LOVED

The human condition in full detail. Historical, relatable and straight to the heart.
There were moments where I questioned the characters choices, but then realised, "Thats exactly how a person would react"
Love this book.
wish audible had Joan Makes History

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Great Story

I enjoyed the story, a follow up to “Secret River”. Tells the story of the tragic influence (racism) of the colonials in early settling of Australia.

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Devastating and beautiful

Kate Grenville writes from the soul and for the soul of the human condition. She writes about some of the big topics, of colonisation and its impacts on indigenous culture by turning the magnifying glass on one family and its stories, experiences, emotions. Stunning characterisation. Loved it.

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A moving story from start to finish

Kate Grenville's ability to create a story as real as life itself is unswerving.
Each character is as though I had known them, and each setting, each place is alive as if it were a character.

Sarah Thornhill's story will stay with me for a long time.

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Wonderful Story

Hi and low this story is so good and an intriguing story that is the first to talk about the destruction of the First People. Sad that lessons weren't learned then

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Worthy sequel

I enjoyed The Secret River and was left wondering what happened in the years that followed these characters. I enjoyed the focus on a daughter and the switch to first person narration. Some parts were a little hurried and I’m not sure quite matched up in terms of believeability but it was a sweet coming of age story that explored first love. The journey to New Zealand felt rushed and distracted from the issues of racism and the horrific treatment of indigenous Australians. But overall, the narrator was good and I couldn’t stop listening to this and finished it quickly. A few days later and I’m still thinking of these characters and Grenville’s message about the importance telling our ancestors’ stories.

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Dreary

Pleasant sorry but spoken with undertones of despair when, at times, there could have been joy. Rather a bleak story but made moreso.

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OK follow up

I loved the Secret River and was looking forward to continuing the story, unfortunately this book didn't quite deliver, it lacked the punch of the previous books. The story starts off well enough, the characters are strong, but it just seems to lose its way somehow. There was too much emphasis on Sarah's attempts to attone for her father's wrongs. The story had built up beautifully to the point where Sarah meets her estranged brother and discovers her father's dark past, then it seems to rush along disjointedly. Was it really necessary for Sarah's character to travel all the way to New Zealand with Jack, I understand Grenville was trying to "complete the circle" but I just didn't feel it worked. And as much as I enjoyed following Sarah's story I would have loved to have seen the grandchild's character explored more.
That said I still enjoyed it and finished it in a day. The book works as a stand alone novel, but I would recommend reading/listening to the Secret River first as it does help build a picture of those early days of colonisation in New South Wales.
Emma Fielding's narration was very good, and worked well with the story.

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2 people found this helpful