Brooks is truly a highly talented author.

I had high hopes and really wanted to like this book.

However, as I delved deeper, I found it to be a rather disjointed memoir.

It centered around childhood pen pals, which initially seemed interesting.

But as the story progressed, I realized that I just didn't have that much of an investment in the lives of these people.

The narrative lacked a cohesive thread that could have drawn me in and made me care more.

Despite Brooks' undeniable talent, this particular work failed to fully engage me on an emotional level.

Perhaps if the focus had been more on a specific aspect of the pen pals' relationship or if there had been more depth and development in their characters, I might have had a different opinion.

As it stands, this memoir left me feeling somewhat disappointed.

Really, this is a terrific memoir. It tells the story of growing up in Australia and the strong desire to move on to more exciting places. The author achieves this first by finding pen pals. The book is truly fabulous in depicting her pen pals and how she manages to find them in later years. It's a marvelous story that takes the reader on a journey through the author's life. We get to experience her dreams, her efforts, and the joy she feels when she reconnects with her pen pals. It's a heartwarming and inspiring account that shows how even the simplest of things, like having a pen pal, can have a profound impact on our lives. Overall, this memoir is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story about friendship, adventure, and the pursuit of one's dreams.

On one level, this is yet another baby boomer memoir about growing up in the suburbs. However, I, being a baby boomer myself, can truly relate as I also grew up in a suburb.

We baby boomers are often referred to as The Greatest Generation (of Navel Gazers), and each memoir has a unique twist that makes it captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the author's experience of growing up in Australia and their quest (pre-Facebook) to find out where people from their past are now.

The book is written in an easy-to-read style and is never dull. Nevertheless, at times, it felt more like it was written as the author thought of it rather than being carefully organized.

Overall, it offers an interesting glimpse into the life of a baby boomer growing up in a different era.

I am truly fascinated by the lives of authors.

Geraldine Brooks' reflections on her childhood are simply intriguing.

Those early pen pals she had played a significant role in shaping her identity and even her future career as a foreign correspondent.

The way she described her experiences and how they influenced her is both captivating and inspiring.

Currently, I am reading her works aloud to my teenage daughters.

I firmly believe that it will broaden their world and expose them to different perspectives and cultures.

By sharing these stories with them, I hope to ignite their curiosity and passion for learning and exploring.

It is a wonderful way to bond with them and also to pass on the love for literature and the power of words.

I look forward to seeing how they respond to Geraldine Brooks' words and how it may impact their own lives and dreams.

I originally read this many years ago.

However, after reading "Horse", I wanted to revisit it.

While I had enjoyed the first reading, I had barely remembered that it was such a bittersweet memoir.

This memoir had been a deeply personal outpouring of Brooks' childhood, rebellious teen years, and wonderful maturity as a foreign correspondent and author.

Her pen pals were the cement that helped her to bring her story to life.

They provided her with a means of expressing herself and sharing her experiences.

Through her letters, she was able to connect with people from all over the world and gain different perspectives on life.

Rereading this memoir has allowed me to appreciate Brooks' writing even more and has given me a deeper understanding of her life and the events that shaped her.

It is a beautiful and moving story that I would highly recommend to anyone.

Geraldine Brooks is an author who can always be relied upon to produce an outstanding book.

In her capable hands, a memoir is transformed into a novel filled with fascinating characters and a compelling plot.

It is a highly enjoyable and educational read.

I, too, had a pen pal from Japan, and thus, I was intrigued by her topic of reconnecting with her youth and the individuals she corresponded with.

Now, I find myself compelled to search for those old blue airmail letters from my pen pal, Mitsumi from Japan.

Brooks' work not only entertains but also prompts readers to reflect on their own past experiences and connections.

Her ability to bring a memoir to life as a novel is truly remarkable.

It makes one wonder about the stories that lie within our own memories and the potential for rediscovering them.

Overall, her book is a must-read for anyone interested in a captivating and thought-provoking literary experience.

I would have liked more details on her transition to being a war correspondent.

Although the pen pal theme resonated with me and my desire as a young girl to travel the world, I found myself curious about how she made that significant shift in her career.

What were the challenges she faced? How did she prepare herself for the dangerous and often unpredictable world of war reporting?

These are the questions that came to my mind as I read the story.

I think understanding her transition would have added another layer of depth to her character and made her journey even more inspiring.

Perhaps in a future telling of her story, these details could be explored more fully, allowing readers to gain a better understanding of the woman behind the pen pal letters and the war correspondent.

Until then, I will continue to be intrigued by her story and wonder about the path that led her to become a war correspondent.

Outdated.

Pen-pals are truly a thing of the past. In this modern era, we have the convenience of the internet and email.

Moreover, the main character in the story is not very likable at all. She is constantly whining, which becomes quite tiresome.

I really did not enjoy reading about her.

To be honest, the writing itself was not very good either.

It lacked the charm and finesse that would have made it a more engaging read.

The story seemed to drag on, and I found myself losing interest quickly.

Perhaps if the author had focused on creating a more interesting and relatable character, and had improved the writing style, it could have been a much better piece.

As it stands, however, it is just another example of a mediocre story that fails to capture the reader's attention.

Absolutely excellent!

At the beginning, it was a bit slow. However, once I was approximately a quarter of the way in, it truly started to pick up momentum.

The language use and writing style are among the very best that I have ever witnessed.

I'm just extremely glad that the Kindle has a dictionary. This is because I had great difficulty in coming across a single page where I knew all of the words.

It's been a challenging yet highly rewarding reading experience.

The author's command over the language is remarkable, and it keeps pulling me in deeper and deeper with each page.

Despite the initial slowness, the story has now taken off and is captivating my attention completely.

I can't wait to see where it leads and how the remaining part of the book will unfold.

Overall, it's a truly outstanding piece of literature that I would highly recommend to others.

Why I love every one of her books now makes total sense after reading this short non-fiction account of her childhood/teenage year pen pals and subsequent travels to meet up with them decades later.

It's a quick and interesting read, even if you have never read one of her novels. She takes us on travels to Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and New York on a very personal level.

Moreover, she shows us insights into her interesting parents and childhood. Brooks has clearly found her calling in life as a writer, and we are all the better for it.

Her descriptions of the places she visited are vivid and detailed, making us feel as if we are right there with her.

The relationships she had with her pen pals and the experiences she had during her travels are both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

This book gives us a deeper understanding of Brooks as a person and as a writer, and it makes us appreciate her work even more.

Not quite the style of book I was expecting. However, I truly enjoyed getting to know the writer through her long-term connection with her pen pals. It was a fascinating journey that took me into the depths of her thoughts and emotions.

I found the book to be extremely thought-provoking. It made me reflect on the importance of maintaining long-distance friendships and how they can have a profound impact on our lives.

The stories of the writer's pen pals also prompted reminiscence about my own long lost friends. It brought back memories of the letters we used to exchange and the special bond we shared.

Overall, although it wasn't the type of book I initially anticipated, it turned out to be a wonderful read that left a lasting impression on me.

I discovered this book to be not only captivating but also deeply touching.

It elaborately details Brooks' childhood in the suburbs of Sydney and the various influences that impelled her to search for penpals from all over the world. Then, more than twenty years later, she managed to find them again and observe the paths their lives had taken.

Her reflections on the similarities and differences in the dreams of childhood and how they might shape our futures were truly thought-provoking and moving. It felt as if she was sharing her most personal thoughts and experiences with the readers.

This book offers a unique perspective on the power of connection and the passage of time, making it a truly remarkable read.