Summer at Mount Hope

by Rosalie Ham

Summer At Mount Hope is the story of a young woman growing up in rural Victoria, Australia in a time of drought and depression. It is the story of her quest to retain freedom despite the strictures and expectations of family and society

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Australia, Book Club, Audiobook, Historical, Adult Fiction

269 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Rosalie Ham was born, and raised in Jerilderie, NSW, Australia. She completed her secondary education at St Margaret's School, Berwick in 1972. After travelling and working at a variety of jobs (including aged care) for most of her twenties, Rosalie completed a Bachelor of Education majoring in Drama and Literature (Deakin University, 1989), and achieved a Master of Arts, Creative Writing (RMIT, Melbourne) in 2007. Rosalie lives in Brunswick, Melbourne, and when she is not writing, Rosalie teaches literature. Her novels have sold over 50,000 copies.

Reviews

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about how long it takes a peach parer to be delivered.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see from some reviews that other readers found this novel a bit slow. I enjoyed the leisurely pace and felt that I really 'knew' the characters at the end. The description of the remote rural surrounds in Victoria in the 1800's was wonderful. Ham also introduces issues of the time such as the advent of industrial machinery on the property, economic difficulties, and the main character's struggles with being female at the time. I felt the ending was unexpected but satisfying.

[Hannah Banks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't love this book. The characters were annoying, the end was abrupt after such a slow pace. Nothing felt resolved and I found it frustrating. I didn't like any of the characters enough to care whether they got their way or not but did find it annoying that the least likable character seemed the only one to have a happy ending. At least until until the bomb shell of an epilogue which instead of making me happy just irritated me. If it wasn't for the odd laugh out loud moment Ham threw in, I dont think I would have made it to the end.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to sum this novel up in one word, I would label it as 'delightful'. Summer at Mount Hope is a treat, from beginning to end. While it contains all of Rosalie Ham's trademark black humour, cutting dialogue, and in your face honesty, this novel is softer than her previous one, The Dressmaker. It's witty, poignant, romantic, and a little bit heartbreaking, all rolled in together. It's everything a good novel should be.
There is a distinctive Austen/Pride and Prejudice feel to the story that works very well within the setting and time period. The Crupp family are hilarious and Phoeba Crupp, our main character, is nothing short of wonderful. Rosalie Ham has depicted Australian rural life in the 1890s so well, with its ever present dust and vermin; the baking sun beating down on drought stricken land; the lifestyle of the itinerant 'Swaggie'; the desperation of the Depression; the restrictions and dependency daughters had to endure, as well as sons who were not yet entitled to their inheritance; the balance between solidarity and rivalry that exists between people who live in close quarters. Beneath the witty dialogue and day to day incidents, an entire social tapestry lay exposed within the pages of this novel, and I felt that Rosalie Ham did an excellent job of bearing witness to it.
The cast of characters were fabulous. The ongoing fued between Freckle and the Mailman; Mrs Flynn holding people's papers and parcels hostage whenever she was offended; Mrs Pearson in her too tight corsets; and Hadley, with his eternal devotion to Phoeba. Every character was unique and entertaining, their place in the community well carved out. A special mention needs to go to Spot, the Crupp family's loyal horse. Hats off to Rosalie Ham for turning an animal into such an endearing and delightful character.
Summer at Mount Hope was first published in 2005 and re-released late in 2016 with a fresh new look. Even if you weren't a fan of The Dressmaker (which incidentally I was), I urge you to read Summer at Mount Hope. It reminds me of other Australian classic books and films, most notably Cloudstreet and The Castle. I hope this re-release proves successful for Rosalie Ham. #AWW2017

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. Set in rural Victoria ( I suspect on the Bellarine Peninsula as that is where you'd get vineyards, near the Bay, near Geelong), the characters in this book are fabulous. Every character whether minor, major, central or peripheral is just incredibly well written and clearly delineated from the others. As a piece of measured, lyrical, character driven writing it is really well done. I loved the subtle interplay of colonial politics in terms of economics, class and the status of women. A rich reading experience in many ways. Initially I though Phoeba, the heroine, was going to be a weaker rendition of Sybilla from "My Brilliant Career" but the author nips that in the bud & Phoeba stands on her own as young woman "of spirit" wanting to live her life on her own terms. The relationship between Phoeba and her dreadful sister Lilith is interesting because as Lilith points out at one point, in not so many words, they are the flip sides of the one coin - each wanting their own way. What Lilith doesn't appreciate, is that their motivations & means are different and therefore they are. Largely because Lilith doesn't really see how others see. In the midst of all this there is romantic conflict as childhoood friend Hadley wishes to marry her, Phoeba has romantic feeling for another man & desperately wants to claim her inheritance of the vineyard as a means to an independent life. All this boils away over two months in 1894 before reaching it's almost inevitable conclusion. A well told, well written, cleverly structured story that is well worth reading.

