aliciap's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theverticalbookshelf's review
5.0
Well, yep I loved this. Laura McPhee-Browne introduces Coral our 30 year old journalist who unexpectedly falls pregnant. Mcphee-Browne writes so beautifully that not only did I connect with Coral’s character, but I felt emotionally invested in the outcome, alongside her family and friends.
Pregnancy is bloody hard. Not everyone loves it and I was definitely one of those people. Like Coral, I had little to no connection with our baby before it arrived and that’s fine. There is so much pressure to love being pregnant and connect with your baby but I think a lot of people feel that way that Coral felt, myself included. People ask questions about how you feel and how the baby is going and you can’t give them a real answer. I felt for Coral because what McPhee-Browne shows with Coral is that what happens after birth is so real with so many women, in particular those who don’t have that “connection” initially.
This book resonated more with me because of my pregnancy but I think you could read this if you haven’t been pregnant. Well done Laura McPhee-Browne, this was an incredible journey.
Pregnancy is bloody hard. Not everyone loves it and I was definitely one of those people. Like Coral, I had little to no connection with our baby before it arrived and that’s fine. There is so much pressure to love being pregnant and connect with your baby but I think a lot of people feel that way that Coral felt, myself included. People ask questions about how you feel and how the baby is going and you can’t give them a real answer. I felt for Coral because what McPhee-Browne shows with Coral is that what happens after birth is so real with so many women, in particular those who don’t have that “connection” initially.
This book resonated more with me because of my pregnancy but I think you could read this if you haven’t been pregnant. Well done Laura McPhee-Browne, this was an incredible journey.
textpublishing's review
The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Little Plum
‘I didn’t so much read Little Plum as breathe it. Laura McPhee-Browne has an extraordinary ability to summon the ordinary and fill it with such significance and beauty that one has no choice but to inhabit her novels. At once exquisite and unsettling, dark and tender, Little Plum is a triumph.’
Hannah Kent
‘Reading McPhee-Browne feels like listening to your own heartbeat.’
Amanda Lohrey
‘Little Plum draws us so lightly into the depths that we don’t know how far it’s taken us until we can’t go back. With dark insight and masterly grace, Laura McPhee-Browne reminds us that our bodies can know things we don’t, that experience can save or afflict us, and that possession can invest us with beautiful and terrible things.’
Ronnie Scott
‘An embodied and magical novel—so dark and earthy, colourful and frightening.’
Ellena Savage
‘The pleasure of reading Little Plum comes from Coral’s inner world and the incredible detail that the reader is invited to experience…McPhee-Browne’s writing feels honest and open; she is confident in airing truthful thoughts around motherhood, whether intrusive or deliberate.’
Books+Publishing
‘A poetic and razor-sharp portrait of motherhood.’
Harper’s Bazaar
‘[Laura McPhee-Browne] does especially well [in portraying] the coexistence of…parental love with an ongoing, often frightening battle with mental illness. It is depicted not as something to fix but something to understand and live with.’
Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Saturday Paper
‘Laura McPhee-Browne’s exquisite, velvety writing creeps up on you unexpectedly…Little Plum is a deeply intimate insight into the mind of a woman who feels alone and scared.’
Readings
‘Little Plum is easily readable, quickly immersive, and offers a vibrant character in Coral. McPhee-Browne has deftly articulated the unique experience of becoming a parent and the vulnerability of motherhood—all without shying away from its devils.’
Guardian Australia
‘Crisp [and] clean…with both clear descriptions and surprising use of imagery…Vivid.’
RN Bookshelf
‘A book on motherhood in all its guises…Beautiful.’
Mel Fulton, 3RRR Literari Glitterati
‘[Little Plum] has a rare physicality to it that one can’t help but inhabit…Earthy like stones and juicy as fruit, McPhee-Browne’s hypnotic prose is visceral, intimate and delicious…Little Plum is a tasty literary treat.’
ArtsHub
‘Intricate, detailed writing…[and] compassionate storytelling…A tender study of a woman whose heart and mind are desperately trying to be in the right place.’
