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story_of_steph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, and Rape
baikiebookie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Abortion
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a good choice. Despite the fact that there is a laundry list of content warnings (see below) and in the hands of another author this story might have been a psychological thriller, this is a beautifully written story about love and perseverance. There are no 'surprises' of the type I hate in thrillers, and the writing is poetic, veering in to magical realism.
While I'd like to write a nuanced and informative review, I got to the end of the book and went 'wow'. Fabulous characterisation, a careful mix of cultural groups, amazing visceral descriptions of landscape, a plot that meanders coherently and engagingly, beautiful writing. I can see this being a book that gets taught in schools, because there is so much to unpack, so much imagery and interesting parallels.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Murder, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse and Racism
Minor: Drug use, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
My notes while writing this read: death of parent, grave robbing, physical and emotional abuse of child, racism, period typical slurs, implications of sexual violence (not clear if rape), alcoholism, drug use, physical violence between adults, mentions of sex work, being on the ground in a bombing raid plus the aftermath (including dismembered bodies), abandonment of a minor, attempted murder, attempted rape, drowning, murder (graphic), eye damage and other dismemberment due to leprosy plus forced institutionalism of lepers, delirium tremendous, infected wound (graphic description), possible abandonment of child, mentions of suicide,chethaki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction
zjdhudson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gun violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Colonisation
littlewishling's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Death and Sexual assault
salbathtub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence
lililoves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I think, as an Australian, I have an issue with Aus fiction in general. I find the pseudo-spiritualism and over description a bit tiresome after a while (see anything by Tim Winton). Everything has to have meaning. Something just can't be a dingo or a shovel, it has to have all this external meaning attached to it.
I also think Aus authors almost view it like a competition to see how many metaphors and similes they can cram into one book. For example, when describing naval ships, Dalton writes:
"They are as lengthy to Sam's eyes as the dead-grass Australian Rules football fields he bounces around on with his cousins, as wide across the beam as the cricket pitches he mows into the lawn behind the church." -p.95
I also took issue with some of the tropes Dalton used. For example, the wise old Aboriginal man that acts as a spiritual guide. It's been done 1000 times and really does not capture how rich the Indigenous cultures are here in Australia. It also felt like he hadn't done any research into the Indigenous cultures of the area in which this book is set and instead opted to use general terms, like 'walkabout', which I feel furthers the narrative that Indigenous Australians are monocultural, which is far from true. As a white Australian, I cannot say whether this assessment of the book is true, it is just how I felt while reading and based on information I have read (or seen) from Indigenous Australians. I would like to read more adventurous fantasy based stories from Indigenous authors in the future as I just feel they would bring more depth.
This book is saved by the relationships between the characters, especially Molly and Greta, and the character of Molly in general. I think she is well written and a great example of a young girl growing up in regional Australia: headstrong, brave, and adventurous.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault and Abortion
sneako's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
jameslyons's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma