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kp68's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the story, but a bit too much soppy romance for my liking.
home_among_words's review
5.0
"I am a small boy balancing along the top of a wall, risking all with every step and wilfully. Because I am alive. I am so alive with her."
This story was beautiful.
I loved the characters and I loved the writing.
The description of Australia in the early 20th century was wonderfully done.
It was as though I was there with them.
❤️
Ben is a caring, good hearted botanist on his way to retrieve a beloved flower only located in a certain part of the Central West, for his late mother.
Berylda is a stubborn, wilful student who wishes to practice medicine and free her and her sister Greta, from the clutches of their abusive and cruel Uncle.
Mixed with romance, the magic of the Australian country, and the unfortunate ways women were treated at this time.
It wound up being a story that touched me and one of my favourites of this year.
This story was beautiful.
I loved the characters and I loved the writing.
The description of Australia in the early 20th century was wonderfully done.
It was as though I was there with them.
❤️
Ben is a caring, good hearted botanist on his way to retrieve a beloved flower only located in a certain part of the Central West, for his late mother.
Berylda is a stubborn, wilful student who wishes to practice medicine and free her and her sister Greta, from the clutches of their abusive and cruel Uncle.
Mixed with romance, the magic of the Australian country, and the unfortunate ways women were treated at this time.
It wound up being a story that touched me and one of my favourites of this year.
busyreading's review against another edition
4.0
Berylda Jones should be happy seeing as she has just finished her university exams and the year of 1900 was coming to an end and she would be heading home to Bathurst to see her beloved sister Greta. But in fact Berylda was dreading it, just thinking about having to be under the same roof as her cruel, savage and brutal Uncle Alec made her feel sick.
Berylda knows that she must try and do what she can to change things, merely knowing that her uncle has such a strong hold over her and Greta this won't be easy. Berylda and Greta had been under the care of their Uncle Alec and Aunty Libby since they'd lost their parents. The time when their Aunty contracted a horrible disease and passed away was the time their Uncle became unbearable to be with. At least Berylda had time off from his sadistic ways whilst at university unlike her poor sister. Will Berylda and Greta find a way to live a happy life or will they continue living in fear with their Uncle?
Paper Daises was a really enjoyable read. If you like reading historical fiction, then you will love this book. A beautifully written story which I highly recommend.
Berylda knows that she must try and do what she can to change things, merely knowing that her uncle has such a strong hold over her and Greta this won't be easy. Berylda and Greta had been under the care of their Uncle Alec and Aunty Libby since they'd lost their parents. The time when their Aunty contracted a horrible disease and passed away was the time their Uncle became unbearable to be with. At least Berylda had time off from his sadistic ways whilst at university unlike her poor sister. Will Berylda and Greta find a way to live a happy life or will they continue living in fear with their Uncle?
Paper Daises was a really enjoyable read. If you like reading historical fiction, then you will love this book. A beautifully written story which I highly recommend.
charmainekim's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
scrappyreadermum's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this book when I attended an author event at my local library. I had never heard of her before then and listening to her speak I wanted to love the book so much I was hesitant to read it at first. Once I started I couldn't stop and it's opened me up to Australia. She is absolutely fantastic I have gone and bought more of her work and can't wait to see what else she brings out
kathryn08's review
3.0
I’m in 2 minds about this book. I thought some parts were great - the author’s note at the end was very interesting, regarding where Kim Kelly gathered the inspiration for the book, and some of the information regarding women’s rights at the turn of the century, and this aspect of the book was well done, with the main female character, Berylda, studying medicine and wanting to be a surgeon even though job prospects for women were slim to none, and her female best friend at university studying law and both interested in matters of politics in the new Federation, especially as they pertain to women.
Without going into detail to avoid spoiling the story, it raised a dilemma of whether two wrongs make a right under situations of extreme duress, and I guess it is hard to comment unless you are in that situation yourself, however I am still inclined to hold fast to truth and say that a second wrong won’t make a first wrong right. Although I guess in such a high pressure situation, it could be argued that the character involved in the second wrong may have undergone a temporary insanity while considering whether to take action. But it felt a little like right and wrong were being watered down to suit the author’s needs (although she did clarify in her note at the end that the course of action being considered is not something she would ever personally condone), so I took a star off for that.
And I took half a star off for being a bit over sentimental at times. At first it was the man’s point of view that was a bit soppy, but then Berylda’s point of view took a turn and slid down the slippery slope into over-sweet and soppy phrases.
I listened to this as an audiobook and it was read well by the male and female narrators.
Without going into detail to avoid spoiling the story, it raised a dilemma of whether two wrongs make a right under situations of extreme duress, and I guess it is hard to comment unless you are in that situation yourself, however I am still inclined to hold fast to truth and say that a second wrong won’t make a first wrong right. Although I guess in such a high pressure situation, it could be argued that the character involved in the second wrong may have undergone a temporary insanity while considering whether to take action. But it felt a little like right and wrong were being watered down to suit the author’s needs (although she did clarify in her note at the end that the course of action being considered is not something she would ever personally condone), so I took a star off for that.
And I took half a star off for being a bit over sentimental at times. At first it was the man’s point of view that was a bit soppy, but then Berylda’s point of view took a turn and slid down the slippery slope into over-sweet and soppy phrases.
I listened to this as an audiobook and it was read well by the male and female narrators.
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