My blog
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Business
  • Reviews
  • Happiness
  • Fitness
  • Family
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Business
  • Reviews
  • Happiness
  • Fitness
  • Family
  • Shop
0
My blog

exploring authenticity for professional women who want success, equality and fulfilment

Reviews

Storyland – Book Review

by admin February 10, 2019
storyland

Storyland by Catherin McKinnon is the fourth and final book that I bought off the shortlist for the Miles Franklin Awards 2018. This was my favourite!

The story in this rang truest with me, and was more powerful and clever. It was very fixed in location with the Australian bush, which I love. There was some magic in the way the story went through time, with threads of connection, and then backwards through time again.

All the stories are based in the Illawarra, just below Sydney. The first is with the young explorer, Matthew Flinders. It explores the terror and excitement of exploration, and the making of young men in Australia.

The second story is a convict trying to make a living and grow a crop cut into the bush in the Illawarra. It is about the tensions with the Aboriginal people. It is about tough survival, and the harshest of the stories.

StorylandThe third is about early farmers of the area, when it’s settled with small farm holdings. There is a young blended family who don’t fit in, and the controversy of a girl who goes missing from a neighbouring farm and is murdered. 

The next is about a young autistic girl in the late 90s, living a wonderful life with her friends, but getting caught up witnessing a relationship plagues by domestic violence. It is also also tale of mixed races and Aboriginal artefacts. 

Then we jump forward into the future – this is odd, but very powerful. It is the recounting of a time in our future by someone who is recovered another 100 years into the future after the planet seems to have been destroyed by climate change. 

There are some features that carry through and connect each story in place – a huge fig tree, and a corner in the creek that has a rock that looks like a fish. Each central character in each period of time has a moment where they sit on or come across the rock or the tree. There is also a connection to an Aboriginal artefact that appears again and again. 

The main character throughout is the landscape and sense of location. It is very strong, and really rings true for me because of my own sense of connection to the Australian bush. It tackles some strong themes with grace, and the stories were powerful. 

I would have given this book the title of the winner of the Miles Franklin Award … if it were up to me!

0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
My Meditation Journey
next post
Work smarter, not harder

You may also like

Review: The Source

May 17, 2020

Super Attractor – Book Review

March 15, 2020

Review: Ransom

February 8, 2020

The Classic

January 11, 2020

How To Fight – Book Review

October 13, 2019

Schindler – Book Review

July 30, 2019

The Trauma Cleaner – Book Review

June 10, 2019

Grapes of Wrath – Book Review

January 28, 2019

A Life to Come – Book Review

January 5, 2019

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Book Review

November 18, 2018

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Free Workbook For You

Shortlisted for Australia’s Top 50 Influencer Awards 2017

 

MyDeal.com.au

Free Ebook For You

Recent Posts

  • Moments
  • Shadow archetypes
  • Fear hunting
  • How learning more about neuroscience has given me more hope to change
  • Rage and Happiness

Follow Me

Facebook

28 Day Online Weight Loss Challenge

28 Day Online Weight Loss Challenge 300 x 250

Jacqui’s Video Diaries

Moments

Shadow archetypes

Rage and Happiness

Flexibility

Failure Resume

Follow me on Blogarama

Categories

  • Business
  • Career
  • Diet
  • Family
  • Fitness
  • Happiness
  • Health
  • Jacqui's Diary
  • Philosophy
  • Reviews
  • Writing
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • RSS
Footer Logo

it's okay to want to do something that makes you happy


Back To Top