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A review by sadiereadsagain
Terra Nullius by Claire G. Coleman
3.0
I went into this book knowing nothing about it. It was a book club pick, and the blurb gives very little away. But I went into it assuming to hear a version of Australian history from the indigenous perspective, and was incredibly excited about that as it's an area I haven't read any about beyond [b:Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time|150723|Rabbit-Proof Fence The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time|Doris Pilkington|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348752254l/150723._SY75_.jpg|145471].
And to begin with, this book was giving me exactly that - indigenous people being colonised, and all the injustice that the self-righteous entitlement of colonisers brings. Harrowing and frustrating to read, but very important. I loved the writing style and the sense of chase as we followed escaped Native Jacky and the Settler enforcement that try to hunt him down.
Then the twist happened, which I will not spoil, and though I don't think I expected it, I also didn't really get it. At first, I thought I was reading a parallel timeline. As things became clearer, the book lost me quite a bit. I still read and finished the book, and I enjoyed it for the most part. But I think I'd have enjoyed it so much more if it had kept on with the original narrative.
I think, for me, the turn-off was that whilst I could see what the author was doing...I just don't think she needed to. Anyone picking up this book is likely to already have compassion for the historical plight of the Natives, and the on-going subjugation of indigenous peoples in Australia and in other countries. I don't think the story needed to be told in another context, and if anything doing so took the focus away from the actual, real story which needs that voice and attention. For me, as interesting as the twist is, it actually ruined what would have been, for me, a great book.
And to begin with, this book was giving me exactly that - indigenous people being colonised, and all the injustice that the self-righteous entitlement of colonisers brings. Harrowing and frustrating to read, but very important. I loved the writing style and the sense of chase as we followed escaped Native Jacky and the Settler enforcement that try to hunt him down.
Then the twist happened, which I will not spoil, and though I don't think I expected it, I also didn't really get it. At first, I thought I was reading a parallel timeline. As things became clearer, the book lost me quite a bit. I still read and finished the book, and I enjoyed it for the most part. But I think I'd have enjoyed it so much more if it had kept on with the original narrative.
I think, for me, the turn-off was that whilst I could see what the author was doing...I just don't think she needed to. Anyone picking up this book is likely to already have compassion for the historical plight of the Natives, and the on-going subjugation of indigenous peoples in Australia and in other countries. I don't think the story needed to be told in another context, and if anything doing so took the focus away from the actual, real story which needs that voice and attention. For me, as interesting as the twist is, it actually ruined what would have been, for me, a great book.