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The Last of the Bonegilla Girls

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The Last of the Bonegilla Girls

By: Victoria Purman
Narrated by: Jennifer Vuletic
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About this listen

A post-Second World War story of strong female ties and family, secrets and lies, set in the multicultural Australia of the '50s.

Can the Bonegilla girls defeat their past? Or will it come to claim them?

1954: When 16-year-old Hungarian Elizabeta arrives in Australia with her family, she is hoping to escape the hopelessness of life as a refugee in post-war Germany.

Her first stop is the Bonegilla Migrant Camp on the banks of the Murray in rural Victoria, a temporary home for thousands of new arrivals, all looking for work and a better life. There, Elizabeta becomes firm friends with the feisty Greek Vasiliki; quiet Italian Iliana; and the adventurous Frances, the daughter of the camp's director.

In this vibrant and growing country, the Bonegilla girls rush together towards a life that seems full of promise, even as they cope with the legacy of war, the oppressive nature of family tradition and ever-present sorrow. So when a ghost from the past reaches out for Elizabeta and threatens to pull her back into the shadows, there is nothing that her friends wouldn't do to keep her safe.

But secrets have a way of making themselves known and lies have a way of changing everything they touch....

©2018 Harlequin Enterprises(Australia) pty Ltd (P)2018 Harlequin Enterprises(Australia) pty Ltd Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction War

Critic Reviews

"A poignant and compelling read, this is a delightful novel that celebrates all that is good in our multicultural country. It's a beautiful story about female friendship and how it can transcend cultural and language barriers." (Books + Publishing)

"A heartwarming novel...." (The Weekly Times)

"A story of strong female ties and family." (Better Reading)
All stars
Most relevant
The research for this book, was so thorough that was why the book great. I thoroughly enjoy all the different story lines and characters especially. Will listen to it again soon

Absolutely loved it

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I found this story had me hooked from the start. Jennifer Vuletic did a stellar job of narrating and the story itself was so believable and in many ways, relatable. Do yourself a favour and listen to this one.

Emotional, funny, thought provoking

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Thoroughly enjoyed this trip down memory !ane with some very special ladies! There are enough twists and turns to keep it interesting while being so realistic I did have to check whether it was a work of fiction or a true story. Do plan to buy a copy of the book for my mother who really did live through the era. Did give me further appreciation of our migrant history.

Great read!

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this is a great book. it keep me interested all the time right to the end

Very entertaining

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I found this to be such a lovely fictional history of Bonegilla. I loved the diverse stories of each of the four girls and their lifelong friendship just after the war with all the difficulties and cultural differences of the time, so interesting . It was well read and I was particularly impressed by Jennifer Vuletic's European accents

Wonderful, interesting story

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Bonegilla was a post WW2 Migrant camp in Victoria and the first stop for Europeans when they arrived in Australia. They stayed in the camp whilst authorities assisted them to find jobs and housing somewhere in the country. Three young girls - Vasiliki from Greece, Elizabeta, a Hungarian whose family had been forced to live in Germany, and Iliana, from Italy, become friends with a young Australian girl who helps them with their English, Francis, whilst their families are based at the camp. The book follows the lives of the four girls from then.

Obviously there is a lot of drama for each girl throughout. Usually with this style of book, I end up disliking one of the characters and their plot but this time I really enjoyed each girl’s storyline. I don’t really even think I had a favourite or least liked.

I will admit though, given that Purman is traditionally a romance book writer, I found the romantic plotlines a little underdone. I think my biggest problem was that a lot of the details of the romances happened ‘off screen’. Quite often I was reading about some potential romantic subplot of one of the girls and then, the next chapter would have everything resolved and Purman had moved on to a new subplot.

When reading historical novels, it’s always interesting to note how society’s attitudes towards women, marriage, children, and, obviously, migrants has changed so much. Of course it’s always sad to note too how some aspects and attitudes have not changed at all.

My mother, who is in her 80s, is always asking me to recommend her books and I think this is one I could as it seems suitable for all. There are no graphic sex scenes or whatnot.

The story spans several years and I must admit, I shed a tear or two at times.

I will probably try another Purman title.

4 out of 5

Dramatic historical fiction

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It made me yearn for the days when refugees in Australia were treated humanely, and could come and go as they pleased at the Migrant Reception Centres, as they were called back then, before the razor wire arrived and unauthorised arrivals started to be locked up for years, for profit. The humane treatment of the Bonegilla girls was probably why good friendships formed and survived. Good narration.

Nice

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Interesting and I grew up in Notrth Eastern Victoria and went to school with many " new Australians"

An Enjoyable story

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I laughed and I cried. Having lived nearby and visited the Migrant Experience in Bonegilla, after reading this book those faces and people in the photos out front somehow feel more personal.

Hits you right in the feels

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It was a story of missed opportunities, obligations to loved ones, expectations, grief, devotion and lots of hard work. I felt like I knew all the characters from my own life - just different names. Thank you Victoria for writing such a touching novel that made me cry and cry and learn just a little more about the people who came before me.

I could not have loved it more!

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