Pióro i kamień

by Patricia Shaw, Barbara Korzon (Translator)

Historia młodziutkiej Angielki ocalałej z tonącego statku, którym płynęła z rodzicami do Australii. Osierocona i pozbawiona środków do życia Sibell trafia do miasta Palmerston, a potem na farmę na Terytorium Północnym. Tam czeka ją cieżka walka o przetrwanie w surowych warunkach, w otoczeniu ludzi twardych, nie zawsze życzliwych przybyszom. Sibell wiele się musi nauczyć, aby wśród nich znaleźć swoje miejsce i dom.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Australia, Romance, Historical

486 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Patricia Shaw was an Australian novelist and non-fiction writer.

Reviews

[Vicki Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragically orphaned at sea, cast adrift in an alien land, Sibell Delahunty applies for the post of secretary-companion to Charlotte Hamilton and undertakes the arduous journey to Black Wattle Station in the Northern Territory. The rigours of an isolated cattle station come as a shock to the gently brought-up English girl, who is viewed with suspicion by Charlotte's sons. Only Charlotte's own kindness makes life tolerable, helped, in time, by increasing interest from the unmarried son, Zack. When disaster deprives the station of its mistress, Sibell is forced to take charge and eventually earns the grudging respect of the family. She also discovers within herself an unsuspected strength and resilience. But her courage and endurance will be tested to the utmost before she can ever call her adopted country home...

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over een meisje dat samen met haar ouders emigreert naar Australië maar het schip vergaat net voor ze de kust bereiken en ze komt samen met een man als enige overlevenden bij gevaarlijke aboriginals terecht ....

[Eszter Beáta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Buch ist manchmal sehr spannend, aber manchmal auch ein bisschen langweilig. Die Personen sind aber sehr gut beschrieben und sehr realistisch: Sibell ist sehr naiv, Zack ist ein wahrer Mann, Logan ist ein Mistkerl, Charlotte eine edle Dame, Maudie eine wilde Frau, Jimmy Moon ein netter Freund usw. Sie kann man wirklich gern haben und ernst nehmen, aber die Geschichte ist oft viel zu traurig und voll mit Tragödien.

The book is sometimes very exciting, but sometimes also a little bit boring. But the characters are very good presented and realistic: Sibell ist very naiv, Zack is a real man, Logan is a rascal, Charlotte is a noble lady, Maudie is a wild woman, Jimmy Moon a kind friend etc. You can really like and take them seriously, but the story is often too sad and full with tragedies.

[Sasha M · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two sides to this book. Reading it while on a road trip through Australia was truly fascinating, the author obviously knows a lot about the country, its history and the Australian outback. Character development also is impressive.

At the same time a lot of character decisions seemed inconsistent and love stories are pretty much all badly written. The author also struggles to portray someone that's never been to Australia before and makes characters take too many endemic animals, plants, climate aspects etc. for granted. Still, the book was enjoyable for its historical aspects.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember loving this book when I first read it as a teenager, but somehow it just couldn't capture me as much the second time around. I did like the style of writing for the most part, and the author definitely managed to make 19th century Australia come alive for me, but the two main characters annoyed me to no end. Logan because he was a selfish asshole, and Sibell because she was so dumb and naive most of the time.

[Jean M Hocking :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the Australian out back, I enjoyed it very much a good lovely easy flowing book .

Having lived in Australia it was of great interest to me and I love the style of Patricia Shaw.
This is the second book I have read of hers and will not be the last.
Very well researched.

[Paul Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of early struggles for settlers in Northern Australia.

A great read I throughly enjoyed. It had about 4 plots going at the same time, but they all intertwined at the end. This is the 1st book I have read by Patricia Shaw, it certainly won’t be the last. Highly recommended.

[Avalonia's Lesereich · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 Sterne = ok, durchschnittlich, keine Empfehlung

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Feather and the Stone is an atmospheric story depicting the early years of Australia’s settlement and history. It begins with a dramatic shipwreck off the coast of Australia, which leaves a naive young woman Sibell Delahunty an orphan, as the sea claims the lives of her family. Also surviving the shipwreck is Logan Conal, a handsome but lower class man and together they try to make their way to the civilization of Perth. Along the way, the two have a dangerous encounter with a group of Aboriginals, but end up being rescued by a kindly native named Jimmy Moon, who plays a pivotal role in the novel. Once they reach the safety of Perth, Logan and Sibell end up separating and going on with their lives. Sibell eventually escapes to the Northern Territory to a cattle station named Black Wattle Creek, to be companion to the land owner Charlotte Hamilton. However, Sibell and Logan’s lives are destined to cross again and they end up falling in love. This is under the backdrop of events that will test their courage to the core, such as cyclones, fire and death.
There is no question that this book is rich in history and has a great sense of place, depicting the harsh early settlement conditions of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The descriptions of life on Black Wattle Cattle station based in the Northern Territory were my favourite sections in this book. Saddening parts of book where the natives battled with the settlers, highlights a confronting part of history for the reader. The coming of age story of Sibell from a spoilt young girl to a mature courageous woman was an enjoyable part of this book. The plot is supported by a few twists and turns and colourful characters. Overall recommended for readers who appreciate Australian sagas supported by a fascinating history of early settlement.

[Nathalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book where the plot is twisted around the Australian settlers and their history, for whom Mrs. Shaw is an expert. Sadly, the plot loses zest in the attempt. Also, the love-story or rather stories were rather blandly written, so that they did not gather as much excitement as I wished they had. BUT in it's educational way it is brilliant, because I have learned a lot about a part of history I never had any contact with and from my later researches it was historically correct and very well researched, which is a big plus in my book.

[stella yip · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book is based on the 19 century. it talked about how harsh life can be when you have lost everything of your own including your wealth, power and families. and it also invites other people to trap you more easily as you are not in a control emotion which they take advantage of you. life is always unfair. so, we just have to make the best of everything that we get and we can do.

[Michele]

This was an interesting book about the early history of Australia. It tells the story of Sibell Delahunty who is shipwrecked on her way over from England. Her parents die in the shipwreck and she has to make her own way in life.

[Dpic]

lovely; NT Darwin

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite interesting. Many twists and turns and unexpected events. Surprise ending. Strong females coming of age in Australian outback in 1870. Very good read.

[Lucy VP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nu vlug het vervolg vinden!!