davpilkey's review
4.0
A very carefully constructed and considered argument. Glad to see such a nuanced and level headed approach to such a sensitive topic.
kaitlyns_library's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
As an Aboriginal Studies teacher, and someone who is passionate about understanding Blak history, I really enjoyed this book. By enjoyed I mean, the writing style allowed me to delve into this book, I found quotes that I could use in the classroom and I continued to learn more about how Australia’s history has impacted on today. Like apparently the Australian War Memorial commemorates the most minuscule of Australian war events…but doesn’t even mention the Frontier Violence experienced at a larger scale?
I also like the comparisons of Indigenous Americans, Māori People and First Nations conflict with Europeans as it reflects the impact of each group.
All in all, an amazing book.
mmackintosh's review
3.0
A really interesting analysis of the conflict that occurred on the frontier. I have settled on 3/5 however as the structure was very frustrating to the point where it did a disservice to the content. The book is dense with facts, which I'm not opposed to, but I felt like Reynolds could have benefited from a harsher edit that focused on communicating those facts in a way that was more cohesive. The clearest example of this is in the 2nd to last chapter. The first few pages of that chapter seem entirely useless to the core of the argument being made at the end of the chapter and the bulk of that information could have been removed or communicated earlier on in the book when describing the details of the conflicts. The strongest chapter, in my opinion, was the last where Reynolds plainly lays out his argument. The novel oscillates between being a bare facts history book and one that actually makes an argument and this chapter was the latter, it had personality and was persuasive.
I am very inspired to read more about the frontier and the way in which these conflicts were minimised throughout history.
I am very inspired to read more about the frontier and the way in which these conflicts were minimised throughout history.
wildwoila's review
3.0
Nearly as many Aboriginals and settlers died in our frontier wars as in WW2. And they were strategically far more important. And yet we forget.
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