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rivqa's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A tale of one woman's determination, desire for freedom and survival instinct. Although the plot is uneven in places, this is a gripping novel.
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Moderate: Racism and Torture
jol69's review
4.0
3.5 TO 4 STARS. Well written, knowing the story of Mary Bryant I started to lose interest a little in the middle, but Keneally's fictional filling of gaps in the Mary Bryant story was creative. I did sometimes find it difficult though to like Jenny.
fernforest's review
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jenny Trelawney is indeed a convict, a mother, highway robber, and runaway. But Trelawney is also so much more than that. In Meg Keneally's debut novel, we follow Trelawney on an epic adventure that crosses oceans, dances on the edges of jungles, and is nothing short of incredible.
I had moments of laughter, and moments of tears. I gripped the pages as if I was gripping the gunwale myself, braving a storm that may devour my soul. This is a story of a woman doing everything she can, for herself and for those she loves, to survive and to protect. Be prepared to become encrusted with the salt of the ocean, hear the steady sound of wood creaking, and feel a love that nestles in your heart only to be stirred by the deep churning of the ocean. There is hunger and malady, and yet glimmering glimpses of hope that keep you going. And keep going, Trelawney does.
Most remarkably, Keneally's novel is a historical fiction based on the life of convict Mary Bryant. Keneally concludes the novel with an Author's Note that divulges details explaining her work of fiction from that of fact.
The narrative, writing, and descriptive details drew me in to Trelawney's world. This is a book not excessively laced with romance. Keneally depicts a harsh and wild reality of the past, but also one that is full of wonder and moments worth cherishing. A little gem of a book.
"...[I]t was the first time she had seen full sunlight in four months..."
Jenny Trelawney is indeed a convict, a mother, highway robber, and runaway. But Trelawney is also so much more than that. In Meg Keneally's debut novel, we follow Trelawney on an epic adventure that crosses oceans, dances on the edges of jungles, and is nothing short of incredible.
I had moments of laughter, and moments of tears. I gripped the pages as if I was gripping the gunwale myself, braving a storm that may devour my soul. This is a story of a woman doing everything she can, for herself and for those she loves, to survive and to protect. Be prepared to become encrusted with the salt of the ocean, hear the steady sound of wood creaking, and feel a love that nestles in your heart only to be stirred by the deep churning of the ocean. There is hunger and malady, and yet glimmering glimpses of hope that keep you going. And keep going, Trelawney does.
"While she could, she drew in great gulps of air until she thought her ribs would crack."
Most remarkably, Keneally's novel is a historical fiction based on the life of convict Mary Bryant. Keneally concludes the novel with an Author's Note that divulges details explaining her work of fiction from that of fact.
The narrative, writing, and descriptive details drew me in to Trelawney's world. This is a book not excessively laced with romance. Keneally depicts a harsh and wild reality of the past, but also one that is full of wonder and moments worth cherishing. A little gem of a book.
cathylpowell's review against another edition
4.0
Fled opens somewhere in the Tasman Sea, off New South Wales in April 1791. There is a woman, two children and some men in a boat. But you are given a brief glimpse of what is going on here.
Then you go back in time to Southern Cornwall and 1783. Jenny's father has died and she holds the King responsible. Given that the people have had to pay heavy taxes in order to fund a war. Jenny doesn't like struggling and she is presented with an opportunity to become a highway woman. So she steals from people in order to survive, until things no longer go her way and she is caught. The usual punishment for stealing is hanging, but this is not what happens to Jenny. Instead she is transported to Australia. She becomes pregnant on the voyage out there and then ends up pairing with one of the other men from the ship so she doesn't become a target for sexual favours since she is single.
She dreams of being free as does her husband and they come up with a plan to escape.
They do escape but I don't wish to go into much detail and spoil what happens.
What is interesting is that this book is based on the life of Mary Bryant.
I thought it was a highly enjoyable book and I'd like to read further about Mary Bryant.
Then you go back in time to Southern Cornwall and 1783. Jenny's father has died and she holds the King responsible. Given that the people have had to pay heavy taxes in order to fund a war. Jenny doesn't like struggling and she is presented with an opportunity to become a highway woman. So she steals from people in order to survive, until things no longer go her way and she is caught. The usual punishment for stealing is hanging, but this is not what happens to Jenny. Instead she is transported to Australia. She becomes pregnant on the voyage out there and then ends up pairing with one of the other men from the ship so she doesn't become a target for sexual favours since she is single.
She dreams of being free as does her husband and they come up with a plan to escape.
They do escape but I don't wish to go into much detail and spoil what happens.
What is interesting is that this book is based on the life of Mary Bryant.
I thought it was a highly enjoyable book and I'd like to read further about Mary Bryant.
mariacinaz's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderfully written adventure
Fascinating fictionalized account of true events. An exciting and harrowing read! Evocative and hard to put down. I recommend it.
Fascinating fictionalized account of true events. An exciting and harrowing read! Evocative and hard to put down. I recommend it.
tpteacher's review
4.0
I found this to be a very interesting book about a historical character I had never heard of. What a life Mary/Jenny led! The writing was very good and I appreciated the comparison after the story of Mary to Jenny. I would rate this 4.5 stars for the writing, story and the introduction of a new true figure into my repertoire.
girljames's review against another edition
4.0
The main character Jenny Trelawney is an 18thC Cornish boatman's daughter, who turned to a career as a highway robber through a combination of poverty and coercion. She is sentenced to transportation to Australia, and, astonishingly, escapes Sydney Cove in a boat. It's based on the true story of Mary Bryant, and it's interesting to read the author's notes about her adaptation of the story (I am obsessed with adaptations). The story is really compelling, and it's always a little wake-up to me when I think about how brutal and cruel colonial-era Australia was. When you get taught about it at school you're like ten years old and not really up for having your face ground in the literal shit of the reality of the Aussie Battler past.
There are some pretty shocking editing errors - whole sentences repeated, confusing punctuation, some badly worded phrases and cliches. I also didn't quite buy Jenny's easy blame of the economy and the King for her crimes - I wanted to see her come to this realisation, or have to argue it more. These things did diminish my enjoyment of it, but overall I really did think this book is fab. I bought it with gift card money from my Waterstones buddy Jimmy, which makes it extra special.
There are some pretty shocking editing errors - whole sentences repeated, confusing punctuation, some badly worded phrases and cliches. I also didn't quite buy Jenny's easy blame of the economy and the King for her crimes - I wanted to see her come to this realisation, or have to argue it more. These things did diminish my enjoyment of it, but overall I really did think this book is fab. I bought it with gift card money from my Waterstones buddy Jimmy, which makes it extra special.