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nina_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
This book had one of the most unique structures I’ve ever come across. It is written from three alternating voices and in three totally different styles. August’s chapters are written in third person and describe the current events of her homecoming and the aftermath of her grandfather’s death. Albert’s chapters are written in first person and are extracts of his dictionary – providing us with an insight into his past while he describes the meaning of the words from his language. Albert’s chapters slowly unravel family secrets and made me fall a bit in love with him! These chapters were so evocative I could actually hear his voice in my head pronouncing the words from his language. Finally we also see a historical perspective through the letters written by Reverend Greene a missionary who despite his best intentions becomes party to the colonialism of the time.
Tara June Winch has used very clever storytelling to tell a compelling family story alongside a celebration of Indigenous history and culture and the cherishing of Indigenous language. Having just finished Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu the week before it was easy to spot the echoes of his work throughout the book. It felt like the perfect fictionalised companion to Dark Emu. In her author’s note Winch credits Pascoe for steering her in the right direction.
I loved this book – so many wonderful scenes and quotes. I particularly liked this one – “The family trees of people like us are just bushes now, aren’t they?” he said. “Someone has been trimming them real good.”
Tara June Winch has used very clever storytelling to tell a compelling family story alongside a celebration of Indigenous history and culture and the cherishing of Indigenous language. Having just finished Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu the week before it was easy to spot the echoes of his work throughout the book. It felt like the perfect fictionalised companion to Dark Emu. In her author’s note Winch credits Pascoe for steering her in the right direction.
I loved this book – so many wonderful scenes and quotes. I particularly liked this one – “The family trees of people like us are just bushes now, aren’t they?” he said. “Someone has been trimming them real good.”
evert12345's review against another edition
3.0
heel erg meh. het woordenboek vond ik erg tof om te lezen maar de rest? who cares.
julesreadsallsorts's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn’t put this book down. It’s such a human story and sadly way too familiar across different continents where indigenous peoples were and are discriminated against and treated cruelly.
I really appreciated and enjoyed how the story was told in three narratives to bring the history’s impact into the present whilst also providing great characters.
This feels like an important book that should be read widely, especially in Australia.
I really appreciated and enjoyed how the story was told in three narratives to bring the history’s impact into the present whilst also providing great characters.
This feels like an important book that should be read widely, especially in Australia.
idktbh1175's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hoovertronic's review against another edition
4.0
It wasn't until a day or so after I'd read this book that the complex layering of the story hit me and I could appreciate this more deeply.
anniereads221's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
This book was a book I had to reread after reading it once. I listened to it and was getting information but did not at all understand how each chapter was interconnecting so I decided to reread it after looking at some people's reviews of it, and understood a lot more of the book as a whole and enjoyed it a lot more
The three points of view as follows is:
August centred POV in the third person
Grandfathers dictionary
And a letter is being written by a reverend of the ex-missionary
When it throws you into the story of August going back to her family home in massacre Plains to go to her grandfather's funeral. She hasn't been home since she was sent to Britain and stayed. She wants to find her grandfather's dictionary that he was seen writing before his death. But with that, she also has the memory of her sister in her mind as her sister went missing when she was a child.
The more we learned, the more I was intrigued and was enjoying the journey of this book.
I feel like this book won't be for everyone, as the POVs prove. But I am so glad I decided to reread it and understand how it all fitted together properly in the end.
I am glad I started with this book for 2024 after my rereads of the Monk and Robot series
The three points of view as follows is:
August centred POV in the third person
Grandfathers dictionary
And a letter is being written by a reverend of the ex-missionary
When it throws you into the story of August going back to her family home in massacre Plains to go to her grandfather's funeral. She hasn't been home since she was sent to Britain and stayed. She wants to find her grandfather's dictionary that he was seen writing before his death. But with that, she also has the memory of her sister in her mind as her sister went missing when she was a child.
The more we learned, the more I was intrigued and was enjoying the journey of this book.
I feel like this book won't be for everyone, as the POVs prove. But I am so glad I decided to reread it and understand how it all fitted together properly in the end.
I am glad I started with this book for 2024 after my rereads of the Monk and Robot series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Genocide, Death, Murder, Grief, Child death, Racism, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Colonisation
Moderate: Eating disorder