Miles Franklin's classic and exuberant tale of a woman's journey toward self expression and freedom.
Miles Franklin was born in 187... read full description
reviews
Feb 18, 2012
Rebeccahowden
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I decided it was pretty important that I finally read this book. To be honest, I’m not sure what I was expecting it to be like, but I wasn’t expecting it to be a romance, though I wasn’t particularly disappointed by this. In a way, it feels very similar to other “marriage plot” stories of the time, except that Sybylla has an extra dose of sass and barb and is determined that she won’t get married at all, because she wants to actually achieve something for herself in her life. It’s a pretty tame
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Aug 07, 2011
1.1
rated it:
Jane Eyre but in Australia but she has even more deeply-rooted insecurities and acts out a lot. Plenty of angst, none of it particularly compelling. If nothing else the heroine was sympathetic at the start but then I guess Franklin wanted to show how defeatism and negativism get annoying over time. They do, but the book has enough other charms - it's probably great reading for individualist teenaged girls who think the Bronte sisters are too mainstream and who read Twilight just to smirk at it.
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May 12, 2010
Esther
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She fooled me. I thought for the longest time that I was reading a true story. There were things that rang so true, I think they WERE real. Franklin must have been well acquainted with the feelings of frustration and constraint and hopelessness at being so far removed from any opportunity to use her gifts and pursue her interests. The suffocation she describes is too vivid to be fictional. The bitterness is exactly that of a young person - I recognized it well. I am amazed that she wrote so trul
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Jan 29, 2012
Anne
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Feb 01, 2012
JC
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Did I really start reading this on Australia Day? How fitting if I did. Nevertheless, I must feel a little ashamed that, as an Australian and a feminist and Australian studies type person, I had not read this to now. I kept on meaning to but...you know, other things. Look, don't worry, my wrist has been thoroughly slapped and the most important thing is that I have read it now. Even more important, I suppose, is that I really liked it. Sybylla is exasperating and entertaining, awful and wonderfu
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Feb 12, 2012
Mrsgaskell
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Jul 28, 2011
I liked it. I've always avoided this book being under the misunderstanding that it was a dry and dusty tome. (ie boring!) I'm glad I gave it a go, as it is certainly not boring. Sybylla is an odd girl, kind of like Anne of Green Gables with a fervent feminist streak. It's nice to see a romance written by a young girl that doesn't have a cloying, happy ending, and I admire her resolve to do the "right" thing by Harold in the end, even though that may not be what he thinks he wants.
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Oct 25, 2009
Angela
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I read this for year 12 English, so my memories of it are both vague and tainted by the fact that I had to dissect the book. End result though: I still love it.
When I started the book, I found it very difficult to get in to. The protagonist just seemed to be a whining, demanding, annoying excuse for a human being. It's really tough to keep reading when you start to hate the character telling the story. In fact, I recall a "first impressions" essay I wrote after reading very More...
When I started the book, I found it very difficult to get in to. The protagonist just seemed to be a whining, demanding, annoying excuse for a human being. It's really tough to keep reading when you start to hate the character telling the story. In fact, I recall a "first impressions" essay I wrote after reading very More...
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Sep 21, 2010
Louise
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Jan 27, 2011
Phoenix
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I first read 'My Brilliant Career' when I was in high school as part of the English curriculum. I could not remember much about the story, but I could not shake the feeling that identified greatly with the main character, Sybylla Melvyn.
As part of my personal journey of rediscovering the Great Australian Spirit, I decided to re-read 'My Brilliant Career'. I have been pleasantly surprised.
Although at times Sybylla Melvyn annoyed with her self-centric, teenage view of the More...
As part of my personal journey of rediscovering the Great Australian Spirit, I decided to re-read 'My Brilliant Career'. I have been pleasantly surprised.
Although at times Sybylla Melvyn annoyed with her self-centric, teenage view of the More...
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Nov 30, 2009
Manda
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This book was written by a 16 year old girl in Australia, and first published in 1901. It is presented as fiction, but has much in common with the writer's own life. The title, by the way, is ironic.
The story is of how the writer's family go form a comfortable life on a cattle station to poverty on a dairy selection. A romance is entwined in the tale, but the protagonist of the story is fiercely independant, and the romance does not take it's normal course.
I am miles remo More...
The story is of how the writer's family go form a comfortable life on a cattle station to poverty on a dairy selection. A romance is entwined in the tale, but the protagonist of the story is fiercely independant, and the romance does not take it's normal course.
I am miles remo More...
May 11, 2009
Jemima
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Jun 09, 2011
Wendy
rated it:
The star ratings need to be modified. Especially the 2-4 star ratings. Some 3 stars are so-so, more 2 1/2, whereas this one lends itself more to a 3 1/2. I really enjoyed the writing style---there was such a strong voice: her craving for beauty, culture, and love; likewise her resentment for her embittered parents and the cultural gender restrictions. It is very poignant. However . . . as much as I sympathized with the main character and her struggles, some of it seemed too fantastical, and
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Oct 17, 2011
Leir
rated it:
My Brilliant Career definitely isn't a masterpiece. It doesn't bring too much to the thematic table and it certainly won't completely change your literary world-view, but it does give us all Franklin's alter ego Sybylla who has such charm and strength as a character and as a narrator that when coupled with a few interesting undercurrents (especially in regards to Sybylla's relationship with Harold and the nature of conceit and control, as well as a few political points) I couldn't help but be so
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Dec 22, 2011
Dianne
rated it:
Embarrassed to admit I'd seen the movie years ago, but never read the book. Went to an exhibition in Canberra a few years ago that had lots of information about Miles Franklin and intended to read her. Finally got this one on my Kindle as a start.
