I needed time to process this book. My work life is stressful per usual but I could hardly put this down when I had a free moment. As other reviews have said, this book is definitely a product of its time. The original publishing date was 1974 and boy did people have different attitudes back then.

The titular character Tim is what we would call neurodivergent now or even on the spectrum. In this book, however, people constantly referred to him as the R-word or cruelly dim Tim. Through working as a gardener he meets a lonely spinster whose entire life revolves around her job and saving up money and living a boring, neat life.

What I liked about this story is unlike romances published now, there seemed to be genuine friendship between the characters. The story spans their meeting through about two or so years during many ups and downs through grief but also burgeoning love between two people society deemed unlovable.

The first kiss in this book is one of the most tender ones I have ever read and Tim’s newfound sexuality was fascinating to read about, even though it felt wrong at times because of his autism or challenges, but as the book progresses readers understand that Tim’s emotional intelligence is fully intact.

The only thing I didn’t like was towards the end of the novel was the characters get married. The implication is Tim and Mary would wed so that she could be responsible for him after his parents pass but no one stops to ask Tim how he feels. His father just agrees for him. Even though Tim and Mary had pants feelings, that part was a little ick. Marriage is too big a decision to just be thrown into it.

I see why the author is so popular, though I’ve never read Thorn Birds. If it’s anything like this novel it will certainly make you think and entertain. What it comes down to for Tim are the consent issues. Yes, Tim voiced his pleasure, but how much didn’t he understand? Or was he just going off feelings like anyone else?

A book that I won’t forget certainly and now I’m intensely curious about the movie.

Breaks my heart every time!

I read this book when it first came out. Talking to my blog partner reminded me of the beautiful Colleen McCullough books I read, including Tim. Such real, multi-layered characters, thoughts, and so very Aussie in nature. I do love sweet and kind primary characters and I get that here in Tim. I feel a re read coming on.

Uma história belissima sobre o Amor e as diferenças humanas, que nos mostra que em conjunto tudo se completa.
Tim e Mary viviam cada um a sua vida de forma estranha, mas ao juntarem as suas diferenças completaram a sua existencia podendo assim viver de uma forma o mais "normal" possivél.
Desta história retiramos que devemos aprender a viver com as diferenças dos outros e assim podermos ver as nossas próprias "diferenças", porque todos nós as temos.

My one-word review: Ew.

***

This book came to mind as I read Dual Citizens by Alix Ohlin. If Mary had been middle-aged Marv, and Tim had been young, vulnerable Tammy, this book would have been repudiated and its author excoriated.
Just ew.

this ended up being a one-day read for me

I thought it was such a unique story - the role reversal  mary is the older, wiser, rich partner in the relationship - driving her Bentley with its car phone and warding off would-be robbers and starvation with her gun - and tim is innocent and unaware of how beautiful he is

and dealing with Tim’s “less than a full quid” mentally. what a sensitive subject to write about! and it seems that McCullough put a lot of thought into the issues surrounding someone like Tim - his ability to work, make friends, learn new things, loved ones trying to protect him while challenging him, and ultimately, wanting him to have a happy life

I liked the quirky secondary characters - Mrs. Emily Parker (the neighbor and such a crotchety lady who is so sweet to Tim and Mary) and Archie Johnson (Mary’s boss, total work-husband! right down to ribbing on each other) were a hoot!
alas, I did not care for Dawnie, Tim’s sister. I thought she was going to redeem herself when she came in to announce to her engagement, only to take a backseat to Tim’s reading time session - she acknowledged that she was initially upset that Tim was stealing her thunder, but that he’s never had the spotlight like she did growing up, so it was okay. but then, she turns into a real brat! looking down on Mary when she finds out that Mary’s not “really old” like the Melvilles initially thought and throwing some wild accusations around. and maybe that would’ve been all okay, except then, after her father’s funeral and finding out that Mary and Tim married, she essentially disowns them both and doesn’t want anything to do with her brother - so much for being a caring sister!

