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melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
3.0
I thought it was going to be an Australian Pride and Prejudice but it fell a little flat. I didn't really understand Sybylla's motivations.
pieridaexx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trin's review against another edition
1.0
Mystery box book #15!
I've been hearing about this book for years -- there is a major Australian award named after the author and everything -- so I was shocked by how much I hated it. Sybylla, Franklin's protagonist and clear stand-in -- is insufferable in every way imaginable. She's not like other girls! She doesn't know she's beautiful and that's what makes her beautiful! She's a quirky-wirky, nightmare Anne-Shirley-if-also-she-were-racist -- and boy, is she racist!
A white feminist horror show from start to finish. Also: boring.
I've been hearing about this book for years -- there is a major Australian award named after the author and everything -- so I was shocked by how much I hated it. Sybylla, Franklin's protagonist and clear stand-in -- is insufferable in every way imaginable. She's not like other girls! She doesn't know she's beautiful and that's what makes her beautiful! She's a quirky-wirky, nightmare Anne-Shirley-if-also-she-were-racist -- and boy, is she racist!
A white feminist horror show from start to finish. Also: boring.
laurasauras's review against another edition
4.0
I've been wanting to read this for a while because of Miles Franklin being such a famous Aussie author. It's a great book, I think the word for it is *fierce*.
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
2.0
An Australian Becky Sharpe - I just didn't find Syb appealing
duncanaj's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
yzobelah's review against another edition
5.0
I was gifted this book when I was fifteen, and it has had a long-lasting impact.
enoughhope's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this early 20th century Australian novel by [a:Miles Franklin|68990|Miles Franklin|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1336859876p2/68990.jpg] for my Literature class and despite not overly gaining much from the novel, nor liking it particularly, it did manage to revive me from my five month reading slump! (Shameful, I know).
The story concerns a period in sixteen-year-old Sybylla Melvyn's life and her experiences going from poverty, to a lavish lifestyle and back to poverty once again in the 1890's in Australia. I found that the book had an exceptionally dry beginning and does not grab you're attention immediately. However, once the story began to gain momentum, and became less focussed around Sybylla's pessimistic inner-monologue, it became quite enjoyable as her headstrong nature became something to be admired. In saying this, the further along you read the more frustrated the novel becomes, though in retrospect this is what keeps you coming back for more.
Despite the book being rather enjoyable, it did have a slow beginning and disappointing ending, thus I give this book 3 stars.
The story concerns a period in sixteen-year-old Sybylla Melvyn's life and her experiences going from poverty, to a lavish lifestyle and back to poverty once again in the 1890's in Australia. I found that the book had an exceptionally dry beginning and does not grab you're attention immediately. However, once the story began to gain momentum, and became less focussed around Sybylla's pessimistic inner-monologue, it became quite enjoyable as her headstrong nature became something to be admired. In saying this, the further along you read the more frustrated the novel becomes, though in retrospect this is what keeps you coming back for more.
Despite the book being rather enjoyable, it did have a slow beginning and disappointing ending, thus I give this book 3 stars.
nedge's review
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0