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booksellersdiary's Reviews (246)
I love Jane Caro. Her wit, intelligence and not so gentle mockery of trolls on Twitter keep me laughing most days.
But I didn’t love this book as much as I wanted to.
Like Clem Ford’s Boys Will Be Boys, this is Feminism 101 and I realise I am not the target market for this book. I am well versed in feminism, it’s history and the impact of legal changes on both mine and my mothers generation. I understand what the sweeping policy change of the Whitlam government did for Australian women.
Jane, I really wanted to love this. But while reading I wanted more information and suggestion solutions for the women this book was written for. The baby boomer women walking that fine line between relative comfort and abject poverty. I wanted more intersectionality. I wanted more about the impact of the current political environment on those same women, and I wanted you to make at least one mention of how much worse Aboriginal women have it compared to white women. You recognise your privilege, but you seem too removed from those of your generation who are struggling.
Solid 3 stars.
But I didn’t love this book as much as I wanted to.
Like Clem Ford’s Boys Will Be Boys, this is Feminism 101 and I realise I am not the target market for this book. I am well versed in feminism, it’s history and the impact of legal changes on both mine and my mothers generation. I understand what the sweeping policy change of the Whitlam government did for Australian women.
Jane, I really wanted to love this. But while reading I wanted more information and suggestion solutions for the women this book was written for. The baby boomer women walking that fine line between relative comfort and abject poverty. I wanted more intersectionality. I wanted more about the impact of the current political environment on those same women, and I wanted you to make at least one mention of how much worse Aboriginal women have it compared to white women. You recognise your privilege, but you seem too removed from those of your generation who are struggling.
Solid 3 stars.
Oh. Wow. This book packs a punch!
Alice’s story is one of trauma and betrayal, more so than a small child should experience and much of it inherited. I found her to be well rounded and more relatable than I was anticipating. The well thought plot and overall structure of the novel were also good for a debut novel.
I loved the Australian indigenous stories and the Bulgarian fairytales woven through, and the touch of Mexican history. I love he idea of pioneer women adapting a Victorian custom to their new environment in Australia.
I was moved to actual sobbing tear and out loud cries of surprise. I nearly missed my train stop reading on my work commute, I was so engrossed with the story. These are all the marks of wonderful writing, Ringland has a style that completely transported me to the Aussie bush. Set in regional Queensland I drew many similarities to my own life in Western Australia.
All the stars.
Alice’s story is one of trauma and betrayal, more so than a small child should experience and much of it inherited. I found her to be well rounded and more relatable than I was anticipating. The well thought plot and overall structure of the novel were also good for a debut novel.
I loved the Australian indigenous stories and the Bulgarian fairytales woven through, and the touch of Mexican history. I love he idea of pioneer women adapting a Victorian custom to their new environment in Australia.
I was moved to actual sobbing tear and out loud cries of surprise. I nearly missed my train stop reading on my work commute, I was so engrossed with the story. These are all the marks of wonderful writing, Ringland has a style that completely transported me to the Aussie bush. Set in regional Queensland I drew many similarities to my own life in Western Australia.
All the stars.
Like most people, I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. It immediately made me want to be a lawyer and save people. As an adult, I realise this is naive and fanciful and public defenders are rarely, if ever given their choice of cases.
As a idealistic child, Atticus was my compass of what is true, moral and right in the world. I’ve gone back to the book time and time again to be reminded of that idealistic and empathetic teenager I was, to keep hold of her as I get older.
Go Set a Watchman should never have been published. I was right there with Scout, to find that your family are flawed and to have to relearn who they are is a hard thing. Atticus and his moral compass are forever changed for me now.
The book itself is a delightful trip down memory lane, snatches of Jen and Scout as children contrast an adult Scout finding her place in the world. Is it Harper Lee’s best work? Does it live up to To Kill a Mockingbird? No. And likely the reasons I don’t like it are the reasons she never published.
2.5 stars rounded up for nostalgia.
As a idealistic child, Atticus was my compass of what is true, moral and right in the world. I’ve gone back to the book time and time again to be reminded of that idealistic and empathetic teenager I was, to keep hold of her as I get older.
Go Set a Watchman should never have been published. I was right there with Scout, to find that your family are flawed and to have to relearn who they are is a hard thing. Atticus and his moral compass are forever changed for me now.
The book itself is a delightful trip down memory lane, snatches of Jen and Scout as children contrast an adult Scout finding her place in the world. Is it Harper Lee’s best work? Does it live up to To Kill a Mockingbird? No. And likely the reasons I don’t like it are the reasons she never published.
2.5 stars rounded up for nostalgia.
This was an intimate and real account of life as Michelle Obama. I did this by audio, narrated by Michelle and it was wonderful to hear about her life in her own voice. She is a natural orator, and I never felt like she was hiding any aspect of herself while I listened. She is warm, inviting and open in the book. She doesn’t shy away from admitting hard truths or giving an honest account of her thoughts. She is diplomatic and gracious in her words about Trump and Melania. This book was wonderful, highly recommend.