I loved the sense of place she evokes, her love of the Australian countryside and her ability to present unsophisticated, even a bit loutish, country people with affection and understanding. The story is engrossing and the characters ver More...
I loved the sense of place she evokes, her love of the Australian countryside and her ability to present unsophisticated, even a bit loutish, country people with affection and understanding. The story is engrossing and the characters ver More...
Mar 31, 2010
Lucy
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Sep 26, 2008
Jon
rated it:
Australian Lit Classic:
resembles an exponentially more mature version of "Are you there god, its me margaret" with the focus on anguish about life goals and the role of women in early 1900's Australia instead of 'do my peers except me' in dear god, me margaret. Draws together important historical elements mixed with historical myths; interesting and difficult to separate the 2, the study of which can be alluminating to early 1900's culture and history. Also clever critique More...
resembles an exponentially more mature version of "Are you there god, its me margaret" with the focus on anguish about life goals and the role of women in early 1900's Australia instead of 'do my peers except me' in dear god, me margaret. Draws together important historical elements mixed with historical myths; interesting and difficult to separate the 2, the study of which can be alluminating to early 1900's culture and history. Also clever critique More...
Feb 08, 2012
Wendy
rated it:
I have mixed feelings about this one. I picked it up because other reviews compared My Brilliant Career to Anne of Green Gables, which I loved. Set in the same time period, both books feature a headstrong, fiery female, teenage protagonist. However, the similarities stop there. I enjoyed the story, the Australian bush setting, however, Sybylla was so unlikable that I had difficulty empathizing with her for large sections of the novel.
Aug 25, 2011
Any
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Jul 15, 2011
Webcowgirl
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While this book's straightforward style and lack of dramatic resolution could damn it, it's fresh view of a real life of a real woman firmly embedded in late 19th century society was a real breath of fresh air after the claustrophobic House of Mirth and The Awakening. Life doesn't have to be miserable if you're poor and have no love life ... really. Embrace yourself and be free!
Apr 10, 2009
Julie
rated it:
I haven't read this in years, but it is one of my favorite books. I saw the movie as a teenager then read the book. It struck a deep cord with me at the time.
My copy has a note I wrote to my mom when I lent her the book as she recovered from a hysterectomy: "May this inspire and delight and drift you off to far off places. A wonderful book for a fabulous mom! Hugs and love - 4.13.92"
My copy has a note I wrote to my mom when I lent her the book as she recovered from a hysterectomy: "May this inspire and delight and drift you off to far off places. A wonderful book for a fabulous mom! Hugs and love - 4.13.92"
Jul 17, 2011
Meillyn
rated it:
Absolutely one of the worst books ever. The main character is a young self-absorbed Australian woman who has a distorted view of love and family, and who never does mature. If you're interested in the geography of Australia and what it was like to live there in the outback in the early 1900s, there may be some redeeming social value to this otherwise silly book.
Oct 13, 2010
Kmann
rated it:
The book is full of emotion - it displayed how the pressure of family and relationships Back 100 years were different yet the same. Sybylla's relationship with Harry Beecham was wonderful and ending painfully. The the follow up book help with closure, but does not alleviate the pain.
Feb 05, 2010
Laura
rated it:
I'll admit I watched the movie adaptation with Judy Davis and Sam Neill before reading this, so I was already predisposed to like it-but still. So so SO far ahead of its time, though the writing is understandably a little amateur-author was still a teen when she wrote it.
Jun 19, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
A great summer read, as much of the story involves the unbelievable heat of the Australian outback. I went back and forth in my sympathy for the heroine of this autobiography and I wouldn't have made the same decisions she did, but the writing is wonderful.
Jul 27, 2011
I found this story sad overall. I loved, and could definitely identify with, the character of Sybylla, which made it even more tragic to see how she caused her own downfall in the end. Definitely far better than the film, a lot more depth.
Aug 14, 2009
Barbara
rated it:
A little uneven; written by an author who was not yet a mature writer. But it portrays the issues that a daughter of an alcoholic father faces extremely well. And the descriptions of Australia are nice too.
Sep 26, 2011
Kari
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I read this really fast because it was temporarily in the house. Never heard of it before; I was a little disgusted that it was the kind of book it is, but it's not a terrible story.
Dec 16, 2009
Teresa
rated it:
Classic Australian literature and spawned the Miles Franklin award for new Aust Lit. The fact that she wrote this so young is interesting and a personal snapshot of Aust life at the time
Feb 05, 2010
Laura
rated it:
I'll admit I watched the movie adaptation with Judy Davis and Sam Neill before reading this, so I was already predisposed to like it-but still. So so SO far ahead of its time.
