I LOVED THIS BOOK! I finished it this afternoon because I couldn't put it down.
*** SPOILER ALERT***
I'll try not to give anything away, but I can't make any guarrantees.
It wasn't that the writing was spectacular, in fact there were not any particular sections that I made note of to quote, but I loved "Mrs Boong" (Jean) as a character and thought it had a wonderful plot. The romance wasn't overdone, nor was the violence. She was sensible and adventurous, which don't often seem to go together in books. I just really enjoyed it. Great pick, Joy!!
As I was reading the last 75 pages or so I was constantly fearful that some calamity was going to befall Jean or Joe that would prevent the happy ending for which I longed (a la Message in a Bottle). Instead I was given a proper story with proper characters and a proper ending. Finally! This is always my gripe with good books, they rush the endings.
Shute did an excellent job covering a lot of time, gave good detail to the march in Malay, the legacy of Jean’s fortune, her travels post-inheritance and subsequent life in Australia. I wasn’t bored at any time from over-description, but yet there was enough for me to get a great mental image. When I read a good book, I get such a picture in my mind’s eye that it almost feels like watching a movie. This will definitely be a book I can ‘reread’ just by thinking about it and watching my mental movie.
My favorite bits were: - Jean’s memories of ice skating. - The lawyer getting mad at his friend for suggesting that he was also in love with Jean. - Joe mauling Jean after she appeared in her faded sarong on the island. - Joe telling the injured rancher that he out-stole him by 50 calves last year / Jean chiding Joe for having his own proddy-rustling pen. - Jackie and the radio communication. This really reminded me of how people listen to their scanners for “news” around here. - Jean, overall. Just a normal woman who did the extraordinary because that’s what needed to be done. Kudos to Shute for writing a female character who didn’t do it all just for the love of a man.
Whether there were quotable lines or not will have to wait for my second reading. I was way to absorbed in the story to be bothered to jot anything down. =)
I really enjoyed this book. Jean was a good strong character AND a woman.
My favorite parts:
1) Bonza, BONZA!
2) Jean states "They don't know what it like not being in camp." This statement has struck me the last few weeks. How being in a camp was "the greener grass" with some sort of dependability and predictabliity of what the next day will bring.
3) Jean's decision to build a well, so cool and so thoughtful.
4) The lawyer's unrequited love for Jean.
5) Jean returning to the ice skating rink. I have discovered it is just best NOT to return to a childhood memory or go with the full expectation that things WILL be different if they are there at all.
6) "The whatnot's out in the backyard". I had never heard of the loo being called a whatnot.
Finished reading the book. I was glad that nothing bad happened to the main characters at the end of the book. I found the author's note at the end of the book interesting (his knowing a woman who actually was in a woman's prisoner march in Sumatra and his loosely basing Jean's part in a march on that woman's experiences). I enjoyed learning the different Australian words and expressions. I was expecting more violence in the book and was very glad that there wasn't. War stories can get quite graphic. Good pick good read.
I saw this comparison of fictional female characters that immediately thought of Jean. "Didn't need to be motivated by the love of her life. Someone get this woman ONE FRIED EGG with no steak."
* Note there is some foul language in my link, so possibly NSFW.
9 comments:
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I finished it this afternoon because I couldn't put it down.
*** SPOILER ALERT***
I'll try not to give anything away, but I can't make any guarrantees.
It wasn't that the writing was spectacular, in fact there were not any particular sections that I made note of to quote, but I loved "Mrs Boong" (Jean) as a character and thought it had a wonderful plot. The romance wasn't overdone, nor was the violence. She was sensible and adventurous, which don't often seem to go together in books. I just really enjoyed it. Great pick, Joy!!
I am in the last 40 pages, MUST finish before sleeping tonight. I am also LOVING the book! I am really hoping the ending does not disappoint.
Oh, what a bonza book!
As I was reading the last 75 pages or so I was constantly fearful that some calamity was going to befall Jean or Joe that would prevent the happy ending for which I longed (a la Message in a Bottle). Instead I was given a proper story with proper characters and a proper ending. Finally! This is always my gripe with good books, they rush the endings.
Shute did an excellent job covering a lot of time, gave good detail to the march in Malay, the legacy of Jean’s fortune, her travels post-inheritance and subsequent life in Australia. I wasn’t bored at any time from over-description, but yet there was enough for me to get a great mental image. When I read a good book, I get such a picture in my mind’s eye that it almost feels like watching a movie. This will definitely be a book I can ‘reread’ just by thinking about it and watching my mental movie.
My favorite bits were:
- Jean’s memories of ice skating.
- The lawyer getting mad at his friend for suggesting that he was also in love with Jean.
- Joe mauling Jean after she appeared in her faded sarong on the island.
- Joe telling the injured rancher that he out-stole him by 50 calves last year / Jean chiding Joe for having his own proddy-rustling pen.
- Jackie and the radio communication. This really reminded me of how people listen to their scanners for “news” around here.
- Jean, overall. Just a normal woman who did the extraordinary because that’s what needed to be done. Kudos to Shute for writing a female character who didn’t do it all just for the love of a man.
Whether there were quotable lines or not will have to wait for my second reading. I was way to absorbed in the story to be bothered to jot anything down. =)
I really enjoyed this book. Jean was a good strong character AND a woman.
My favorite parts:
1) Bonza, BONZA!
2) Jean states "They don't know what it like not being in camp." This statement has struck me the last few weeks. How being in a camp was "the greener grass" with some sort of dependability and predictabliity of what the next day will bring.
3) Jean's decision to build a well, so cool and so thoughtful.
4) The lawyer's unrequited love for Jean.
5) Jean returning to the ice skating rink. I have discovered it is just best NOT to return to a childhood memory or go with the full expectation that things WILL be different if they are there at all.
6) "The whatnot's out in the backyard". I had never heard of the loo being called a whatnot.
Overall, this book is BONZA!
Finished reading the book. I was glad that nothing bad happened to the main characters at the end of the book. I found the author's note at the end of the book interesting (his knowing a woman who actually was in a woman's prisoner march in Sumatra and his loosely basing Jean's part in a march on that woman's experiences). I enjoyed learning the different Australian words and expressions. I was expecting more violence in the book and was very glad that there wasn't. War stories can get quite graphic. Good pick good read.
I saw this comparison of fictional female characters that immediately thought of Jean. "Didn't need to be motivated by the love of her life. Someone get this woman ONE FRIED EGG with no steak."
* Note there is some foul language in my link, so possibly NSFW.
A- that was a great link! I laughed out loud and then showed it to my mom so she'd also get a laugh. :-)
I am ready for the next book... what will it be and who gets to choose
It's my pick, and I'm choosing The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Get ready B - you pick next!
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