A review by lilahthurbon
Drylands by Thea Astley

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I began Drylands expecting a different book than the one I was about to read, which I think made the pace feel perhaps slower that it actually was. Overall the book paints a harrowingly familiar picture of a rural town slowly drying up that resolves with the exact amount of satisfaction Drylands itself deserves. Being familiar with the setting of the book definitely enhances its impact, so I wonder if someone looking into Astley's portrait of rural Australia from a foreign perspective would feel the melancholy and almost indescribable identification with the town.