Scan barcode
brendanlambourne's review against another edition
5.0
A true Australian classic - not one to be missed
roie_23's review against another edition
5.0
My mother named me Rowena after Rowena Darcy in this book, she finally gifted me this book for my 21st birthday and I demolished it. The characters in this are so unequivocally Australian it almost feels like I'm reading a story about my family even though this is set nearly a century ago now.
I think the thing I loved about this is even though it is so of its time and a lot has changed since Ruth Park wrote this, so many of themes are still current issues that resonate so easily with many Australian people. The whole middle section with Roie and her terrible experiences with men and sexuality are so relevant to current social discourse and it really hit hard with me. Then towards the end, after you've been dragged through so many terrible experiences there are some really lovely chapters that are just such a relief to finally reach.
Because this was written just after World War Two, there is quite a lot of uncomfortable language and conversations around race that I found quite hard to read, but although the language is quite old there are really great moments of progressiveness for the time specifically with Roie and Charlie.
Other than that, this is incredible and if it isn't a text in the Australian English Curriculum it definitely should be.
I think the thing I loved about this is even though it is so of its time and a lot has changed since Ruth Park wrote this, so many of themes are still current issues that resonate so easily with many Australian people. The whole middle section with Roie and her terrible experiences with men and sexuality are so relevant to current social discourse and it really hit hard with me. Then towards the end, after you've been dragged through so many terrible experiences there are some really lovely chapters that are just such a relief to finally reach.
Because this was written just after World War Two, there is quite a lot of uncomfortable language and conversations around race that I found quite hard to read, but although the language is quite old there are really great moments of progressiveness for the time specifically with Roie and Charlie.
Other than that, this is incredible and if it isn't a text in the Australian English Curriculum it definitely should be.
roie's review against another edition
5.0
My mother named me Rowena after Rowena Darcy in this book, she finally gifted me this book for my 21st birthday and I demolished it. The characters in this are so unequivocally Australian it almost feels like I'm reading a story about my family even though this is set nearly a century ago now.
I think the thing I loved about this is even though it is so of its time and a lot has changed since Ruth Park wrote this, so many of themes are still current issues that resonate so easily with many Australian people. The whole middle section with Roie and her terrible experiences with men and sexuality are so relevant to current social discourse and it really hit hard with me. Then towards the end, after you've been dragged through so many terrible experiences there are some really lovely chapters that are just such a relief to finally reach.
Because this was written just after World War Two, there is quite a lot of uncomfortable language and conversations around race that I found quite hard to read, but although the language is quite old there are really great moments of progressiveness for the time specifically with Roie and Charlie.
Other than that, this is incredible and if it isn't a text in the Australian English Curriculum it definitely should be.
I think the thing I loved about this is even though it is so of its time and a lot has changed since Ruth Park wrote this, so many of themes are still current issues that resonate so easily with many Australian people. The whole middle section with Roie and her terrible experiences with men and sexuality are so relevant to current social discourse and it really hit hard with me. Then towards the end, after you've been dragged through so many terrible experiences there are some really lovely chapters that are just such a relief to finally reach.
Because this was written just after World War Two, there is quite a lot of uncomfortable language and conversations around race that I found quite hard to read, but although the language is quite old there are really great moments of progressiveness for the time specifically with Roie and Charlie.
Other than that, this is incredible and if it isn't a text in the Australian English Curriculum it definitely should be.
smitchy's review against another edition
5.0
A very different perspective on Australian Life in the 1950's. Eye opening and one that should be on the school reading list - so many issues covered: religion, acohol abuse, sex, love, abortion, marriage, family, poverty, limitation of social class, aging and death to name a few all in a relatively small book. Characters are rounded and complex and very human.
erosarrow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
leemac027's review against another edition
4.0
The second in the trilogy, Harp in the South is at times gut-wrenching, traumatic, funny and full of passion.
Ruth Park is such a vivid writer that the desolate scenes of Surry Hills can almost be tasted. Her descriptions of the streets and the tenements are graphic and are what makes this such an impactful story.
Hughie and Mumma are either at each other's throats with screaming and cussing filling the air, or they are forgiving and quiet, but mostly the former. Mumma's hard life putting up with her husband who can't say no to a drink, is a not uncommon experience in that part of Sydney at the time.
Their daughters, Rowena (Roie) and Dolour are feisty, naïve, fiery and as full of their passionate Irish heritage as their parents. Your heart breaks for Roie as she navigates her first relationship with Tommy which is followed closely by the attack which leaves her traumatised. Will she ever find her true love?
Grandma is another strong character, loving her pipe (cutty) and the odd dram of whatever alcohol might be around. The arguments between her and Hughie are frequent and at times quite amusing as they parry and thrust.
