Beautiful

Beautiful, funny and heartbreaking, how it can be all these things is the talent of Melissa Lucashenko. Beautiful language, I hope I paid respectful truth listening, will resonate with me for a long time and open up other truth listening opportunities 💕

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7 people found this helpful

Heartbreaking

This book highlights the beauty of indigenous culture and its harmony with the land , showcases the cruelty of colonial times, the pain caused by cultural appropriation and the struggle of reconciling the past with the present and future of Australia.

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2 people found this helpful

Australian historical fiction as never read before

Great roller coaster of emotions while reading, A lot of very sad moments, based on true happenings. I gained more information on Brisbane and surrounding areas in 1850’s. I heard my parents talk of the Brisbane of the 1940’s and 1950’s - this book embellished my knowledge of how Brisbane initially emerged. Something I wish I had known when I was young. I would like to think my parents were unaware also, (most likely true) and that is why I was not told as a child. Congratulations to the Author Melissa.

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1 person found this helpful

Great story - disappointing narration

Another amazing Melissa Lukashenko novel. So visual, sharp and thought-provoking. Real shame the narration was so disappointing. Not a patch on the brilliant Tasma Walton. Almost gave up and bought the actual book to read instead.

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Sad Australian History

This history should be included in the school curriculum, instead of the one-sided Australian history given now.

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A beautiful, yet disturbing story.

I grew up in Brisbane and spent a lot of my teenage years wandering around Springhill in the pre-gentrification era. Even then, there’s so much local history I didn’t know about. Thank you so much for sharing it.

I really liked the love story and how the characters all connected in early Brisbane. It was wonderful to see the nuance and different languages in the Federation and to learn more about local culture and law. It was a bit sticky tying the past to the present, though. It felt a bit forced, like the earlier story ended too quickly without a good resolution. What happened to Nita? And the others? What was the deal with the sheep guy? A sequel would be great. (Hint, hint!) I liked Edie, but the other modern people felt a bit tropey. I hated Winona. She’s so awful! Why does Johnny even like her? She’s so mean to him. And to everybody! Also, doctors definitely AREN’T allowed to date a patient’s relatives, especially while they’re still in hospital. But I get that they needed to be there to make the story happen. And it’s definitely a story worth telling. And a story that everyone needs to hear. Even though the characters are mostly fictional, there are a lot of truths in Edenglassie. Knowing, but also understanding, these truths is important and I’m glad they’ve been shared in this way. Make sure you stay for the author’s note at the end!

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Powerful story, informative on true history and perspectives

I work in Brisbane and I was vaguely familiar with the history. I didn’t feel it, however, until hearing it told as a story. A powerful work. Love the use of words of local language.

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Very moving

An authentic and realistic story of our sad past. Beautifully read in all its rawness. I felt like I was there as I listened along all in one sitting.

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A Truly Great Australian Story.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The reader’s performance added to what is a well compiled story. There should be more books like this.

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deeply moving

As a white woman who spent much of my youth in Brisbane I am embarrassed by the huge gaps in my knowledge that this book highlighted.
I wish I'd read this 20 years ago. it should be required reading for highschool students - I hope it is.
I enjoyed the characters and history. I appreciated the balance of cultural critic and that I felt alerted and informed without feeling accused. I certainly have a new appreciation for a culture of which I was previously unjustly ignorant.

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