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sylviaisme's review against another edition
3.0
"Che perdita avremmo subito se avessimo lasciato le cose come stavano. Saremmo sopravvissuti, ma non come un unico popolo. Non avremmo mai conosciuto il nostro luogo."
In questa biografia dal titolo originale My place, Sally Morgan ricostruisce la storia della propria famiglia a partire dalla scoperta della propria discendenza da una tribù di nativi aborigeni.
Nel suo percorso alla ricerca della verità (inizialmente ostacolato dalla madre e dalla nonna stesse), Sally riprende la tradizione aborigena del racconto orale e dà voce, riportando le esperienze narrate personalmente dalla madre, dallo zio e dalla nonna, ad un popolo che nell'ultimo secolo è stato indicibilmente e crudelmente sfruttato e maltrattato dall'uomo bianco.
La mia Australia è un libro importante per il valore delle testimonianze che racchiude, e sicuramente meriterebbe un giudizio più alto da parte mia, ma personalmente ritengo che lo stile così conciso e diretto, da racconto orale appunto, penalizzi il coinvolgimento da parte del lettore: durante la lettura, infatti, ho riconosciuto quanto fosse importante la ricostruzione delle proprie radici per Sally e per la sua famiglia, ma lo stile quasi distaccato ed eccessivamente didascalico con cui è scritto non mi ha permesso di entrare appieno nelle loro esperienze.
A lettura conclusa ho avuto la sensazione che ciò che ho letto non sia stato scritto per essere indirizzato a tutti: è come se il primo fine di questa biografia, a mio parere, fosse sì rendere i lettori consapevoli di quanto il popolo dei nativi australiani abbia dovuto subire nel vicino secolo scorso, ma che alla fine, soltanto chi può ricondurre le proprie origini a queste tribù native sia davvero in grado di rimanerne coinvolto nel profondo.
jaipal's review
5.0
This book starts out a bit slowly but it weaves it's magic and the next thing you know, you're engrossed in it, living the lives of the people in the book, sharing their joys, facing their hardships and feeling their sadness.
The narration is not linear but goes back and forth, in time and locations, telling the tale from the point of view of different characters, mainly between the 20s to the 80s, where we get to hear the story of several people across three generations within the same family.
I like it from a historical point of view as well as the author making it personal and inviting us on the journey of her discovery of her heritage.
The narration is not linear but goes back and forth, in time and locations, telling the tale from the point of view of different characters, mainly between the 20s to the 80s, where we get to hear the story of several people across three generations within the same family.
I like it from a historical point of view as well as the author making it personal and inviting us on the journey of her discovery of her heritage.
jesscondell's review
5.0
This book is so beautifully written and gives so much insight into the Aboriginal spirituality and the interconnection between generations.
This insight into how Aboriginal people were treated brings so much emotion but also shows how much culture and knowledge has been lost since invasion.
I cannot recommend reading this book enough. Such a beautiful and heartbreaking story.
This insight into how Aboriginal people were treated brings so much emotion but also shows how much culture and knowledge has been lost since invasion.
I cannot recommend reading this book enough. Such a beautiful and heartbreaking story.
estherk15's review
3.0
I really appreciated the history and perspective of Aborigines, mostly the injustices done to their population. Also, the strongest voices in this book are the women and I really admired their resilience after all the horrible things they were forced to endure. That being said, this book can read like a transcript of an oral history interview at times and I found it difficult to pick up once I put it down. After finishing, it made me want to read more about Australian history and the Aborigines, which, I'm embarrassed to admit, I don't know enough about.
nessquick91's review
5.0
I loved this book. Sally is both funny and hard hitting in the way that she tells her and her families story. She shares stories in a manner where you feel like you get to know her and her family.
It's a great book to read for all Australians (and others!) and would highly recommend reading it if you want to know the personal impact and trauma experienced from Australia's treatment of First Nations people.
It's a great book to read for all Australians (and others!) and would highly recommend reading it if you want to know the personal impact and trauma experienced from Australia's treatment of First Nations people.
kelamity_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
As I read this story, there were so many subtle cues that really jumped out at me. Knowing what I know of Australian history, much of the seemingly irrelevant or trivial things mentioned really hit hard.
This is one family's story, and, whilst written decades ago, it's a story similar to those held by many Indigenous Australians today.
This is a book that deserves analysis, and I can understand why it's on a lot of school reading lists.
My only criticism is that it ends very suddenly.
This is one family's story, and, whilst written decades ago, it's a story similar to those held by many Indigenous Australians today.
This is a book that deserves analysis, and I can understand why it's on a lot of school reading lists.
My only criticism is that it ends very suddenly.
socorrobaptista's review against another edition
4.0
Um livro lindo, uma narrativa de muitas descobertas, e um mergulho no passado, na ancestralidade da autora / narradora. Muito bom. Sempre fico feliz quando aprendo mais sobre diferentes culturas, diferentes povos. Amei!!