Reviews

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

goodvibeswife2016's review against another edition

5.0

Incredible. Thank you Colleen McCullough, thank you Australia, and thank you Drogheda. You'll be with me always.

arockinsamsara's review against another edition

4.0

I didn’t go into this novel anticipating much more than a historical soap opera…. And I was blown away at the depth of characters and the reflections on life and humanity that we witnessed through them. There is no real plot, we just follow three generations of a family as they go about their lives. The ever growing cast of characters are all hard-earned and complicated and messy and constantly making really awful decisions based usually on pride, and it was somewhere between intensely frustrating and heart-breaking. The former because just some clear communication and an apology here or there would have dramatically changed some folks’ lives for the better, but the latter because it was clear the omniscient close third person narrator cared as much as we do, this is just the hand these characters chose to play. The writing was really compelling, moving smoothly across characters’ perspectives and time and place, occasionally offering some omniscient insight but mostly just letting us observe. It felt intimate, or as much as some of these character would allow. While it wasn’t particularly lyrical it did, on occasion, feel like there was page after page of descriptions. Every new place we visit there would be what eventually felt like an exhausting description of the place. The writing all served the pacing and atmosphere, relishing where our characters put their attention, so it didn’t feel more melodramatic than it needed to be, but it did just feel bit long on occasion. That said, I didn’t expect to enjoy this book nearly as much as I did, it really surprised me. It really comes down to the characters, and how lovingly and expansively they are explored. Yes, they make heaps of bad decisions, and some become a little unlikable for it, but they never cease to be interesting and compelling, truly mirrors, yes maybe antiques, maybe a little cloudy here and there, but mirrors all the same in which we can see versions of ourselves.

sadeggboy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

dianalee91024's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

julia207's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-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

4.25

lafrederick's review against another edition

Not terrible but not my thing. I just couldn't get in to it and decided there are too many other books to spend time on one I wasn't loving 

haren_k's review against another edition

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

2.0

craalm's review against another edition

5.0

This is not the kind of book that I would spot in a shop and think to buy, especially as the back of the edition that i have doesn't even tell us anything about the book and all I learned about the story before i read it came from the introduction. However, my grandma was the one who bought it for me; she said that it was one of the best books that she had read (and she read it when it was first published) and she wanted to know from me if it was actually as good as she remembered it being as she has never read it again. Well, I certainly think so. The writing is beautiful and the style of it suits the mood of the book so perfectly. The characters have time to be fully developed and, as you get to see them grow over the years (this book spans from 1915-1969), you are fully invested in them and want good things to happen for them. Also, the characters are not perfect. They each have their own little faults, but that just made me like them even more. There is no real 'good' or 'bad' character here, unless you count Luke I guess, because each character has their flaws; their good sides and their bad sides. That just makes them more human, more believable and more likeable.
The plot of the book may be a little predictable, but not in the annoying way that some books are. Even though you have the idea of what is going to happen, it never feels like the author is forcing that upon us. It feels like that is the natural turn of events for that person, or those people, and THAT is why it is slightly predictable, because there was no other option for that character. The whole story has this feeling too. That the author is not directing these characters around, but that they are living their own lives and she is merely writing it down for our pleasure. And the beautiful writing and vivid descriptions really make up for the fact that you may have an idea of the plot. Plus, it happens slowly, over time, so that it never feels rushed and too coincidental.
Overall, I'm really glad my grandma bought this book for me. I really enjoyed my time in the life of the Cleary's and, even though it may not be something i would be tempted pick out for myself, I really loved it. This is exactly why i love being recommended books because you never know what surprises or hidden gems you may find.

melonpea's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

miffyf's review against another edition

3.0

I remember thinking that the priest in this (can't remember his name) was super creepy. I could never understand what the main female character saw in him! Perhaps that had more to do with my atheism than the writing. I couldn't understand how a man would rather be married to God (who was either a white-haired bearded dude, or a dark-harked bearded dude in my [limited] experience of 'the church') than this gorgeous, feisty woman.
I've read it a couple of times, but don't think I will ever go back for another read - been there, done that. Many more books to try.