Bonnie
Relatable, sweet and an Australian gem that should be compulsory reading! Living with and caring for someone who has a mental illness can be extremely difficult and traumatic. I love how this book didn't shy away from the humanity of each character.
I love how this book deals with life in the outback. Unflinchingly, and accurately. While the undercurrent is quite familiar to me, professionally and personally, it still leaves me speechless when it is written so well.
Difficult to read but a powerful and compelling story of survival. Bri doesn't shy away from sharing the impact of trauma, and how small victories can make all the difference.
I admire Heather's work to capture the lived experience of survivors. The relatively privileged role of the Tätowierer is one I have not read about before, outside of the extensive hype around this book. For me the best parts were Lale's interactions with a certain Dr, his guardian B, and characters like Nadya. The writing leaves a lot to be desired. I think it's worth reading, with an open mind.
It's a dramatic bio, with so many bizarre but certainly true events, bundled into a shallow dive into a person's character. I imagine the trauma prevented a deeper dive, which brings me to my next point.
Clunky random references to an oedipal complex and an obsession with women left a sour taste in my mouth. The author even thanks her 18yr daughter for letting 90 year old Lale flirt with her during the interview process. Weird.
I'm a big fan of Jane's writing, and I'll keep reading her books for sure, but I can't say I really enjoyed this book. Honest review ahead.
I have been hiking many times and a tour company sending inexperienced people out with minimal supplies or guidance, is well known as a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what happens, no surprise. No EPIRB, no phones, no idea how they even got insurance for the trip!
The relationship between Alice and Lauren was quite interesting and the only convincing one.
The main sub plot didn't get discussed by anyone except the police, it felt like an excuse for them to be involved, nothing more, and financial division police wouldn't be on a missing person case, tramping the bush. Jane captures the isolation and eeriness of the bush well, I'll give her that. It can be a frightening place when things get tough.
It will have you longing for Scotland, for books, and for fresh, organic food. I enjoyed this book, apart from feeling a little irritated at the main character's snarky, do-gooder attitude. I like the emphasis on community and living away from the rat race.
I find the character of Don so endearing and I read this in almost one sitting, like the first book. I was quite frustrated with Rosie who made no attempt to sit down and have an actual conversation with Don at any time during the story. They were more like flatmates. I also love the men's group and how they try to help each other and end up in worse trouble but eventually it all works out.
I see a lot of reviews saying they hated the characters, especially the women. I actually even liked Anna by the end of it. The gaslighting, emotional abuse and control exhibited by all the male characters is typical domestic violence. They get the the victims to think they're crazy, or stupid, or vulnerable, say that it's them making things up, imagining stuff. This is not rare, provoked behaviour. I hope this book has sparked conversations about PTS, grief and addiction.
The story dragged, and I didn't enjoy it, but I felt compelled to finish, and some of the character growth was quite deep.
It took me a while to get into this book, but eventually I was invested hook, line and sinker. I would have loved some more details in certain parts.
Not entirely sure how this book makes me feel. Disturbed, but intruiged by the tension and unspoken pain felt by all, is probably the best way I can describe it. I was unsettled to discover I could relate to more than one character, and I loved the way the female bond of friendship or sisterhood is the centre of this whole tome.
I love art so I enjoyed all the references to the painting process and the contentiousness of introducing new styles into the art world. Even though the story begins in 1930 Melbourne, there are virtually no references to that time period in Australia, other than the art. The language and mannerisms of the characters appear more like it could have been the 1970s. It is as though all the characters are in a bubble of both their own making and the author's. There is a lot conveyed without words or actions here. Masterful and brilliant.
Emotional, full of heart and warmth, in stark contrast to the bleakness of the Auschwitz subcamp. As a (lapsed) violinist, I loved the detail of how the violin was designed and crafted. So beautiful.