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jocelyn_sp's review against another edition
2.0
I just made a new tag 'own-physical' for books that I own a physical copy of, because I gave this to the op-shop :-) It has been on my shelf for years, and after re-reading I decided I will not read it again.
The central mystery of Greer's father is fascinating, but the book doesn't work. Too long is spent on genealogy that has already been flagged as a dead end. There is an anger at Australia and Australians that seems disproportionate, and feels like it is anger at her parents spilling out into the home she has left. There are lyrical descriptions of her new homes in Tuscany and England, and a romantic side excursion to India, which again feel like the emotion is not what it seems. "Look Australia, I have a happy home elsewhere! The rest of the world is more beautiful than you"?
Strangest was the abuse of Australians in an 80's summer for wearing summer dresses and short shorts. Was the country not allowed to change while she was away?
Much of it is good, and the sidelight on Greer's family, in particular her relationship with her mother, is intriguing although frustrating.
The central mystery of Greer's father is fascinating, but the book doesn't work. Too long is spent on genealogy that has already been flagged as a dead end. There is an anger at Australia and Australians that seems disproportionate, and feels like it is anger at her parents spilling out into the home she has left. There are lyrical descriptions of her new homes in Tuscany and England, and a romantic side excursion to India, which again feel like the emotion is not what it seems. "Look Australia, I have a happy home elsewhere! The rest of the world is more beautiful than you"?
Strangest was the abuse of Australians in an 80's summer for wearing summer dresses and short shorts. Was the country not allowed to change while she was away?
Much of it is good, and the sidelight on Greer's family, in particular her relationship with her mother, is intriguing although frustrating.
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