Scan barcode
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Us Mob Walawurru is an interesting, thoughtful, and important read that I really should have finished much sooner given its relatively short length.
I think my main issue with it was that I felt the beginning was quite slow paced and I got a bit bored - although I remember the discussion about the concept of land ownership as it was viewed by Indigenous folk as very striking and thoughtful.
The second half was stronger as it dug deeper into the history of colonial Australia and the intergenerational trauma it inflicted on Indigenous people. Throughout the novel, you could really feel the deep connection that the Luritja people of the Northern Territory (and indeed all Australian Indigenous folk) have with the land and how the concept of owning it in "whitefella law" was meaningless to them.
I did feel the time jumps towards the end were a little rushed, but I understand the authors' (David Spillman, a white man, and Lisa Wilyuka, a Luritja woman) intentions in moving the plot forward this way.
This was a thought-provoking read.
I think my main issue with it was that I felt the beginning was quite slow paced and I got a bit bored - although I remember the discussion about the concept of land ownership as it was viewed by Indigenous folk as very striking and thoughtful.
The second half was stronger as it dug deeper into the history of colonial Australia and the intergenerational trauma it inflicted on Indigenous people. Throughout the novel, you could really feel the deep connection that the Luritja people of the Northern Territory (and indeed all Australian Indigenous folk) have with the land and how the concept of owning it in "whitefella law" was meaningless to them.
I did feel the time jumps towards the end were a little rushed, but I understand the authors' (David Spillman, a white man, and Lisa Wilyuka, a Luritja woman) intentions in moving the plot forward this way.
This was a thought-provoking read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Colonisation
hazeyjane_2's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
3.5 stars. What a sweet, heartfelt story about friendship and spirituality, with so many descriptions of the Luritja connecting with their country.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Racism
melbsreads's review against another edition
3.5
Trigger warnings: racism, colonialism, death.
This is a tiny little book and I read it in the space of about an hour. The bulk of the story takes place when Ruby is 12 years old in the 1960s but it follows the land rights battle through to the 1980s when she's a mother herself. It was a very quiet book but I thoroughly enjoyed it and really liked the way that things came full circle in the end.
This is a tiny little book and I read it in the space of about an hour. The bulk of the story takes place when Ruby is 12 years old in the 1960s but it follows the land rights battle through to the 1980s when she's a mother herself. It was a very quiet book but I thoroughly enjoyed it and really liked the way that things came full circle in the end.
aleesha's review against another edition
4.0
At only 166 pages, it's a short and sweet story narrated by an Aboriginal girl - her perspective reveals how ridiculous the concerns and laws of 'whitefellas' are in the eyes of Indigenous people.
I raced through this in less than 24 hours, it was lovely!
I raced through this in less than 24 hours, it was lovely!
More...