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jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review against another edition
4.0
For a construction lawyer and literary fiction fan, this ticked all of the “interest” boxes for me. It’s very much a story about writing and documenting as an act, following a writer who is looking at the construction of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. He becomes intrigued by one of the civil engineers involved in the works, and quickly this is the narrative that consumes the bulk of the novel. The narrative uses metaphors impeccably, and the imagery of sand within the plot stands out for its prominence and clever crafting. I enjoyed this story of late-1960s French politics and social movements, unrequited love, and legacies of what we leave behind on the written page and beyond. Really stunning book!
rnmcfarlane's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jocelyn_sp's review against another edition
3.0
This book had lovely parts but only partially came together. Some of the language seemed to be trying too hard -for example 'the intellection of sand', and the line that was twice in the text, and in the quote on the back cover, 'leaky, desiccated type' didn't convey an image to me. That he had his young woman's address but never wrote her a note didn't make sense. I also didn't like the vague, windy philosophy.
On the other side there was a beautiful explanation of the French protests of 1968, I liked the Croatian women planting marram grass, the scenes at Bassin d'Arcachon were very good,...
Overall good but disappointing
On the other side there was a beautiful explanation of the French protests of 1968, I liked the Croatian women planting marram grass, the scenes at Bassin d'Arcachon were very good,...
Overall good but disappointing
kimswhims's review against another edition
4.0
Like sand through the hour glass.....this is no soap opera.
It's a subtle story mainly set in the sixties that expertly shifts from The Great Ocean Road and Geelong to Gascony and Paris. The cultural shifts and character relationships are also handled brilliantly.
Another surprising read, unlike anything I've read before, read from the 2019 Miles Franklin Long-list.
Not sure what sand dune Gregory Day has been hiding under, but I'm glad to have found his writing in this novel and I'll be seeking out his back-list.
It's a subtle story mainly set in the sixties that expertly shifts from The Great Ocean Road and Geelong to Gascony and Paris. The cultural shifts and character relationships are also handled brilliantly.
Another surprising read, unlike anything I've read before, read from the 2019 Miles Franklin Long-list.
Not sure what sand dune Gregory Day has been hiding under, but I'm glad to have found his writing in this novel and I'll be seeking out his back-list.
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