crashtestwoman
25-02-2006, 06:41 PM
Well what a rolicking good read this book was. I am so upset that I have finished it that I'm going through withdrawals. If you have read Colleen McCollough before you know that she is long on historical facts and short on dialogue, which is something that I personally don't like, but this book is so fantasticly mastered that you don't know that your reading something that is usually so utterly boring, (like construction of a saw pit??).
The book starts in the 1770's in Bristol, a sea faring town in England, and follows the life of Richard Morgan. The first 180 pages or so deal with his life and loves and what leads him to be tried and convicted of grand larceny (a twisted plot involving a woman, a man and some tax free gin;) ), then onto the hulks in London Town and then onto the ships of the first fleet going to the far of land of Botany Bay.
The historical detail is breathtaking and I found myself throughly absorbed by the inner most workings of taking a fleet half way around the world to a land unpopulated and supposably uninhabitated. The stories of the captains and crew of the ships, how everyday life was conducted and how many didn't make it, because of illness, seasickness or simple dispair. The last half of the book deals mostly with Richard Morgan being taken to Norfolk Island as part of the workforce, he is a master gunsmith and saw sharpener so is very much in demand, and how his life takes an amazing turn while on the island.
As I said, I'm not really a historical reader, but I was absolutely enthralled by this book and have learned so much about our white Australian ancestors that I'm hungry for more.
The plot itself is quite simple and easy, it's the detail that Colleen McCullough goes into, describing everyday things that pulls you into the story and makes it come alive in your mind.
I throughly recommend this book to all those that like a good read. If you like something a bit lighter and not so heavy on explanation and more narrative, maybe this book could get a little trying and sometimes a trifle boring. I found that they way she drew you into the story made reading all the explanation of goings on totally a joy.
Once again I picked this book up at a second hand shop for $5 (hardback), but it is retailing in all good bookstores in hardback for around the $39 and under. I would say that it is good value because it took me 2 weeks to read and I can usually knock over around 100 to 150 pages a night so you would definately get your money's worth if you had to buy it new.
So read and enjoy and hopefully I'll have something totally different for you next week (having trouble finding something to read after reading such a good book for the last 2 weeks :P ).
Cheers
Debby
The book starts in the 1770's in Bristol, a sea faring town in England, and follows the life of Richard Morgan. The first 180 pages or so deal with his life and loves and what leads him to be tried and convicted of grand larceny (a twisted plot involving a woman, a man and some tax free gin;) ), then onto the hulks in London Town and then onto the ships of the first fleet going to the far of land of Botany Bay.
The historical detail is breathtaking and I found myself throughly absorbed by the inner most workings of taking a fleet half way around the world to a land unpopulated and supposably uninhabitated. The stories of the captains and crew of the ships, how everyday life was conducted and how many didn't make it, because of illness, seasickness or simple dispair. The last half of the book deals mostly with Richard Morgan being taken to Norfolk Island as part of the workforce, he is a master gunsmith and saw sharpener so is very much in demand, and how his life takes an amazing turn while on the island.
As I said, I'm not really a historical reader, but I was absolutely enthralled by this book and have learned so much about our white Australian ancestors that I'm hungry for more.
The plot itself is quite simple and easy, it's the detail that Colleen McCullough goes into, describing everyday things that pulls you into the story and makes it come alive in your mind.
I throughly recommend this book to all those that like a good read. If you like something a bit lighter and not so heavy on explanation and more narrative, maybe this book could get a little trying and sometimes a trifle boring. I found that they way she drew you into the story made reading all the explanation of goings on totally a joy.
Once again I picked this book up at a second hand shop for $5 (hardback), but it is retailing in all good bookstores in hardback for around the $39 and under. I would say that it is good value because it took me 2 weeks to read and I can usually knock over around 100 to 150 pages a night so you would definately get your money's worth if you had to buy it new.
So read and enjoy and hopefully I'll have something totally different for you next week (having trouble finding something to read after reading such a good book for the last 2 weeks :P ).
Cheers
Debby