A review by nina_reads_books
The Yield by Tara June Winch

4.0

This book had one of the most unique structures I’ve ever come across. It is written from three alternating voices and in three totally different styles. August’s chapters are written in third person and describe the current events of her homecoming and the aftermath of her grandfather’s death. Albert’s chapters are written in first person and are extracts of his dictionary – providing us with an insight into his past while he describes the meaning of the words from his language. Albert’s chapters slowly unravel family secrets and made me fall a bit in love with him! These chapters were so evocative I could actually hear his voice in my head pronouncing the words from his language. Finally we also see a historical perspective through the letters written by Reverend Greene a missionary who despite his best intentions becomes party to the colonialism of the time.

Tara June Winch has used very clever storytelling to tell a compelling family story alongside a celebration of Indigenous history and culture and the cherishing of Indigenous language. Having just finished Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu the week before it was easy to spot the echoes of his work throughout the book. It felt like the perfect fictionalised companion to Dark Emu. In her author’s note Winch credits Pascoe for steering her in the right direction.

I loved this book – so many wonderful scenes and quotes. I particularly liked this one – “The family trees of people like us are just bushes now, aren’t they?” he said. “Someone has been trimming them real good.”