[Anita Tymkiw · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was a disappointment after the Dressmaker. I really enjoyed reading about the historical aspects of life in rural Australia in the late 1800s. Ham paints a clear picture of a small community struggling with drought and depression. It is an era dominated by sheep and hard work and she aptly conveys the expectations of a woman's place and the limited options available to them at the time. Nevertheless I felt that the dialogue and attitude of the female characters was inauthentic illustrated by the number of times one of the sisters "chucked" their clothing down. There were other aspects of the story that also felt clunky and contrived - the discord between the sisters; the extreme aloofness of the presiding Mrs Overton; Hadley so readily accepting being second best; and the very easy diversion of the itinerants when they attempted to set the shed alight on the night of the big dance. My conclusion then is 4 stars for research and 1 star for the story.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalie Ham has a style of writing that I find really brings both her characters and locations alive for me. As the plot slowly unfolded I found myself picturing Mount Hope and its inhabitants, such as Phoeba in the vineyards and Lilith dressing to impress. It was like a snapshot of history brought to life.

[weaverannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Het duurde heel lang voor ik gewend was aan het supertrage tempo van dit boek. Ik werd er ongedurig van. Maar ook toen de zaak een beetje op gang kwam, viel er niet veel te beleven. De zussen Phoeba en Lilith bleven ruzie maken, net als hun moeder Maude dat deed met de buurvrouw, de moeder van vriendin Henriette en van haar broer Hadley. Phoeba wil net als haar vader wijndruiven gaan telen, in tegenstelling tot de vele schapenboeren in de omgeving. Het is crisis en het is droog. Totdat het dan weer teveel regent.
Kommer en kwel.
Zo te lezen lijkt er heel wat te gebeuren, er worden ook een paar huwelijken gesloten en heel veel paarden bereden of ingespannen voor diverse rijtuigjes, maar het kon me niet boeien. Jammer.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is aptly described on the cover as an Australian outback version of Pride And Prejudice. Phoeba is a great character, her sister Lilith is appropriately infuriating and their mother has pretty much given up and retired to her bed (unless there is a chance of a suitor for one of her daughters). Beyond the subtle humour, there is plenty here about the role of women and the hardships of living in the outback in the late nineteenth century. I particularly enjoyed the characters in this novel, and while I maybe didn't like it quite as much as The Dressmaker, it is a great book (and would also make a great movie!)

[Marg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like giving up on a book but some times there is no other way, especially when so many books are on my wish to read list. I found this book soooo slooooow and after 80+ pages it did not seem to be getting any better.I usually enjoy reading books in the time frame in which this was set, and especially if they are set in Australia, but guess there are always exceptions.

[Bachyboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this writer and although I preferred The Dressmaker, this book is a great read, set in the outback of Australia in the late 1890s. The central character Phoeba is a stunning character and really makes the book, epitomising the developing independence of women emerging at that time. its a story of hardships, expectations and love and property lost and gained. Worth reading.

[Kerran Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me so much of Pride and Prejudice, but set in Australia and with a lot more dry humour! I loved the character of Phoeba, I really felt for Hadley and Henrietta, and I rolled my eyes at Lilith and Maude on many occasions. I think the characters all worked so well, and I could not put this book down! 4.5*

[Sally Koetsveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book showcased the temerity and toughness of rural characters during the drought and depression of the 1890's, and the struggles of young people to live the lives of their dreams.

[Jennifer Fell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it! I didn't expect to, that much but it suprised me in the end and I liked Phoeba and Henrietta most of all.

[Toast · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 really as I felt I didn't know enough Aussie history/culture/landscape to really get the meat from the bone and there is a lot of meat to get. There is certainly a lot to discuss about the a woman's PLACE within this book. And it must be the first representation of the menopause in fiction, actually named, I've ever read. There is much in this book that I just didn't get because its not a Western its Australian rural life; its not the Luddites its Australian modernisation; its not the Depression its the Australian drought so I missed a lot because of those differences. My fault not the book. It is still a well written, damn good book with one of the best horse's in literature in it called Spot! RH is a writer well worth watching and reading.
Toast
PS RH also wrote 'The Dressmaker' another gem which was made into a film with the wonderful Kate Winslet.
PS My copy has a better cover - the back of a woman in a hat looking out over a vinyard.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalie Ham manages to write about ordinary people, albeit in the 1880's, in a way that is engaging and intriguing. A most pleasurable read.