Anna Spargo-Ryan, Big Issue
‘[Laura McPhee-Browne] writes with considerable sensitivity…[Little Plum] is an empathetic, vividly realised novel.’
Gemma Nisbet, West Australian
‘Little Plum evokes with a jewel-like clarity and luminescence the process of nurturing a new life within your body and finding your consciousness transformed by it…Great skill…[McPhee-Browne] never lets us forget that pregnancy is an inside-out transformation.’
Vanessa Francesca, Age
‘McPhee-Browne, as ever, writes with distinction.’
Lucy Sussex, Australian
‘Equal parts witty and poignant…unique…with fresh and unsettling insights.’
Danielle Raffaele, RTRFM Bunch of Books
‘McPhee-Browne brings a refreshing and sensitive approach to mental health…[She] keeps it real…Her use of language is impeccable; dreamy as it is precise. Likewise, the book is inventive with its structure…With exquisite detail, McPhee-Browne immerses us in Coral’s mind and behaviours…Little Plum adds itself to the pantheon of novels that explore the ambiguities of the mother–daughter relationship. Reflected in myriad cultural reckonings, from the pomegranate, to the apple, to this book’s little plum, the relentless cycle of birth–death–renewal, love–loss–growth is shown as inescapable.’
Charle Malycon, Meanjin
‘A deeply moving account of living with anxiety and motherhood.’
Nicole Abadee, Age
‘Richly sensuous…Demonstrates the power of fiction to slice open the quotidian.’
Megan Cheong, Kill Your Darlings
‘I didn’t so much read Little Plum as breathe it. Laura McPhee-Browne has an extraordinary ability to summon the ordinary and fill it with such significance and beauty that one has no choice but to inhabit her novels. At once exquisite and unsettling, dark and tender, Little Plum is a triumph.’
Hannah Kent
‘Reading McPhee-Browne feels like listening to your own heartbeat.’
Amanda Lohrey
‘Little Plum draws us so lightly into the depths that we don’t know how far it’s taken us until we can’t go back. With dark insight and masterly grace, Laura McPhee-Browne reminds us that our bodies can know things we don’t, that experience can save or afflict us, and that possession can invest us with beautiful and terrible things.’
Ronnie Scott
‘An embodied and magical novel—so dark and earthy, colourful and frightening.’
Ellena Savage
‘The pleasure of reading Little Plum comes from Coral’s inner world and the incredible detail that the reader is invited to experience…McPhee-Browne’s writing feels honest and open; she is confident in airing truthful thoughts around motherhood, whether intrusive or deliberate.’
Books+Publishing
‘A poetic and razor-sharp portrait of motherhood.’
Harper’s Bazaar
‘[Laura McPhee-Browne] does especially well [in portraying] the coexistence of…parental love with an ongoing, often frightening battle with mental illness. It is depicted not as something to fix but something to understand and live with.’
Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Saturday Paper
‘Laura McPhee-Browne’s exquisite, velvety writing creeps up on you unexpectedly…Little Plum is a deeply intimate insight into the mind of a woman who feels alone and scared.’
Readings
‘Little Plum is easily readable, quickly immersive, and offers a vibrant character in Coral. McPhee-Browne has deftly articulated the unique experience of becoming a parent and the vulnerability of motherhood—all without shying away from its devils.’
Guardian Australia
‘Crisp [and] clean…with both clear descriptions and surprising use of imagery…Vivid.’
RN Bookshelf
‘A book on motherhood in all its guises…Beautiful.’
Mel Fulton, 3RRR Literari Glitterati
‘[Little Plum] has a rare physicality to it that one can’t help but inhabit…Earthy like stones and juicy as fruit, McPhee-Browne’s hypnotic prose is visceral, intimate and delicious…Little Plum is a tasty literary treat.’
ArtsHub
‘Intricate, detailed writing…[and] compassionate storytelling…A tender study of a woman whose heart and mind are desperately trying to be in the right place.’
Anna Spargo-Ryan, Big Issue
‘[Laura McPhee-Browne] writes with considerable sensitivity…[Little Plum] is an empathetic, vividly realised novel.’
