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erinjade_3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So beautiful! One of my favourite books I read as part of my school syllabus. Grateful for that as I probably wouldn’t have discovered it otherwise, but it definitely inspires me to seek out more stories like these. And this is one of those stories that leaves a profound impact on you. Jacaranda Tree was my favourite short story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Addiction and Death of parent
gin19's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful writing
This has to be one of the most beautifully written books that I have read in a very long time. Her use of words to tell May’s story quietly yet powerfully is pure art.
This has to be one of the most beautifully written books that I have read in a very long time. Her use of words to tell May’s story quietly yet powerfully is pure art.
nkojovic's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
zoia's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.25
hcube3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cathrynlucy_reads's review against another edition
4.0
(Honestly this could be a five star with a reread when I have more focus to give to this book so ignore my star rating, it’s for my recollection more than anything)
This is an absolutely beautiful novella about an Aboriginal girl called May, generational trauma, and her trying to find her place in the world through childhood, adolescence and early adulthood as she connects to her Indigenous roots that her and her family have been forced away from over time. Many of the chapters read as short stories in themselves; snippets of social commentary told through moments of May’s life. The writing is poetic and lyrical, and I wish I had a physical copy of this book so I could note some of the lines down that I thought held a lot of weight and needed to be read. This audiobook is now free on Audible, so make sure you get a copy.
Despite being small, this book touches on a lot of important aspects of Australian society & history and I can see this being an excellent text to study at schools in both Australia & Aotearoa.
This is an absolutely beautiful novella about an Aboriginal girl called May, generational trauma, and her trying to find her place in the world through childhood, adolescence and early adulthood as she connects to her Indigenous roots that her and her family have been forced away from over time. Many of the chapters read as short stories in themselves; snippets of social commentary told through moments of May’s life. The writing is poetic and lyrical, and I wish I had a physical copy of this book so I could note some of the lines down that I thought held a lot of weight and needed to be read. This audiobook is now free on Audible, so make sure you get a copy.
Despite being small, this book touches on a lot of important aspects of Australian society & history and I can see this being an excellent text to study at schools in both Australia & Aotearoa.
thebookcident's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, and Mental illness
lisadowdell's review against another edition
5.0
Swallow the air tells the story of a young Wiradjuri girl growing up in Dharawal country in the Gong. It tells the story of her finding her place in modern Australia who doesn’t want you to be Aboriginal. She is on a journey to find her self. To find her father, to find her mob to go to county.
It’s a beautiful story. Raw and emotional. So familiar to me who is a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in dharawal country 1/2 hour from the Gong.
It’s a beautiful story. Raw and emotional. So familiar to me who is a Wiradjuri woman who grew up in dharawal country 1/2 hour from the Gong.
michellel123's review against another edition
4.0
May is a young Aboriginal girl who goes to live with her aunt after her mothers death. Poetic but a difficult narrator voice. Stark in its representation of a disadvantaged adolescence.