I was glad that Mary spent the time to learn more about Tim and his mental condition, which led her to John Martinson, teacher to the mentally challenged  John’s the one who tells Mary she should marry Tim and I think he was quite right! glad he went for full-blown honesty. once Tim decided Mary’s the one, there was really no other option, moreso once his parents were gone. I also liked that Mary was initially shocked by the suggestion, but she quickly, logically came to the conclusion it was the right thing for them and did not agonize over it for chapters on end. she made a list and worked her way through it


the pages that followed Esme’s passing was heart-wrenching and definitely made me cry, especially Ron’s inability to cope with his wife’s passing
then Tim thinking that Mary liked his father better than him and not knowing how to deal with his jealousy! oh, my heart!
glad they sorted that out quickly and that Tim is the one who took the initiative to kiss Mary
I was really glad about the glimpse into Tim’s thoughts towards the end, wish we got a little more of that … especially since the ending was just a little odd … Ron passes away and Tim’s a little mopey and ends up cutting himself and then Mary’s frantic in the hospital, then they think she’s his mother, turns out Tim’s okay, and then they get ready to go home, the end. huh? it was just so abrupt!


the australian setting and vernacular took a bit getting used to, but I liked that it was different!

I don't actually think that this was a good book. (((SPOILERs)))



Mostly it made me depressed because the ultimate conclusion was, of course, that compelling lie that sex is the ultimate fulfillment of a person. What the two people ultimately had together was not a meeting of true minds, but something eternally less. And yet I know the heart yearns to give the disabled as much normalcy as possible. The question of how a man might differ if only he were more intelligent has been relegated to junior high school reading lists that still include "Flowers for Algernon." I think that the reason why I ultimately reject the solution that "Tim" came up with to deal with the "problem of retardation" is that inherently, Mary was not actually getting a spouse out of the deal. She had her Adonis physically for those marital benefits but still acted in lieu of a parent towards Tim. The relationship was essentially sterile, which was emphasized by Mary's sterilization. Nothing was going to grow from it besides all those repotted ferns and begonias. Unlike the relationship between Ron and Esme, there could be no friendly quarrels, deepening understandings, or the familiar comfortable neglect bred by differing personalities and tastes. Mary would always be holding back, because Tim couldn't deal with such nuances. She would always be watching him like a parent does a child, concerned but never equal. In short, why on Earth did McCullough think that this would work, even just as a book?

Tai antra perskaityta šios autorės knyga ir ji irgi keliauja į mano mėgstamiausių lentyną. Kokia graži istorija ♥️

No matter how many times I read this it never fails to make me shed a tear or two. Tim, a stunning looking, young man with special needs is befriended by a lady who lives in the house next door to where he is working as a builders labourer, From thereon the story unfolds...... A one sitting book if you have the time.

This was a beautiful timeless story about love set in the late 70's early 80's that shows the challenges of what we may class as unconventional relationships. Initially, there is something jarring about the language used when reading this book in a modern politically correct culture. That is, until you realise that the feeling of love isn't lost in the words. Colleen McCullough crafted a story in which the character Mary's full motives are clear, without being spoon fed backstory and retrospection. It seems to me impossible not to love the character Tim either. I am so grateful to my mum for giving me this one to read. As a side note, possibly my favourite part is the price still on the back -$3.95 new.

Este é um daqueles livros que podem ser estragados por um pequeno detalhe. No caso de Tim o detalhe que o estraga é o último capitulo. É desnecessário, não acrescenta absolutamente nada à história, não é o momento da revelação nem tão pouco é o culminar de todo o livro. É o penúltimo capitulo que é o culminar do livro, que termina a história e que a torna maravilhosa. Pela história até esse dito penúltimo capitulo, teria dado uma classificação de quatro (em cinco) mas assim terei de me ficar pelo três.

Tim é o livro de estreia de Colleen McCullough e, não soubesse eu do sucesso que ela teve de seguida, e teria de dizer que este livro augurava uma carreira brilhante. É um livro duma sensibilidade extrema, que nos mostra que o amor pode e deve existir entre homens e mulheres, independentemente das condições físicas ou psicológicas, ou sejam pessoas normais ou com alguma deficiência. Tim é um livro que nos mostra que as barreiras só existem na nossa mente e que - não obstante as deficiências que se possam ter - merecemos todos ser tratados da mesma forma.

Tim leva-nos a olhar com inocência para os pequenos prazeres da vida. Um banho de mar, um passeio de carro, uma flor...

Um bom livro, sem dúvida alguma e um livro que me deixou com vontade de ler mais desta autora (lá vai a Nathy dizer que ela bem tinha razão...).

I watched the movie, not reading this so I can’t give stars. But from the movie, i think it’s pretty heartwarming. Just a simple love story about older woman and H who has ‘disability’ (?). I think it’s pretty sweet. I don’t know why my friends call this taboo, he’s 24 if I’m not mistaken. I forget h’s age. But it’s not that creepy age gap. My guess is because the h is the older one. I read lots of hq books, so i think i’m kinda trained