One of my all time favourites but on this re-read I noticed a glaring plot hole which has really bothered me - if Jessica had admitted who the father of her baby was, the whole mess could have been avoided. There’s no reason for her to have kept it hidden, and since Jessica’s parents were willing to find Meg someone else when they thought Jack was destitute I’m sure they would have just gone forward with that plan if Jessica had told them the truth.
Still, overlooking that I absolutely love the descriptions of the Australian bush, my heart breaks for Billy and Runch, I want to give Jessica a big hug and Mary’s story is one that isn’t told often enough.

Another panoramic and evenly paced novel by Bryce Courtenay based as he explains on the real life of a young Australian woman in the early part of the 20th century.

This is compulsive reading and despite the perhaps incredability of the barrister in the story Richard Runche who resembles very closely the barrister in Courtenay's novel, Matthew Finders Cat, this would rate in my opinion as equal to the best of Courtenay's works.

For Courtenay fans this is definitely recommended and for those who are able to face the shocking realities of the Australian outback and the attitudes of earlier government adminstations - and christian organisations - towards indigineous peoples this also is hightly recommended.

I read this book because my friend highly recommended it as one of her favourite books of all time. Unfortunately I do not share that sentiment. I was utterly disappointed. I kept waiting for the story to get better but it was so utterly depressing. The way Jessica was treated by her family was disgusting and just left me feeling disgusted most of the book. It also frustrated the hell out of me that I didn't know who the father of her child was until the end... I felt this was the only way the author had to keep the reader interested to finish the book. As it was written from her perspective I think it was stupid that she didn't share who the father was when it happened. Just a tragic story and I'm not sure why it was so fantastic that it had to be shared? It's not like she triumphed and lived an amazing life after all the tragedy... she just died. I would not recommend this unless someone wants to read a very depressing story.

One of my favorite books of all time.