Scan barcode
sbubbletrouble's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
crackedchelle's review
5.0
Definitely in my top three books read so far this year.
I enjoyed all the characters. They were all realistically flawed, yet likeable in their own ways. I loved their fighting spirit. They left an imprint on me, meaning that I felt the loss of them when I reached the end. I even said 'Oh no!' loud enough for the rest of the house to wonder what had gone wrong.
Books where I can get out a map and work out where the story has been set are always winners for me. I became curious about the area which was cleared to make way for the leadup to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and did further research.
At some points, I thought I found anachronistically used words, but upon further research, found out that terms like 'youse' have been around for MUCH longer than I thought! Another learning opportunity for me.
The mystery which was entwined in the story intrigued me. Even better, it did not lead to a ridiculously contrived twist as seen in so many recently written works. There were enough questions left unanswered to leave me imagining 'what if?'
I recommend this for anyone who loves Australian Historical Fiction, particularly those who love stories of society's underbelly, or stories of survival by any means possible.
I enjoyed all the characters. They were all realistically flawed, yet likeable in their own ways. I loved their fighting spirit. They left an imprint on me, meaning that I felt the loss of them when I reached the end. I even said 'Oh no!' loud enough for the rest of the house to wonder what had gone wrong.
Books where I can get out a map and work out where the story has been set are always winners for me. I became curious about the area which was cleared to make way for the leadup to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and did further research.
At some points, I thought I found anachronistically used words, but upon further research, found out that terms like 'youse' have been around for MUCH longer than I thought! Another learning opportunity for me.
The mystery which was entwined in the story intrigued me. Even better, it did not lead to a ridiculously contrived twist as seen in so many recently written works. There were enough questions left unanswered to leave me imagining 'what if?'
I recommend this for anyone who loves Australian Historical Fiction, particularly those who love stories of society's underbelly, or stories of survival by any means possible.
leighburnham's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aplace_inthesun's review
3.0
Dolly is 18 years old and moves to Sydney from Wollombi (Hunter Valley NSW) following the recent death of her father, who never recovered from losing his son Ted during the war. Dolly secures a job in what she thinks is a "boarding house" at "Number 54" as a cleaner, however it turns out it is a house of "ill repute".
Unbeknownst to Dolly, Number 54 is owned by Jack, her brother's childhood friend although he has a manager Mrs Mack who looks after the girls and lodgings. Dolly's heart is instantly all aflutter for Jack although she has competition in the form of Cynthia, one of the girls who works at Number 54.
This book is a coming of age story with some romance and a little mystery as things of course don't run smoothly on the romance front. There are some lovely descriptions of the Rocks area and the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and a little of the dark underbelly of the period as well.
This is the second Tea Cooper book I have read. At about 280 pages it's a nice read for summer or a sit in the sun. It's not taxing, a little feel good, and piques the interest as well. If historical fiction is your preference, and you enjoy a softer, more gentle romance.
I didn’t find there to be a depth of characters as I found in one of the authors previous books so I felt Dolly was not as developed and the story seemed then to be a bit undone regarding her, with more focus on Cynthia which is not quite what I expected.
Thank you to Escape Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a electronic copy to read and review.
Unbeknownst to Dolly, Number 54 is owned by Jack, her brother's childhood friend although he has a manager Mrs Mack who looks after the girls and lodgings. Dolly's heart is instantly all aflutter for Jack although she has competition in the form of Cynthia, one of the girls who works at Number 54.
This book is a coming of age story with some romance and a little mystery as things of course don't run smoothly on the romance front. There are some lovely descriptions of the Rocks area and the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and a little of the dark underbelly of the period as well.
This is the second Tea Cooper book I have read. At about 280 pages it's a nice read for summer or a sit in the sun. It's not taxing, a little feel good, and piques the interest as well. If historical fiction is your preference, and you enjoy a softer, more gentle romance.
I didn’t find there to be a depth of characters as I found in one of the authors previous books so I felt Dolly was not as developed and the story seemed then to be a bit undone regarding her, with more focus on Cynthia which is not quite what I expected.
Thank you to Escape Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a electronic copy to read and review.
gretel7's review against another edition
2.0
I received this from Netgalley.com.
"In the aftermath of World War I, Sydney, Australia. Dolly Bowman, ready to risk everything in pursuit of her dreams. After all it's the 1920s - time to turn her back on her terrible childhood and search for her future."
I would consider this a quick, mindless beach read. There's not a lot of depth to the characters and the plot was predictable.
2☆
"In the aftermath of World War I, Sydney, Australia. Dolly Bowman, ready to risk everything in pursuit of her dreams. After all it's the 1920s - time to turn her back on her terrible childhood and search for her future."
I would consider this a quick, mindless beach read. There's not a lot of depth to the characters and the plot was predictable.
2☆
margreads's review against another edition
3.0
Dolly Bowman arrives in Sydney from country New South Wales, with a promise of a cleaning job in a boarding house. Her father has died recently, never having recovered from the disappearance of her brother during World War I. She is surprised to find her brother's best friend Jack at the house, and almost equally surprised to find that the boarding house was actually a high class brothel. Jack is determined that naive Dolly won't become one of the girls. Luckily, it turns out that Dolly is a talented jazz singer and soon she is caught up in the glamorous world using her singing talent to make her way.
One of the other girls, Cynthia Burton, has her own reasons for working at the house on Boundary Street. She wants to get out but the secrets that she keeps, and the money that she owes to the madam are what keeps her there. If she loses her job then she will have to go out on the streets, so while there is danger, it will be even more dangerous if she has to start working the streets. She is looking for an out and before Dolly appears and catches Jack's eye she is hoping that Jack might be it.
Read more:
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020/07/the-house-on-boundary-street-by-tea.html
More...