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africker's review against another edition
4.0
Don't go into the bush. Did none of these people watch neighbours?
embi's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of my most anticipated books this year, and boy does it live up to it! Someone whose opinion I respect calls it one of their favourite books, so I knew I couldn't leave Australia without a copy.
Mysteriously disappearing Victorians have been a bit of a theme here lately, and these ones are Australian and entirely fictional. A party of schoolgirls are on a day out when a small group of them vanish into thin air... There's lots of emphasis on the natural world, some amazing descriptions and a dreamlike tone. I immediately reread it.
Mysteriously disappearing Victorians have been a bit of a theme here lately, and these ones are Australian and entirely fictional. A party of schoolgirls are on a day out when a small group of them vanish into thin air... There's lots of emphasis on the natural world, some amazing descriptions and a dreamlike tone. I immediately reread it.
carolynheslop13's review against another edition
3.0
What a strange story. I loved the suspense and found the characters of Albert and Mrs Appleyard very interesting, but sometimes the meandering and over descriptive passages left me a little bored. I can’t wait to watch the adaptation of this coming to Netflix soon.
winnjess_'s review against another edition
4.0
Picnic at Hanging Rock
✨Jess’s review✨
Genre: historical fiction/mystery
Rating: 4.5/5
‘Whether Picnic at Hanging Rock is fact or fiction, my readers must decide for themselves. As the fateful picnic took place in the year 1900, and all the characters who appear in this book are long since dead, it hardly seems important.’
On St. Valentine’s Day 1900, a group of boarding school girls take an eagerly-awaited field trip to Hanging Rock, a magnificent natural feature of the Australian landscape. In their all-white summer dresses and kidskin boots, they have cakes and lemonade attempting to embody respectable English delicacy against the rough and untamed Australian reality in which they find themselves. All goes well until three of the most important and seemingly responsible of the students and one of the most no-nonsense governesses disappear. The novel then follows the aftermath.
Pros:
- The DREAD. The author begins with a sense of foreboding that just continues to build and drive forward until the very last page.
- The juxtaposition of the stalwart English Mrs Appleyard and her determination to bring civilization to the Australian frontier through her students vs her complete inability to control the situation.
Cons:
- The story does seem to wander a bit in the middle.
- The author really leans into old tropes of equating ugliness with badness, which felt very dated/is a product of its era.
✨Jess’s review✨
Genre: historical fiction/mystery
Rating: 4.5/5
‘Whether Picnic at Hanging Rock is fact or fiction, my readers must decide for themselves. As the fateful picnic took place in the year 1900, and all the characters who appear in this book are long since dead, it hardly seems important.’
On St. Valentine’s Day 1900, a group of boarding school girls take an eagerly-awaited field trip to Hanging Rock, a magnificent natural feature of the Australian landscape. In their all-white summer dresses and kidskin boots, they have cakes and lemonade attempting to embody respectable English delicacy against the rough and untamed Australian reality in which they find themselves. All goes well until three of the most important and seemingly responsible of the students and one of the most no-nonsense governesses disappear. The novel then follows the aftermath.
Pros:
- The DREAD. The author begins with a sense of foreboding that just continues to build and drive forward until the very last page.
- The juxtaposition of the stalwart English Mrs Appleyard and her determination to bring civilization to the Australian frontier through her students vs her complete inability to control the situation.
Cons:
- The story does seem to wander a bit in the middle.
- The author really leans into old tropes of equating ugliness with badness, which felt very dated/is a product of its era.
chanimilo's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
blainewajdowiczblinked's review against another edition
3.0
I unfortunately read a foreword that spoiled Lindsay’s original ending and it sets my expectations high going into this. I do have to say, the characterization of all involved parties really adds to the mystery/allure of the question of fact v fiction.
marjosmom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
annabellw06_'s review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
niamhannea's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
incredibleee you have no idea what is happening or what the story means but i love it. entrancing. also makes me feel like i’m in australia. crikey 🦘🦘🦘