winch does a terrific job of exposing why it is so important to keep revisiting them, to keep reminding ourselves of why Australia is what it is today and how ignorant and stupid those are that keep saying we should just “move on”. As Winch writes, “Other people didn’t have lumps in their throat year in and out, century after century. They didn’t know what it was like to be torn apart.” (p. 267)
For me, the best part of the novel was Albert’s extracts. He explains the language of his people in beautiful detail and gives such remarkable context – from his childhood, life in the boy’s home, his reunification with his sister, meeting his wife and his precious experience as a father and grandfather. His deepest secrets also come to light through his reflection on the language of his people too. This was the first time I’ve really understood the way Aboriginal language works and it was such an interesting revelation. The extracts also provided insight into Albert’s character and many Aboriginal agricultural practices. It was both informative and intimate. Through this Winch asks some important questions about how important language is to a culture and a country. And whether language is one of the key underpinnings of identity.
Whilst confronting, this is a very moving and ultimately hopeful story about loss and the power of a people who have endured so much indignity. The imagery and symbolism are gorgeous and captures the connection between Aboriginal spirituality and the land in so many ways. The characters are all well developed and never slip into stereotyping. This was such a great read and definitely a book to which I would return again and again.
Tara June Winch’s 2019 novel The Yield has been met with critical acclaim and last year won the NSW Premier’s Literary Award. While I’m often sceptical of hype, in this case it is absolutely spot on. I found this to be an original, powerful, educational, elegant and heartbreaking read. Remarkably, within one narrative, Winch has been able to effectively encapsulate the experience of dispossession and the ramifications that has for generations; the impact of colonisation on the environment; the importance of culture and language; and the beauty of Aboriginal spirituality. It isn’t didactic and offers examination of these complex intertwined issues in a way that is both explanatory and accessible. It is also an anti-mining novel which comments on the flagrant disregard and consideration of the land and its people on the part of mining companies and governments alike when profits and jobs eclipse all else. There is also interesting examination of the relationships between First Nations people and greenies, where the philosophies for protesting against mining development are often completely different.
The novel is written using several different forms with three different narrators. These sections are all short, providing us pieces of the bigger narrative as we go along. An omniscient narrator dominates in the longest sections and tells the story of the August’s experience of homecoming in the present day through exquisite prose. The use of third person, rather than first person (which seemed the obvious choice) allows us to get to know the other characters better too – August’s aunts, uncles, cousins, and childhood friend Eddie. This gives an insight into family bonds and the complex history of some of those relationships. August’s return is bittersweet as she is drenched in love by her family and friends but has to also face the reasons for her fleeing out of their arms all those years ago. Alternated with these chapters are excerpts from Albert’s dictionary entries and extracts of a letter written by Reverend Ferdinand Greenleaf to Dr George Cross in 1915. The letter is an account of the German Reverend’s experiences on the Mission and his observance of the sophistication of Aboriginal people and culture, as well as the shockingly inhumane and racist acts committed against them. These are difficult extracts to read as you know they are based in fact. The experience of Greenleaf shifts from optimism to desperation as he recounts his developing understanding of the systematic abuse of an entire civilisation which is regarded largely by whites as something in need of being completely eradicated, whether through slavery and massacre or stealing generations of children in order to assimilate them into the white populous. No matter how aware of this I already was, the reminders are stark and hard to face, but Winch does a terrific job of exposing why it is so important to keep revisiting them, to keep reminding ourselves of why Australia is what it is today and how ignorant and stupid those are that keep saying we should just “move on”. As Winch writes, “Other people didn’t have lumps in their throat year in and out, century after century. They didn’t know what it was like to be torn apart.” (p. 267)
For me, the best part of the novel was Albert’s extracts. He explains the language of his people in beautiful detail and gives such remarkable context – from his childhood, life in the boy’s home, his reunification with his sister, meeting his wife and his precious experience as a father and grandfather. His deepest secrets also come to light through his reflection on the language of his people too. This was the first time I’ve really understood the way Aboriginal language works and it was such an interesting revelation. The extracts also provided insight into Albert’s character and many Aboriginal agricultural practices. It was both informative and intimate. Through this Winch asks some important questions about how important language is to a culture and a country. And whether language is one of the key underpinnings of identity.
Whilst confronting, this is a very moving and ultimately hopeful story about loss and the power of a people who have endured so much indignity. The imagery and symbolism are gorgeous and captures the connection between Aboriginal spirituality and the land in so many ways. The characters are all well developed and never slip into stereotyping. This was such a great read and definitely a book to which I would return again and again.
reachant's review against another edition
4.0
It took me almost half the book to get into this story, but it came together in the end, and I am really glad I persisted. I am so glad I read Dark Emu before I read this, because there are so many references in this story to Bruce Pascoe's very well researched book. The tragedy of generational trauma from colonisation really comes through in this story, and the awful treatment of our First Nations peoples is, as always, heartbreaking. I thoroughly recommend this book.
cactuswildflower's review against another edition
3.0
I had high hopes for this book; there are so many five star reviews & it won a Miles Franklin, but for me it just didn’t grab me wholeheartedly. I love the concept of the storyline; preserving language and culture, but overall I found the dictionary somewhat disjointed, distracting from the storyline. In order to keep me reading I had to challenge myself to perfect the pronunciation!
I live in northern Australia and are married to an indigenous man so the concepts presented are not new or foreign to me. Sadly, however, I felt the characters were somewhat lacking. In the novel, August is searching for something and I was searching for more depth of character in her. I’m not sure we ever got to know her deeply enough. I would have liked more exploration of her relationship with Jedda and how these events impacted on her. Similarly, the ending seemed to be quickly resolved and left me wanting. The addition of the complete dictionary at the end felt like an add on.
I sound as if I didn’t enjoy this book ... I did, just not as much as I expected I would. I guess, in short, I was a little disappointed.
I live in northern Australia and are married to an indigenous man so the concepts presented are not new or foreign to me. Sadly, however, I felt the characters were somewhat lacking. In the novel, August is searching for something and I was searching for more depth of character in her. I’m not sure we ever got to know her deeply enough. I would have liked more exploration of her relationship with Jedda and how these events impacted on her. Similarly, the ending seemed to be quickly resolved and left me wanting. The addition of the complete dictionary at the end felt like an add on.
I sound as if I didn’t enjoy this book ... I did, just not as much as I expected I would. I guess, in short, I was a little disappointed.