Gemma Nisbet, West Australian
‘Little Plum evokes with a jewel-like clarity and luminescence the process of nurturing a new life within your body and finding your consciousness transformed by it…Great skill…[McPhee-Browne] never lets us forget that pregnancy is an inside-out transformation.’
Vanessa Francesca, Age
‘McPhee-Browne, as ever, writes with distinction.’
Lucy Sussex, Australian
‘Equal parts witty and poignant…unique…with fresh and unsettling insights.’
Danielle Raffaele, RTRFM Bunch of Books
‘McPhee-Browne brings a refreshing and sensitive approach to mental health…[She] keeps it real…Her use of language is impeccable; dreamy as it is precise. Likewise, the book is inventive with its structure…With exquisite detail, McPhee-Browne immerses us in Coral’s mind and behaviours…Little Plum adds itself to the pantheon of novels that explore the ambiguities of the mother–daughter relationship. Reflected in myriad cultural reckonings, from the pomegranate, to the apple, to this book’s little plum, the relentless cycle of birth–death–renewal, love–loss–growth is shown as inescapable.’
Charle Malycon, Meanjin
‘A deeply moving account of living with anxiety and motherhood.’
Nicole Abadee, Age
‘Richly sensuous…Demonstrates the power of fiction to slice open the quotidian.’
Megan Cheong, Kill Your Darlings
cosycourtney's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another absolute hit from Laura McPhee-Browne. In honesty, I was nervous I wouldn’t feel as connected to this story as I had nothing to relate to but Coral was such a well rounded character I felt like I was in her head the whole time. Actually I felt like I was experiencing the world through her eyes, is that the same thing? Either way, I was transported to this perspective of unexpectedly expecting mother. I loved the randomness of Poland being included and how it is clear that Coral’s friendships meant so much to her despite feeling a slight distance at all times, for their preservation maybe? (Perhaps I’m the only one reading it that way). I fear the tension building evening the whole way through the book and despite the concept of a pregnancy being straight forward I had no idea what to expect or what might have and that is testament to the way McPhee-Browne crafted Coral and her world and her story. Even though I have no point of similarity with this novel I would recommend it because it’s just a beautiful crafted full story. I would advise mothers to read with caution because I can see how it would be an extremely emotional read having experienced that part of life!
memmaj's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this book, the writing style and content did make me feel claustrophobic, which I assume is the point. Having worked at the hospital were some of the book takes place and living in the inner north (hello all are welcome) it’s always fun to see that reflected in a book. Overall, I thought the book covered important topics and had a tenderness I appreciated
mel_thereadingaffair's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rubyrosereads_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was lucky enough to find this book in a little free library by chance, a month before its release date. I’ve been sitting with my thoughts on Little Plum since going to the launch and hearing Laura speak about it.
If I were to summarise Little Plum in a few words, it would be unsettling, depressing and heartbreaking.
Laura’s writing had a way of making me feel grossly uncomfortable throughout, while yearning for a different outcome for Coral who falls pregnant unexpectedly. The pregnancy brings rise to her once under control OCD symptoms, giving me a true insight into the misunderstood mental illness.
“She has been a vessel that has hosted a disease of the mind for many years - she would like to be full and whole and enough, to be complete.”
My star rating reflects how the book sat with me and made me feel. I was in quite a miserable state after finishing it and felt very unsettled.
Tread lightly.
If I were to summarise Little Plum in a few words, it would be unsettling, depressing and heartbreaking.
Laura’s writing had a way of making me feel grossly uncomfortable throughout, while yearning for a different outcome for Coral who falls pregnant unexpectedly. The pregnancy brings rise to her once under control OCD symptoms, giving me a true insight into the misunderstood mental illness.
“She has been a vessel that has hosted a disease of the mind for many years - she would like to be full and whole and enough, to be complete.”
My star rating reflects how the book sat with me and made me feel. I was in quite a miserable state after finishing it and felt very unsettled.
Tread lightly.