mila_reads_with_pinot's review against another edition
3.0
less alternative history more shipwreck survivor story
rhodaj's review
3.0
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for sending me an uncorrected proof of this book to review.
This book is the re-telling of Captain Cook’s landing on Australian soil and is mostly told from the perspective of Magra, a midshipman. There is also a small part of the book narrated by Garrgiil, an indigenous boy. To give much more detail than this would spoil the book for other readers.
Soooo, the sections narrated by Garrgiil on Aboriginal customs, language and connection to land make this book worth reading as they are both interesting and beautiful. However this only accounts for about 20% of the book. I wish this had been much more of a focus of the book, as these parts were delightful.
The majority of the book is from the white man’s perspective and for the most part, they spend their time whingeing and complaining and generally behaving badly and like complete savages
This book is the re-telling of Captain Cook’s landing on Australian soil and is mostly told from the perspective of Magra, a midshipman. There is also a small part of the book narrated by Garrgiil, an indigenous boy. To give much more detail than this would spoil the book for other readers.
Soooo, the sections narrated by Garrgiil on Aboriginal customs, language and connection to land make this book worth reading as they are both interesting and beautiful. However this only accounts for about 20% of the book. I wish this had been much more of a focus of the book, as these parts were delightful.
The majority of the book is from the white man’s perspective and for the most part, they spend their time whingeing and complaining and generally behaving badly and like complete savages
readingwithcake's review
3.0
Firstly this would have been a four star review except I found it disjointed due to the storyline jumping all over the place and I also didn’t like our main character, Magra. I didn’t connect with his part of the storyline and it was predominantly his POV. My favourite part of the book was the POV of Garrgiil, I enjoyed learning about the Guugu Yimidhirr people. It was fascinating to learn about their traditions and how misinterpreted their actions were by the British. Obviously this is a fictitious story however I do not doubt that similar occurrences happened between the two peoples meeting. My other favourite part was at the end when the men assimilated into the Guugu Yimidhirr tribe. This was what I was waiting for and offered the alternative ending to the colonisation of Australia. I found this book, particularly at the end, to be thoroughly educational and enjoyed this new take on the discovery of Australia by Cook and their interactions with First Nations people. This take on history demonstrates what could have happened if there had been a different approach to making contact with the Indigenous peoples and every other continent that was colonised by Europeans.
rosiebrown's review
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A different take on the historical story of how Captain Cook came to Australia in 1770. Instead of making it ashore the boat runs into trouble and the crew scatters. Those that make it to shore must face the prospect of surviving in a hostile and foreign land, avoiding the dangers posed by the savages that inhabit it. Or even more significant the dangers they pose each other. Conversely it tells the tale of the indigenous Australians who watch from afar as white ghosts descend upon their shores. I loved the use of Indigenous language throughout the accounts of the native Australians and the descriptions of indigenous culture and their knowledge of flora and fauna. I felt as though I needed to stop and reflect upon what it must have been like for both parties and the danger of judging something before you take the time to try and understand it. The book did read a little slow, with the majority of story taking place on the beach, I would’ve liked to hear more about how they were able to take up their lives within the indigenous communities.
underscripted's review
DNF - I just couldn't get into it and I never felt the need to pick it up...
ellahart's review
1.0
I was incredibly excited to read a fictional retelling of Captain Cook’s arrival that would explore a marriage of European and Aboriginal culture and that didn’t involve the genocide of Australia’s First Nation People. What I read instead was utterly boring and disappointing. Majority of the book was in the perspective of a white and racist European/American dude, who is primarily concerned about his next meal and the in-house politics of his shipmates. While historically accurate, it was such a huge led down to what could have been a really interesting fictional piece. Not only that, but Bama man Garrgiil’s chapters, which were some sort of insight to dreamtime and connection to land, were super short. It only got kind of interesting in the last 50 pages where the white marines and the Bama people met and shared culture. Thank you, next.
georgiarybanks's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
staraice's review
Book club pick.
This book was ok, but my main issue with it is that the blurb and promotion around it set me up to expect something different. The interaction between the two cultures is a much smaller part of the narrative than I thought it would be, with much of the book focussed on the survivalism and recollections of the sailor Magra.
A very interesting idea, and worth giving a read even if just to learn something new.
This book was ok, but my main issue with it is that the blurb and promotion around it set me up to expect something different. The interaction between the two cultures is a much smaller part of the narrative than I thought it would be, with much of the book focussed on the survivalism and recollections of the sailor Magra.
A very interesting idea, and worth giving a read even if just to learn something new.
meganori's review
4.0
4.5*
An alternate history where Cook's Endeavour sinks off the coast of northern Australia. Told in alternating perspectives of one of the shipwreck survivors and a local Aboriginal boy.
I would have liked a more balanced split between the two narratives; the white man had most of the story, the Aboriginal perspective came only in short bursts. It was a great read though. Lots of tension, both poetic and a page turner.
An alternate history where Cook's Endeavour sinks off the coast of northern Australia. Told in alternating perspectives of one of the shipwreck survivors and a local Aboriginal boy.
I would have liked a more balanced split between the two narratives; the white man had most of the story, the Aboriginal perspective came only in short bursts. It was a great read though. Lots of tension, both poetic and a page turner.