This is such a beautifully written piece of work and can be read stand-alone.
Ruth Park is such a vivid writer that the desolate scenes of Surry Hills can almost be tasted. Her descriptions of the streets and the tenements are graphic and are what makes this such an impactful story.
Hughie and Mumma are either at each other's throats with screaming and cussing filling the air, or they are forgiving and quiet, but mostly the former. Mumma's hard life putting up with her husband who can't say no to a drink, is a not uncommon experience in that part of Sydney at the time.
Their daughters, Rowena (Roie) and Dolour are feisty, naïve, fiery and as full of their passionate Irish heritage as their parents. Your heart breaks for Roie as she navigates her first relationship with Tommy which is followed closely by the attack which leaves her traumatised. Will she ever find her true love?
Grandma is another strong character, loving her pipe (cutty) and the odd dram of whatever alcohol might be around. The arguments between her and Hughie are frequent and at times quite amusing as they parry and thrust.
This is such a beautifully written piece of work and can be read stand-alone.
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
4.0
For a novel written at the end of the 1940s, this stands up surprisingly well.
Okay, there's a lot of racist dialogue in it, and even if you take into consideration the era it was written in, it's still quite racist. There's a plethora of crude remarks about Australian Aboriginals, Chinese and Jewish folk, even if it's followed up with, 'well, [character] is alright'. One of the major supporting characters abuses the hell out of her disabled son, too.
But beyond that? It actually holds up well, and could even be moved to the early 2020s and still take place.
The Harp in the South is a collection of semi-short stories surrounding a family living in poverty. There's length descriptions of the minimal money that comes into the house and how they live. Filthy clothes, cramped conditions, a house that is filled with bed bugs and mould on the walls. What money they have goes straight on the father's liquor habit. They argue constantly, they cry over their living conditions, they dream of better lives and they love each other ceaselessly.
That's what holds everything in this novel together- yes, their lives are terrible, yes, they could be better parents and daughters, but they love each other. That is the glue of their lives.
Hughie bickers constantly with this mother-in-law, but they still snicker and share grog together.
Mumma isn't so sure about her new son-in-law, but she accepts him for filling up her daughter's heart with love.
Dolour is so often on the sidelines, but her family love her and support her in her little venture at winning a quiz show.
Roie is ashamed of her indiscretion with Tommy, but her parents support her through her grief.
This is a book about love- and don't we all need more of that in our lives?
Okay, there's a lot of racist dialogue in it, and even if you take into consideration the era it was written in, it's still quite racist. There's a plethora of crude remarks about Australian Aboriginals, Chinese and Jewish folk, even if it's followed up with, 'well, [character] is alright'. One of the major supporting characters abuses the hell out of her disabled son, too.
But beyond that? It actually holds up well, and could even be moved to the early 2020s and still take place.
The Harp in the South is a collection of semi-short stories surrounding a family living in poverty. There's length descriptions of the minimal money that comes into the house and how they live. Filthy clothes, cramped conditions, a house that is filled with bed bugs and mould on the walls. What money they have goes straight on the father's liquor habit. They argue constantly, they cry over their living conditions, they dream of better lives and they love each other ceaselessly.
That's what holds everything in this novel together- yes, their lives are terrible, yes, they could be better parents and daughters, but they love each other. That is the glue of their lives.
Hughie bickers constantly with this mother-in-law, but they still snicker and share grog together.
Mumma isn't so sure about her new son-in-law, but she accepts him for filling up her daughter's heart with love.
Dolour is so often on the sidelines, but her family love her and support her in her little venture at winning a quiz show.
Roie is ashamed of her indiscretion with Tommy, but her parents support her through her grief.
This is a book about love- and don't we all need more of that in our lives?
tazzle_dazzle's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book for the characters, but it's not a plot driven book so i think that lost me a little bit. More than anything, it's a study of character and environment, and how the one drives the other. I don't think it would warrant a second read but i'm glad i picked it up.
danjk's review against another edition
4.0
It grew slowly on me like barnacles on a boat, but I was in no hurry to scrap them off once they were there. 3 and a half stars.
desterman's review against another edition
4.0
Set in the 1940s in Sydney's Surry Hills, 'The Harp in the South' gives us a snapshot of a time and place in Australian history. The novel really provides a series of vignettes of the lives of the working class, Irish Catholic Darcy family as they navigate through the difficulties of day to day life, as well as celebrate in their unconditional love for one another. Surprisingly, this isn't for the faint hearted with some incredibly dark moments that seemed to overwhelm some of the more comedic elements. Definitely a classic of Australian literature though.