Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Exageradamente dramático, extremamente chato, extremamente longo, extremamente frustrante, essa foi uma leitura extrema e num sentido muito negativo...
A quirky tale of a young boy's life in Brisbane with a brother who is stubbornly mute, a mother who gets carted off to gaol for drug offences, a stepfather he loved dragged away by violent drug dealers and never seen again. His brother writes messages in the air and somehow they escape, even if Eli loses a finger in he process - to the brutal Tytus Broz.
There's a mysterious red phone in a tunnel below the house that will ring from time to time and give odd messages.
Inspired by the man who looked after him and his brother - a notorious criminal who kept escaping from gaol - Eli is determined to break into gaol to visit his mother on Christmas Day and he does achieve that.
Lots of love along the way. Eventually they find their own father and there is a reconciliation of sorts when his mum gets out of gaol.
I was surprised to hear that much of this was based on Trent's own life - quite violent.
There's a mysterious red phone in a tunnel below the house that will ring from time to time and give odd messages.
Inspired by the man who looked after him and his brother - a notorious criminal who kept escaping from gaol - Eli is determined to break into gaol to visit his mother on Christmas Day and he does achieve that.
Lots of love along the way. Eventually they find their own father and there is a reconciliation of sorts when his mum gets out of gaol.
I was surprised to hear that much of this was based on Trent's own life - quite violent.
DNF at 150 pages.
I wanted to like it, I really did. I saw Trent Dalton speak about it at the Byron Bay Writers' Festival and it instantly went on my to be read list. I ploughed on longer than I normally would, but the prose and overblown description just kept me at a distance.
I have friends who love it and I'm happy for them and everyone else who loves it. Its just not for me.
I wanted to like it, I really did. I saw Trent Dalton speak about it at the Byron Bay Writers' Festival and it instantly went on my to be read list. I ploughed on longer than I normally would, but the prose and overblown description just kept me at a distance.
I have friends who love it and I'm happy for them and everyone else who loves it. Its just not for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
No
Wow!! I was lucky enough to win an uncorrected proof copy from Harper Collins Australia and what a prize this book is. The back cover says "An Australian classic in the making" - that's a big statement! I had my doubts but these disappeared before I was even half way through. The characters are so real: some you love and some you despise. It's a great depiction of Australia in 1984 although it's not afraid to confront some very dark issues. This is the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud, has an infectious joy, a rambunctious nature as well as the power to hit you in the stomach and leave you gasping. Do yourself a favour and read this absolute powerhouse of a book!
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Excellent. Very evocative of Brisbane (& Darra particularly) of the 80s, and of growing up poor in a family struggling for so many reasons. The magical realism was done just subtly and intriguingly enough (I like fantasy and sci fi, but I don’t really like magical realism, go figure?) to not cause eyerolling until the very end.
I would like to give it 3.5
I enjoyed the book but wouldn't read it again.
The whole book had a slightly unbelievable vibe to it, but the ending was even more so.
I really liked the characters
Quite a lyrical style of writing I wouldn't normally get into but I really enjoyed it
I enjoyed the book but wouldn't read it again.
The whole book had a slightly unbelievable vibe to it, but the ending was even more so.
I really liked the characters
Quite a lyrical style of writing I wouldn't normally get into but I really enjoyed it
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No