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A review by saarahnina
Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough
5.0
Edda laughed. "That's life you mean, Kitty. Bittersweet."
New York Times writes 'McCullough is terrific...Her characters quiver with life.'
And I agree, I express the very same sentiment. I feel like this novel could have gone on forever, I never wanted it to end. But, I felt the ending was appropriate: the Latimer sisters all start off together, and now they are moving forward, as individuals.
In the beginning, I had my mind set on Edda as a beautiful aspiration for any young woman but then she made awful choices, particularly her treatment of Jack Thurlow. Though, later I began to appreciate her and her love for medicine and education - I can sympathise with her on that. And then, her willingness to sacrifice a romantic marriage for the sake of pursuing a career was admirable.
The novel is set in Australia in the early 1920s and then, up to the early 1930s. The period of the Depression. History has always fascinated me, but it doesn't escape my notice that women are so often ignored. Their trials and victories are so often overshadowed by those of men. This book is different, it's entertaining, beautifully crafted, and explores the lives of such heroic, unique, respectable women and how they cope in turbulent times. Edda, the older sister, wishes to delve further into the field of medicine, but of course-at the time- Corunda's society does not allow this. She makes do with what little she can, but that isn't to say that she gives up. She doesn't, instead she looks to advance her career, searching for opportunities. How inspirational! And she's only one of the four delightfully charming heroines, McCullough has created.
I recommend this book, every one of the girls provides an example for the young girls of today. The novel and the lives of the women provoke an intense discussion of what we'd do if we were faced with their somewhat dire situation. I am reminded of Grace's remarkable aplomb, when faced with such unbearable loss.
But it is also a tale that I feel will prove helpful for men, no woman wishes to be a man's possession. I'm sure. and I can guarantee, that most women wish to be seen as a man's equal. And this is a lesson taught through the character Charles and Kitty's marriage. I know that I wrote of this novel as a historical time piece, a classic, but we all know that it is very relevant to today. Since, we can successfully argue that not much has changed, people now have begun to see feminism as an evil, with terms like "feminazi" But that is a discussion for another time. I digress.
There are no "drawbacks" as such, but the language, as sophisticated as it is, may be off putting for some readers and it may take some time for one to get used to it. Though, in my experience it wasn't a great hindrance and so I have not regarded it as a reason to give this novel four stars.
I am grateful that I purchased this book when I did, and at such a bargain too! And a physical copy no less. I plan to read more of McCullough's work.
New York Times writes 'McCullough is terrific...Her characters quiver with life.'
And I agree, I express the very same sentiment. I feel like this novel could have gone on forever, I never wanted it to end. But, I felt the ending was appropriate: the Latimer sisters all start off together, and now they are moving forward, as individuals.
In the beginning, I had my mind set on Edda as a beautiful aspiration for any young woman but then she made awful choices, particularly her treatment of Jack Thurlow. Though, later I began to appreciate her and her love for medicine and education - I can sympathise with her on that. And then, her willingness to sacrifice a romantic marriage for the sake of pursuing a career was admirable.
The novel is set in Australia in the early 1920s and then, up to the early 1930s. The period of the Depression. History has always fascinated me, but it doesn't escape my notice that women are so often ignored. Their trials and victories are so often overshadowed by those of men. This book is different, it's entertaining, beautifully crafted, and explores the lives of such heroic, unique, respectable women and how they cope in turbulent times. Edda, the older sister, wishes to delve further into the field of medicine, but of course-at the time- Corunda's society does not allow this. She makes do with what little she can, but that isn't to say that she gives up. She doesn't, instead she looks to advance her career, searching for opportunities. How inspirational! And she's only one of the four delightfully charming heroines, McCullough has created.
I recommend this book, every one of the girls provides an example for the young girls of today. The novel and the lives of the women provoke an intense discussion of what we'd do if we were faced with their somewhat dire situation. I am reminded of Grace's remarkable aplomb, when faced with such unbearable loss.
But it is also a tale that I feel will prove helpful for men, no woman wishes to be a man's possession. I'm sure. and I can guarantee, that most women wish to be seen as a man's equal. And this is a lesson taught through the character Charles and Kitty's marriage. I know that I wrote of this novel as a historical time piece, a classic, but we all know that it is very relevant to today. Since, we can successfully argue that not much has changed, people now have begun to see feminism as an evil, with terms like "feminazi" But that is a discussion for another time. I digress.
There are no "drawbacks" as such, but the language, as sophisticated as it is, may be off putting for some readers and it may take some time for one to get used to it. Though, in my experience it wasn't a great hindrance and so I have not regarded it as a reason to give this novel four stars.
I am grateful that I purchased this book when I did, and at such a bargain too! And a physical copy no less. I plan to read more of McCullough's work.