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kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
4.0
In the author notes to THE WAY BACK, Kylie Ladd says she became interested in the idea behind the novel when US teenager Elizabeth Smart was reunited with her family months after she was abducted. Whilst the media focused on the story of her captivity and release, what intrigued Ladd was how Elizabeth could/would recover. As more long-lost girls, kidnapped and treated brutally started to be found, Ladd's interest peaked.
As both a psychologist and a writer, what fascinated me wasn't so much how these girls endured what they did, but how (and if) they were able to pick up the pieces of their old lives and start again. The lost child is a popular trope in Australian arts and literature, but I was interested in exploring this from a slightly different angle: not focusing on the loss per se, but what happens next, when what is lost is found.
After reading THE WAY BACK, I read this note and it set me to thinking hard about the novel that had preceded. The obvious question is does it explore this question adequately - "what happens next"? Can't help but think it nailed much of that aspect. Even being unaware of the premise whilst starting THE WAY BACK, there's something confronting, emotional and involving about this novel. It is a different focus. The reader will react with it in a very different way. The pain and after-effects of what Charlie Johnson experienced in four months of captivity complicate everything, and you can clearly see the life-long affect that something like this must have on a young girl. You see it from her point of view, from her families and from her friends and community.
Charlie's voice is well presented, she's a believable, horse obsessed 13 year old girl, damaged by the ordeal she experiences. As a counter point her abductor is portrayed as a damaged individual as well, presenting the reader with the possibility of nuance on the face of evil. The downside in this context is that it splits the focus, calls for overwhelming compassion and understanding on the part of the reader, and it's a lot to comprehend. Somehow the idea that the abductor is equally damaged and vulnerable seems to unfortunately downplay the ordeal that Charlie experienced. It may be a perfectly valid viewpoint but it weakened the message here, along with the use of overtly convenient "close calls" and coincidences that again muddied the central message too much.
When Ladd is exploring that central idea - "what happens when what is lost is found" - THE WAY BACK is indeed powerful. Moving, confronting, and very powerful.
quillseeker's review against another edition
3.0
I had a difficult time with the lack of chapter segregation (purely my own style of reading, I find it difficult to read big sections of writing with little chance to pause, reflect and just take a breather). I did really like the break up of before, during and after, and the portrayals of the effects of each stage on the various characters involved.
I love the idea of using multiple perspectives throughout, and it worked well with this story and the style in which it was written. It was a great way to put forth the emotions of all sides of the situation, loved ones, person involved and captor.
Although the parts written from Col' s perspective offered an insight into his mental fragility, I found the language his sections a little difficult to read at times and I found that I didn't particularly want to feel any sympathy towards him.
It was pacey enough that it didn't feel drawn out and repetitive, but not so much that it made light of the story and situation in anyway.
Despite the brief sections, each character was well developed, and likable, even Col at times, who I felt very conflicted with sympathising with.
The various coping methods and personalities portrayed by each character with dealing with the situation were very believable, and did a great job at evoking empathy from myself as the reader .
(I'm also really glad that Blue was not forgotten about and found a loving new home
jjv84's review against another edition
4.0
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Charlie Johnson is thirteen years old when she goes missing. She’s been on a late afternoon ride in a Victorian national park with her friend Ivy when her horse Tic-Tac goes lame. Her friend Ivy decides to ride back to the pony club, leaving Charlie to lead Tic-Tac and follow on behind. This will be the last time that family or friends will see Charlie for four agonising months.
In this novel, Ms Ladd explores life for members of the Johnson family before, during and after Charlie’s disappearance. We readers shift our observation of events between Charlie, her mother Rachael, father Matt and brother Dan. We also have glimpses into a couple of other characters: Charlie’s abductor Col, and Terry, the police officer who has been involved since Charlie was reported missing.
It makes for confronting reading. Matt, Rachael and Dan alternate between hope and despair. Matt and Dan need to do something, whereas Rachael is almost unable to move. And Charlie herself? How does she face her ordeal?
Charlie manages to escape, and re-join her family. And, for me, this is the most powerful part of the novel. Life after such an ordeal never returns to what it was before. How does a family deal with such a trauma? How do individuals manage to rebuild their lives?
‘Trauma stained you, it stayed with you, it got under your skin like a bad tattoo.’
Ms Ladd has written a novel about one of every parent’s worst nightmares: a missing child. And in every case, the return of the child is what is hoped, prayed and wished for. But as Ms Ladd portrays so well in this novel, while the child’s return may be the end of their physical absence it’s not the end of the ordeal.
Given the subject matter, this is not really a novel to ‘enjoy’. It is a novel to read and think about, a novel that does provide both heart and hope. I admire the way in which Ms Ladd gave a voice to each of the major characters, even Col. This is a challenging read and uncomfortable in parts. But I am glad I read it, and I’d recommend it to anyone who appreciates contemporary fiction about difficult issues.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
busyreading's review against another edition
4.0
When Tic Tac becomes lame, Charlie has to walk him back, so Ivy rides on in front and waits for them to return, but they don't return. It's been a few days later that Tic Tac returns on his own limping rather badly. Charlie's parents, Rachael and Matt are frantic and sick with worry as they joined in the search with the police and the SES.
Days turn into weeks and weeks start to turn into months and still Charlie was nowhere to be found and with such a large area to explore it was starting to look like they would never find her and the unthinkable might have happened. That was all to change when one day Charlie appears looking worse for wear, but she was alive. Her family is overcome with joy and they can't believe their eyes. Now the question remains as to where has Charlie been all these months and just what happened to her?
I have read a few very good psychological thrillers lately and this was another one. Aussie author Kylie Ladd has done a fantastic job in keeping the reader fully absorbed and engrossed in this story from the first page all the way to the very last page. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this book to anyone who loves a great read and especially to those who love to read psychological thrillers.
crazybooklady_'s review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the format of this novel, set in three parts: before, during and after. Simple, ordered, anything but the story within. This novel looks at the holistic impact on a family in a time of crisis. From Charlie suffering her ordeal, to her parents both dealing in their own ways struggling to connect with each other, to her brother struggling even before his sister goes missing. Ladd gives a good representation of trauma and how it manifests in different people, an important factor and one that would make me recommend this to someone trying to understand the role trauma plays. Personally I found it a tad to clinical at times for my taste. I do prefer a little more depth and flair to my writing, although, with such an intense story I can see how a simplistic writing style would appeal to many.
The pace was fast and engaging with the reader needing to know how Charlie escapes, how she even begins to recover. It certainly did not take me long to finish it. This may not have been my style of book overall but I do recommend it to those who are interesting in an accurate depiction of psychological trauma and how it attests not just the victim, but many more. I give The Way Back three stars.