This novel by Gordon Smith reads like non-fiction, its strength and its weakness.
It opens with the central family’s reaction to the unfair
accusation that got their young daughter expelled from school.
The last portion of the book is an engrossing, exciting,
touching search and rescue operation in a hostile region Down Under.
In between these dramatic episodes, the earlier portions
describe life on a ranch in the Outback, way out, and sketches the backgrounds
and personalities of the main characters. There are events, but not much plot. Still,
one gets a feeling for Australia, at least the rural life there.
I admire and like the Aussies, and I appreciate them as our
ANZUS allies these past 70 years. As anglophones, we share much culture. As
people, many of these, our “mates,” exude a hearty friendliness hard not to
like.
We share a common language, but the editor of the book or
the proofreader was not always on the alert, and too many grammatical mistakes
mar the presentation. A shame.
Prepare to be educated, occasionally disappointed with the
writing, and moved emotionally, besides geographically.
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