Alice

Clever, enjoyable

Reviewed: 10-02-2021

Very clever. won't say more because, in hindsight it incredibly uncomplicated and part of me wondered as I was listening along, but it was executed so brilliantly that your not reconciled on it until quite close to the end. Enjoyable. Author's earlier book was in wishlist for a long time but I thought the plot line could be badly executed so never purchased it, I now know I should have listened to it when it was released

Interesting but not great

Reviewed: 10-02-2021

The way topics such as your online interactions, self persona, footprint and perceived security/ anonymity were great. Especially listening to it in an Australian setting. I often feel somewhat detached from similar narratives based overseas, something about Australia's isolation, little "u" Urbanisation + smaller per capita to alot of the worlds metro settings makes it difficult to relate to relate to usually, I'm not from VIC but it was still familiar enough to relate to.
I suspect you're not supposed to like the main character but still relate with her and be shocked by her but I felt like that was poorly executed. I can't say I'd recommend it but it's entertaining enough if you want something you can walk away from instead of something you can't stop listening to

Insight into Perth just before I was born

Reviewed: 17-01-2021

Warner has managed to adapt key aspects of Perth's political and cultural history into a fictional narrative. I was born in 85, whilst our big country town tries to pretend it's rid itself of the stains that a patriarchal society has left us (to the point of obnoxious denial as opposed to ignorance), this book gives insight into the way we were before we started pretending we weren't.
Previous reviews mentioned the chauvinism as though maybe it was veing glorified, I felt l
more as though it was intentionally ever present to stay true to Perth's cultural mentality at the time. I may not have been present at the time but my parents were and would agree that the stain is still in the undertow. All in all, good crime novel

Highly entertaining

Reviewed: 07-09-2020

All I can say is that I spent the whole time hoping that none of this account was a fictional perspective.

Amusing, educational

Reviewed: 10-08-2020

Hilarious. The ridiculous etiquette classes were so entertaining. We white fellas are a weird bunch.

2 people found this helpful

If you are human, read this.

Reviewed: 23-04-2020

I don't know how to sum up this book other than:
Thank you Jess Hill for the depth at which you have delved and thank you to the survivors, victims, prior perpetrators and all others who have contributed. You have helped reassess my own preconceptions and misunderstandings, you have helped me develop more of an understanding and compassion where I didn't think it was deserved. I hope I can now use what I have learnt to contribute to a country less shrouded in domestic violence. I see you, I hear you, I believe you.

3 people found this helpful

Brilliant! Read if: You're a human being.

Reviewed: 06-02-2020

I'm struggling to cohesively express what I got from this book. This is not just for those that have difficult pasts, present or those in a point in their life where it may be difficult to say where they're aiming to be in the future (it happens, I've been there and I wish I had this book during that time, it would have made a difficult but unavoidable situation much less awful). I had a very wholesome upbringing, my parents were quite alternative as far as parents came during my childhood and they raised me based on the same schools of thought and psychological frameworks that Dr Siegel seems to practice, my partner however had a VERY different upbringing due to his race (or the racism of this country) and being the 5th child of a single mother. Believe me when I say that this book was written for the benefit of all, it slowly teaches you large concepts and enjoyably put together so that there is something that everyone can take away from it - Dr Siegel also has an extremely fresh and unique (I suspect) approach to his area of expertise, his a dude!

1 person found this helpful

Their Place

Reviewed: 16-12-2019

Always was, Always will be.
Beautifully written, I fell in love with Nan. So happy she wasn't just a fictional character in a novel.

Melissa moulds English language like putty

Reviewed: 12-12-2019

This lil white duck is buying a hard copy so she can read the author's talent for twisting the English language and aust. lingo into something that had me making all kinds of audible gasps, sniggers, giggles and roars of laughter. Plus a sprinkle of pulled heart strings etc. More please!

2 people found this helpful

Beautiful and binge worthy.

Reviewed: 27-09-2019

Thankyou for writing an authentic Australian Outback tale that I could get lost in. Sequel?