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indoorg1rl's review
5.0
I stumbled across this book while searching for a contemporary fiction set in Melbourne (to my surprise, I found it more difficult than I'd expected). It was a refreshing experience for me to be able to recognise suburb names and places, streets, methods of transport, schools.
The book was a love story for Geelong. The plot, narrative, dialogue and atmosphere really surpassed my expectation - I really didn't expect to fall in love with the book the way I did. Both main characters, the painter and the biographer, were done really well. Although they never met and their lives happened at different timelines, they traced similar paths - survival, adversities, families.
I really appreciated the writing choices the author made. One in particular, where she gave the readers glimpses of the future while talking about the different 'presents'. The plot line time setting alternated between Edna's time (20s, 30s, 40s, 60s) and the biographer's time (1992-1994), told from the perspective of the biographer in the future (2010). This unique style was perfect for the book.
Last but not least, I really liked the way the paintings were described. It was really due to the author's expertise in using the right words that vivid images were conjured in the readers' mind and the paintings came alive. Here's an example:
It was a journey reading this book. I'm so glad I accidentally found it.
The book was a love story for Geelong. The plot, narrative, dialogue and atmosphere really surpassed my expectation - I really didn't expect to fall in love with the book the way I did. Both main characters, the painter and the biographer, were done really well. Although they never met and their lives happened at different timelines, they traced similar paths - survival, adversities, families.
I really appreciated the writing choices the author made. One in particular, where she gave the readers glimpses of the future while talking about the different 'presents'. The plot line time setting alternated between Edna's time (20s, 30s, 40s, 60s) and the biographer's time (1992-1994), told from the perspective of the biographer in the future (2010). This unique style was perfect for the book.
Last but not least, I really liked the way the paintings were described. It was really due to the author's expertise in using the right words that vivid images were conjured in the readers' mind and the paintings came alive. Here's an example:
I just got it.
Loose sketches of Geelong, of the sea baths at Eastern Beach; of Max, as a younger man, bent over a desk, head in his hands, or stretched half naked on a camp bed, his deformed legs two twists of tissue and bone. Sketches of children, maybe her own, with shell-like backs, fragile ankles, squatting at the high tideline. Boys playing football, racing around hastily pencilled fields.
It was a journey reading this book. I'm so glad I accidentally found it.
taphophile's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book and REALLY want to see the imaginary paintings described by Ruby J. Murray. I did not enjoy the Americanisms being used though. They not only grated, they took me out of the narrative when I wanted to be immersed.