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A review by laurasauras
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
2.0
I don't really understand why this is an Aussie classic. The writing was good and the characters were varied, but it was just really dull slice of life and none of the characters were likeable enough for me to enjoy spending time with them.
The reveal that wasn't a surprise or necessary, and the implications are kind of horrifying if you think about it.
Part of me wishes that I'd studied this at school or university so that I could have heard all the ways teachers teach it. The symbolism was pretty heavy-handed at times, but maybe if I'd thought about the themes more, I would have gotten some appreciation for them? I have considered looking into it independently, but I can't really justify spending more mental energy on this book.
I don't know, there were very few moments where I enjoyed the story. I think if I'd been reading it physically, I would have given it up. As it was, audiobooks are a lot easier to stick with, even if the runtime is so long.
The reveal that
Spoiler
the narrative pov is actually not 3rd person but is Fish gaining some kind of omniscience in the seconds before he diesSpoiler
Like, the character with brain damage that reverted him to the intelligence of a three-year-old either had a level of adult awareness the whole time (literally nightmare stuff) or it's just, I don't know, magic. And it is magic, because he is able to narrate everything that happens with everyone, inside and out of the house. But that in itself is horrifying, because what a traumatic last few seconds of life, to be forced inside the heads of everyone around you. Especially Quick, who Fish adores, but who is probably the most uneasy with him. Quick hides that really well for the most part, but Fish gets access to his interiority and learns the truth. Fucking yikes.Part of me wishes that I'd studied this at school or university so that I could have heard all the ways teachers teach it. The symbolism was pretty heavy-handed at times, but maybe if I'd thought about the themes more, I would have gotten some appreciation for them? I have considered looking into it independently, but I can't really justify spending more mental energy on this book.
I don't know, there were very few moments where I enjoyed the story. I think if I'd been reading it physically, I would have given it up. As it was, audiobooks are a lot easier to stick with, even if the runtime is so long.