[Denita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I previously had watched the movie version of the other Rosalie Ham book THE DRESSMAKER which I really enjoyed so I thought I'd read this book SUMMER AT MOUNT HOPE. The reviews said this book wasn't as good as The Dressmaker so that put me off a little so it took me awhile to get around to reading Summer at Mount Hope. The verdict - I absolutely loved this book. It was many things including quirky, sad and laugh out loud funny. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters so much so that I didn't want the story to end. I wish I had read this book sooner than I did.

[Emilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading Australian novels, in particular novels set in Victoria. I enjoyed that Ham was going for that Victorian era / Aussie crossover style, however I felt as though she was trying to make a statement about lower socioeconomic struggles through the “squatters,” but each time this was alluded to it always fell flat. I enjoyed Phoeba’s journey and self-actualisation which was reinforced by the epilogue. Sometimes in life we don’t get what we want and have to make sacrifices, but it’s what we do to maximise these sacrifices that can make your life. Quite a nice message :)

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quirky book by Rosalie Ham. Love her sense of humour

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a great story set in regional Victoria in the late 1890's then read this book. The characters are well portrayed and the story unfolds beautifully in line with their personalities. The setting is vivid, (especially for me since I live in the very location it's set), and the story provides enough suspense to keep you hooked until the very end.

[Lisa Jesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. So many interesting characters who made me laugh and cry. I loved reading about a time in Australia's history that I knew little about. So glad I picked this book up at the store.

[MargCal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading … Summer at Mount Hope / Rosalie Ham … 05 July 2016
ISBN: 9780975192160

Loved it!
In what some might describe as a rural romance, this book tells the stories of three families, none of which could be described as happy: the Overtons of the squattocracy, the Pearsons with the widowed matriarch, and the Crupps whose vine-planted property sits amidst a sea of sheep and grain farms. The setting is outside Geelong, overlooking Port Philip Bay. The action takes place in early 1894 during which time fortunes were won and (mostly) lost and family alliances changed. Compromise ruled. And while compromise can sound, and often is, grim, this story is laced with humour.

The major and minor characters were beautifully drawn, as was the landscape, the farm animals and the weather. Of the characters there were the feisty, the greedy self-entitled, the tantrum throwing spoilt child-adult, the good, the heart-throb – not to mention the poor itinerants, described in all the awfulness of their situation.

I kept reading into the wee small hours – without falling asleep! - so that I could find out what happened next, what happened in the end. Would each one got what they wanted out of life? Would disaster and compromise see the younger generation as unhappy as the older? Or something else entirely?

A brief epilogue set 20 years later (“as war loomed”) showed that, in a word, at all ended up …...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.

I 'own' a Kindle copy of this book.

[Sigrid Eckhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about squatters in Australia. It does make you aware of life when things that we now take for granted where not available.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I found it hard to get engrossed. What I liked about it was the realism the author employed in describing the harsh life of the Australian outback. Raw and frustrating, she details the trying patience of farmers suffering the continually extreme weather conditions as they hope for a season good enough to provide for their families. The other frivolous going-on's did not captivate me much.

[Elli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic! Front cover describes it as Pride and Prejudice in rural Australia. Perfect description. Full of lovable (and completely oddball) characters from heroine, Phoeba, to Aunt Margaret and Maggie the goat. I loved them all, laughed at them all and, by the time I got to the end, I was crying for what was probably real life back in those days. Ham is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. Where can I get more?!

[Karen Hunt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was bought for Faith School's library, but am not sure school kids would get into it. It’s a bit slow to get going. It’s set near Geelong in the 1890’s. It’s quite interesting reading about the history of that time (depression, etc.), but it’s not life changing or anything! A bit like a cross between a Jane Austen and Bryce Courtenay’s Jessica.

[Gus · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a non ­ fiction this is just what I was after, Rosalie’ writing in very descriptive and the

‘eccentric’ family this novel is based around were very entertaining. It was all set in the

late 1800’s on a farm in drought near Geelong so reading it was just like being back at

Bonnie Brae. Great light reading and would read another.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this story, of life in rural Australia in the 1800's with the advent of machinery and the threat it posed to the workers in those depressions years. The characters and the families were just perfect. After seeing "The Dressmaker" translated to screen, I would love to see the same done to this story; the characters are just busting to come to life.

[subtlemurder]

A very slow moving book, it's taken me quite a while to get interested in what's happening. And, sadly, I'm still not all that interested. I've put this book away for now in the hopes of coming back to it when I have enough time to concentrate.

[Calzean · Rating 2 out of 5]

It tried hard to be funny and quirky but it lacked the edge of "The Dress Maker". Still a good period piece describing how tough life was in Australia in the 1890s - depression, drought, unemployment.