Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
River of Dreams
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Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
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Narrated by:
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Tamala Shelton
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By:
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Anita Heiss
About this listen
"There are books you encounter as an adult that you wish you could press into the hands of your younger self. Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is one of those books – a novel that turns Australia’s long-mythologised settler history into a raw and resilient heartsong." – Guardian
*** WINNER 2022 NSW PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD INDIGENOUS WRITER'S PRIZE***
***2022 ABIA SHORTLIST***
***2021 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE SHORTLIST***
*** 2022 STELLA PRIZE LONGLIST***
***2022 INDIE BOOK AWARDS LONGLIST***
***2022 VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARDS HIGHLY COMMENDED***
Gundagai, 1852
The powerful Murrumbidgee River surges through town leaving death and destruction in its wake. It is a stark reminder that while the river can give life, it can just as easily take it away.
Wagadhaany is one of the lucky ones. She survives. But is her life now better than the fate she escaped? Forced to move away from her miyagan, she walks through each day with no trace of dance in her step, her broken heart forever calling her back home to Gundagai.
When she meets Wiradyuri stockman Yindyamarra, Wagadhaany’s heart slowly begins to heal. But still, she dreams of a better life, away from the degradation of being owned. She longs to set out along the river of her ancestors, in search of lost family and country. Can she find the courage to defy the White man’s law? And if she does, will it bring hope ... or heartache?
Set on timeless Wiradyuri country, where the life-giving waters of the rivers can make or break dreams, and based on devastating true events, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) is an epic story of love, loss and belonging.
Praise for Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams)
"Heiss fuses fiction with realism, conjuring a resonance still felt in Blak struggle today ... packs heart into every page." – Saturday Paper
"Tells a powerful and affecting tale of Aboriginal people's identity, community and deep connection to country." – Canberra Times
"A profoundly moving showcase of Heiss’ skill ... Intimate, reflective, and impossible to put down." – AU Review
"Engrossing and wonderful storytelling. I really loved these strong, brave Wiradyuri characters." – Melissa Lucashenko
"A powerful story of family, place and belonging." – Kate Grenville
"A remarkable story of courage and a love of country ... Anita Heiss writes with heart and energy on every page." – Tony Birch
"It is a love story, a story of loss, a hopeful story. The river is a guide, but you have to be open to its spiritual lessons." – Terri Janke
"Anita Heiss is at the height of her storytelling powers in this inspiring, heart-breaking, profound tale." – Larissa Behrendt
"The novel flows like the great Murrumbidgee River itself, with powerful undercurrents that sweep the reader along - I feel it's a book that all Australians should read, to try and understand why our colonial past still causes so much pain and grievance." – Kate Forsyth
©2020 Anita Heiss (P)2020 Simon & Schuster AustraliaCritic Reviews
"Heiss fuses fiction with realism, conjuring a resonance still felt in Blak struggle today ... packs heart into every page." – Saturday Paper
"Tells a powerful and affecting tale of Aboriginal people's identity, community and deep connection to country." – Canberra Times
"A profoundly moving showcase of Heiss’ skill ... Intimate, reflective, and impossible to put down." – AU Review
What listeners say about Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 26-10-2021
Breath of fresh air
I loved this Incredible story, story was beautifully read... Will be listening again 🙏🏿.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-07-2021
A must read
An amazing book, transports you back in time. The language being spoken by the narrator soothes the soul. Thank you 👍🏾
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- M. Garvey
- 28-12-2021
will definitely be listening to this one again
such a strong story of the impact of white settlement on individual indigenous people. the use of Wiradjuri language throughout is strong and compelling, more books like this should be shared. loved the story and narration.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shannon
- 24-11-2021
Heartbreakingly moving
Well. My heart just broke into a million pieces and I don’t even know where to start pulling them back together. This book will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am so thankful to have read it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Leigh
- 24-11-2021
History interwoven with a moving story
The story is a rich tapestry of aboriginal life interwoven with the coming of colonisers and the changes that are forced because of that
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ghislaine Bouskila
- 10-07-2022
I have never listened to a book so fast!
What a pleasure listening to this book has been. I couldn't put it down.
The narrator did an amazing job with the different voices, accents and intonations of each character.
The writer has done an amazing job at transporting us to these difficult times and to teach me more about aboriginal culture.
It is well written and well told. Thank you.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Linda
- 30-01-2023
loved story not so much narrator
I loved everything about this story, i struggle with this narrator however listen again as she is the narrator of many titles i like. I sometimes buy the book to read instead of listening when I see that tamala is the narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-06-2023
Heartbreaking, authentic and a must read for all Australians
A heartbreaking story that helped me better understand the connection to country that our First Nations people have, the loss that they felt when colonists took them from their land and why they are still fighting for recognition of this awful history today. This story has a beautiful portrayal of family love and loss and I loved the use of indigenous language throughout. Outstanding narration too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SMHS3
- 08-09-2023
Loved this
A beautiful, heartfelt story and beautiful narration 🥰 I highly recommend this book as a read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 18-03-2024
Stunning
Incredibly written, read and delivered. The use of Wiradyuri language made the book incredibly special.
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