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esshgee's review
4.0
A really interesting read, although quite confronting, so I can understand why the reviews vary so greatly. I liked the format of articles and journal entries, a clever way of presenting the story.
amotisse's review
4.0
Listening to a story on a road trip is a treat.
This one was well read and set up with interesting effects that worked well, adding to the energy of the theme.
It traversed different settings, people and time periods via journal entries, reports and the magic of a strange ring that seems to keep some hold over it’s owner.
You never quite know what to expect and the ending keeps you wondering but not in a bad way. Intriguing.
This one was well read and set up with interesting effects that worked well, adding to the energy of the theme.
It traversed different settings, people and time periods via journal entries, reports and the magic of a strange ring that seems to keep some hold over it’s owner.
You never quite know what to expect and the ending keeps you wondering but not in a bad way. Intriguing.
moni_nels's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
slipsthrufingers's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
kb_'s review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cecetales's review
1.0
I was charged with reading this for grade 10 English Lit, and the grammar nazi within me had a field day. I remember not minding some of the scenes, most vividly I remember some trippy, disturbing scene to do with water, a girl who may or may not have been a ghost, and a compass. If that rings no bells then damn, it was 8 years ago and forgettable I suppose. I distinctly remember being very disappointed in the editing, particularly the misspelling of shower I think, and my school's apparent disinterest in the merit of good English while studying English. I know lit classes are more ideas-focused, but I couldn't get past it and did not enjoy the book as a result. Pity, considering the reviews.
emma_m's review
3.0
Had to read this for school. It wasn't bad, but I probably wouldn't have picked it on my own.
sarahthornton's review
3.0
Intriguing but with a slow ending. While it was clearly finished it felt unfinished.
Really well presented and executed otherwise, and nice to find historic fiction about Western Australia even if it is about murderers.
Really well presented and executed otherwise, and nice to find historic fiction about Western Australia even if it is about murderers.
mandyla's review
4.0
Inspired by a readathon doing the rounds to revisit childhood favourites, I picked up Strange Objects, and was immediately reminded, more than anything, of the feelings I had when reading this book about 20 years ago. The excitement of a mystery, the dark imagery, the dark history, and the seemingly paranormal happenings - I felt an almost delicious nostalgia for the first time I read and become engrossed with this novel.
The first time around I became fascinated by the story of Batavia, and I think it is one of the key influences on my fascination with history, and historical 'detective' work. The second time around, I'm an adult with a degree in history, and I still find the story of Batavia so interesting. This time around, I was able to pick up on the way the book introduces primary sources - presenting the idea of piecing together a story for yourself from multiple sources, for a young audience.
I probably didn't find the ending very satisfying the first time I read it - and I'm sure many young readers would be frustrated at the unanswered questions and suggestions that are made within the book. But reading it now, I can really appreciate the way this book reflects the subjective nature of stories. We will inevitably never know the whole truth, because the truth looks different depending on where you stand. Further, you can never know the whole truth of mysteries from the past; you can never know what happened to abandoned sailors on the coast of Australia in the 17th century, and you can never know what happened in Aboriginal communities hundreds or thousands of years ago. You can guess though, based on evidence. Just that you'll never know the entirety of it.
I also now enjoy the introduction of the unreliable narrator. In the midst of the story, you aren't quite sure what to make of Messenger's experience of events, and you certainly aren't supposed to agree wholeheartedly with a lot of his decisions. Later on, of course, you are introduced to the idea that his perspective may be even more unreliable than previously suspected.
There is so much to this book!
Of course, I cringed a bit in reference to 'Abos', and the stereotypes of Aboriginal people all being deros, drunks, and generally not worth very much in the scheme of things. That is couched, however, in the perspective of someone who we come to know as not a very good person; and the respect that is given to Charlie in other contexts seems to go some way to mitigate these not so nice remarks and assumptions.
All in all, I think this book stood up really well, and I really enjoyed re-reading it.
The first time around I became fascinated by the story of Batavia, and I think it is one of the key influences on my fascination with history, and historical 'detective' work. The second time around, I'm an adult with a degree in history, and I still find the story of Batavia so interesting. This time around, I was able to pick up on the way the book introduces primary sources - presenting the idea of piecing together a story for yourself from multiple sources, for a young audience.
I probably didn't find the ending very satisfying the first time I read it - and I'm sure many young readers would be frustrated at the unanswered questions and suggestions that are made within the book. But reading it now, I can really appreciate the way this book reflects the subjective nature of stories. We will inevitably never know the whole truth, because the truth looks different depending on where you stand. Further, you can never know the whole truth of mysteries from the past; you can never know what happened to abandoned sailors on the coast of Australia in the 17th century, and you can never know what happened in Aboriginal communities hundreds or thousands of years ago. You can guess though, based on evidence. Just that you'll never know the entirety of it.
I also now enjoy the introduction of the unreliable narrator. In the midst of the story, you aren't quite sure what to make of Messenger's experience of events, and you certainly aren't supposed to agree wholeheartedly with a lot of his decisions. Later on, of course, you are introduced to the idea that his perspective may be even more unreliable than previously suspected.
There is so much to this book!
Of course, I cringed a bit in reference to 'Abos', and the stereotypes of Aboriginal people all being deros, drunks, and generally not worth very much in the scheme of things. That is couched, however, in the perspective of someone who we come to know as not a very good person; and the respect that is given to Charlie in other contexts seems to go some way to mitigate these not so nice remarks and assumptions.
All in all, I think this book stood up really well, and I really enjoyed re-reading it.
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