meggles's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Racism and Child death
madelonpaige's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Child death, and Racism
madgec's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Colonisation, and Racism
Moderate: Rape
oliviashleigh'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? Yes
Graphic: Colonisation and Racism
Moderate: Child death and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Rape, and Domestic abuse
rhi_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
Moderate: Child death and Domestic abuse
Minor: Slavery, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Genocide, and Infertility
readwithchar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Infertility, Genocide, Child death, Slavery, and Colonisation
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit
lettuce_read's review
Graphic: Racism, Child death, Colonisation, and Grief
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual harassment, and Domestic abuse
kirstym25'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, and Child death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Infertility
Minor: Sexual assault
bookishcori's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Child death
Moderate: Infertility and Grief
serendipitysbooks'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
4.75
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is my first pick from the Stella Prize longlist, and it was a stellar one. It’s the story of Wagadhaany, a young Wiradyuri woman who works, under conditions akin to slavery, in the house of a white settler family. It’s my favourite sort of historical fiction, a novel that includes specific historical events, most notably the devastation to Gundagai caused by the flooding of the Murrumbidgee River in 1852.
This is unabashedly a Wiradyuri novel. The reader gains a strong appreciation of certain aspects of the culture, especially their deep connection to the land, and the central importance of family, living and ancestral, to their lives. The Wiradyuri language is liberally used throughout the novel and it added real richness, authenticity and a strong sense of immersion. I listened on audio which I recommend. Appreciation of the language is enhanced by hearing the correct pronunciation.
The book is a searing indictment of racism, sexism and especially colonialism. The superior attitude of white settlers who depended on and profited from indigenous knowledge and labour while treating the indigenous people with contempt was depicted in infuriating detail.
I appreciated the nuanced way the relationship between Wagadhaany and Louise played out. There were many layers, some good and some bad, and I valued seeing them unfold in all their subtle, messy complexities.
This stands in contrast to my one criticism of the book. Sometimes I felt the author was a little too heavy-handed and didactic. There were plenty of places where readers were explicitly told things when what we had already been richly shown clearly conveyed the message - at least to this reader.
Overall though the storytelling was superb. I was engrossed and captivated from beginning to end. My heart still hurts from sharing Wagadhaany’s joys and sorrows. She’s one of those special characters who will stay with me.
Graphic: Child death, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Infertility