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Original poster

Mumsnet Book CLub - The Secret River.

23 replies

sophiewd · 01/04/2007 13:09

me again. I am really sorry but after havinf struggled through Perfume and now cannot retrieve those lost days I have started a category for 'Lifes to short' books and unfortunately this one fell into that category. I just couldn't get into it and felt no sympathy for any of the chracters. It might have been that I had just finished our book for RL club which I really enjoyed and struggled with the comparison.

Two things, possible apologies from McDreamy her DH is home and as the next three ladies have not chosen are we now going on to pomegranate soup?

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 01/04/2007 13:17

Well, at least i read this one and enjoyed it particularly in comparison to The Water Horse.
I however must confess read this on holiday ie in february and am currently reading a different book , so am a little rusty.
These points I found interesting.

  1. How poor people were and how difficult it was to rise from your social class in those days and that you could fight for years to climb a little higher whilst in a few weeks could lose the lot.
  2. How theft/borrowing for very poor people may well have been a way to survive/part of life so such harsh punishment seemed an overreaction
  3. How his punishment worked in his favour as the New Worlds seemed to allow those people who ducked and dived a bit to flourish.
  4. How his wife had to go along with it all
  5. The bit were she pointed out that the aborigines seemed to do very little, enjoyed their day, their time with their family etc and still seemed to be ahead of the poor old Brits who were fighting the land. Makes we wonder did we get it right in our work/life balance.
  6. The evil things that were carried out to indigenous races by conquering forces
Original poster
sophiewd · 01/04/2007 16:16

Is it just us two again. What's happned to the huge amount of people who signed up?

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McCadburysDreamyegg · 01/04/2007 16:17

I'm here but have not read this book as DH has been away on detatchment so I've not had much time for reading in the last coupl of months! He's back now so life should get back to normal soon!

DarrellRivers · 01/04/2007 16:21

what about if we offer some crisps/dips and wine
i fancy reading some truman capote next(never read any)
any suggestions?

McCadburysDreamyegg · 01/04/2007 16:21

ooohh I would def come along then

Original poster
sophiewd · 01/04/2007 17:21

I have read In Cold Blood years ago and I love the film Breakfast At Tiffany's so yep we could do that. I also have The Jewel in the Crown sat by my bed ready to read at some stage.

OP posts:
Original poster
sophiewd · 01/04/2007 17:22

Had RL book club here last week, chucked out the last one just before 1 in the morning and cleared up all the empties and had a stonking hangover the next morning. Thank the Lord we didn't have any guests staying.

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Sunyshineymummy · 01/04/2007 20:02

Haven't managed to get through all of this but am really enjoying it. Agree with DR about how shocking the poverty is and I can't help thinking how lucky I am compared to my ancestors. I find the love story between Will and Sal so believable and really sweet(although as I say not far into it so it may change).
Have read the BAT short stories (something about a butterfly I think the book is called) and loved them so definitely up for reading TC.

babygrand · 01/04/2007 22:36

Hi. Just to let you know that I have been reading it, but haven't finished yet. I keep the book in the car and read a few pages when I'm in the carwash etc!! So it's been slower progress than if the book had been by the bed!

(I'm Pianist by the way, but I changed my name for something and when I tried to change it back I wasn't allowed to use Pianist again for some reason.) Am going to make sure I'm not late reading the next book - I'm assuming it's Pomegranate Soup by the way?

midnightexpress · 02/04/2007 10:00

oh fgs , sorry! I finished the book asnd even wrote it up on my calendar and then forgot to come along. Argh. That's what 10 wo babies do to you.

Anyway....I really liked this book, but did anyone else feel like the ending was a teeny bit lame (sorry for those of you who haven't finished it yet)? After the climactic scene, which I won't give away, I thought there was a somewhat unseemly rush to the end which was a bit of a disappointment.

But loved the landscape descriptions and the sense of of huge possibility tinged with fear. I also really liked the way the characters seemed to lack confidence in their surroundings iykwim.

Sorry I missed the date - will TRY to be on time next month.

Ibib · 03/04/2007 09:49

Sorry late again! I thoroughly enjoy this book. I like reading historical novels and this one did not fail.The novel is about a former convict settler in early colonial Australia. It is also a book about the early white encounter with the Aborigines and so much more.

William Thornhill born in the opening pages is clearly marked out for poverty, suffering, degradation and criminality. The story continue to examine Sal involvement making Will a civilise,good man father and husband. So much happened in this book that make it interesting imaginatively writing that at times it transported me there living the life smelling the smells!!!!!
The Secret River is a sad book, beautifully written and, at times, almost unbearable with the weight of loss, competing distresses and the impossibility of making amends.
THANK YOU FOR RECOMMENDING IT. I would have never read it otherwise.

Ibib · 03/04/2007 09:51

What are we reading next? Can't wait

Loulee · 03/04/2007 17:29

Sorry ladies, I signed up and never read....got to the library and got distracted by zadie smaith's "on beauty" so never made it into this month - will attempt next months

GandWJ · 04/04/2007 08:44

Sorry I'm a bit late, been away for the weekend so no time to post before.

I would never have picked out this book to read myself but I really enjoyed it, I couldn't put it down.

I did find a few things a little niggling though.

  • Wasn't it a bit convenient that William got released to this wife (did this really happen?).
  • Why did William keep letting grim people like Smasher come and spend time with him & his family if he disliked him so much?
  • I just couldn't get to grips with the land he wanted. The picture I kept getting in my head was a narrow flat patch of land jutting into the river and completely open for all to see them.
  • I felt let down by the ending too. William and Sal just suddenly seemed to go along with the other settlers and that was it.

Anyway apart from this I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to the next book.

USAUKMum · 08/04/2007 19:55

Sorry, I've been away (to Paris [gloating emicon] ) and didn't have time to post before I left.

I enjoyed the book and could recognise it was really well written, but I didn't really engage with it. So while I enjoyed reading it, I wasn't so engrossed.

I did think that the descriptions of the way of life "down under" was really quite good. Quite telling how if something isn't natural it can be quite a struggle to make it fit (e.g. the roses) and how it was contrasted to the way of life of the aborigines.

mogwai · 11/04/2007 10:36

I've almost finished reading this and I'm in the unusual position of living temporarily in the place where it's set (Sydney).

Reading The secret River while living here has added a huge dimension to the experience. I have been able to look out through the heads of Port Jackson and imagine Will navigating his way out of the calm of the harbour into the open water of the Pacific. It has also inspired me to visit some of the museums, particularly the museum of Sydney, and to take a good look at the history of "The Rocks" where the first settlers lived.

The summer was very hot and humid and Sydney has a problem with cockroaches. I've been trying to imagine what it was like for these first settlers.

Did you know they all very nearly starved and the colony almost failed?

hitchcock · 11/04/2007 10:42

you must go to the rocks whist in sydney and go and see susannahs place really interesting!!

mogwai · 11/04/2007 10:48

what's susannah's place?

tilbatilba · 11/04/2007 10:52

I adored this book, just couldn't put it down. I also am familiar with the region it is set in and it made it even more evocative.

LittleSarah · 11/04/2007 11:03

What is the next book?

hitchcock · 11/04/2007 14:41

s.p is a 5 terrace houses nr the rocks the are all done up as the would have since they were built.from the 1850's i think to 70 really interesting how the homes changed and the shop is amazing!!! like beamish if you can understand that.

DarrellRivers · 12/04/2007 13:33

What is the next book ?. I better find the old thread

DarrellRivers · 12/04/2007 13:35

Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran
USAUKmums choice

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