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tomleetang's review against another edition
4.0
Reminded me of the Madness song Our House, particularly the line: "There's always something happening, and it's usually quite loud." Follows a pair of families as they slowly evolve with the passing of decades. Delightfully colourful pageant of Aussie characters, whose small-town lives are tinged with plenty of lows and a few glorious highs. There's a cheerful tone throughout, even if these are tough existences, only romanticised by the tinge of mysticism the author throws in, just for the hell of it.
There are plenty of overly plotted moments, and the last pages wrap things up with a neatness that only just avoids being pat.
There are plenty of overly plotted moments, and the last pages wrap things up with a neatness that only just avoids being pat.
irenesuamar's review against another edition
3.0
I love the story but the writing is pretty hard for a non-Australian native speaker. I am always interested in stories based in Perth and WA, it is nice to hear about places you have been . But the writing was driving me crazy, trying to read at loud in an attempt to understand what was going on. I think I will attempt the DVD as I gave up almost 3/4 into the book.
sgenheden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
michelehoward's review against another edition
4.0
Good Story, but not in tune with his style of writing in some places.
nicmeiki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wazrick's review against another edition
4.0
I read this 20 odd years ago when it was first released. It always fascinated me following these two families through the years.
Some of the "supernatural" stuff, such as the talking pig, didn't seem to me to add much to the story, but taken in the context of Fish's accident it represents his state of mind.
Although its only a small part of the story, the appearance of serial killer Eric Cooke shows the fear that Perth must have felt in those days, a similar feel as described in the "Shark net" by Robert Drewe.
Some of the "supernatural" stuff, such as the talking pig, didn't seem to me to add much to the story, but taken in the context of Fish's accident it represents his state of mind.
Although its only a small part of the story, the appearance of serial killer Eric Cooke shows the fear that Perth must have felt in those days, a similar feel as described in the "Shark net" by Robert Drewe.
emhanc's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ee_em_em_aye's review against another edition
4.0
Tim Winton could write a shopping list and I'd find it interesting (I think I've said that before). My love affair began years ago after I picked up a battered copy of The Riders at a book sale and I've read most of his work.
I initially made heavy work of Cloudstreet - it lacked Winton's normal searing intensity. I wondered if it was the length (coming in at over 500 pages it's double to length of most of his novels) because while well-written and compelling, the novel was overall like a watercolour compared to Winton's other work that I've come to know as intense, absorbing and all-consuming.
Speaking with others who've read this the general opinion seems to be that if this is the first Winton you've read you'll love it. If it's not, you might be left wanting.
Approach Cloudstreet as a good, contemporary Australian work of fiction rather than another gripping Winton read. In fact, forget it's Tim Winton and let yourself enjoy the story without his credentials.
Also, don't buy the edition with the film tie-in cover (it was the only one available in-store at my time of purchase) because the synopsis of the book has been rewritten for a mainstream TV-watching audience and does the book absolutely no favours.
In truth, I'd probably prefer to give this three and a half stars.
I initially made heavy work of Cloudstreet - it lacked Winton's normal searing intensity. I wondered if it was the length (coming in at over 500 pages it's double to length of most of his novels) because while well-written and compelling, the novel was overall like a watercolour compared to Winton's other work that I've come to know as intense, absorbing and all-consuming.
Speaking with others who've read this the general opinion seems to be that if this is the first Winton you've read you'll love it. If it's not, you might be left wanting.
Approach Cloudstreet as a good, contemporary Australian work of fiction rather than another gripping Winton read. In fact, forget it's Tim Winton and let yourself enjoy the story without his credentials.
Also, don't buy the edition with the film tie-in cover (it was the only one available in-store at my time of purchase) because the synopsis of the book has been rewritten for a mainstream TV-watching audience and does the book absolutely no favours.
In truth, I'd probably prefer to give this three and a half stars.
leoniethom's review against another edition
It was too slow and the language and writing style too slang/figurative for me to follow at times.