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The Whole Bright Year
In the summer of 1976 it's picking season on an Australian stone-fruit orchard run by Celia, a hard-working woman in her early forties. Years ago, when her husband was killed as a bystander in an armed robbery, Celia left the city and brought her newborn daughter Zoe to this farm for a secure life. Now sixteen, Zoe is a passionate, intelligent girl, chafing against her mother's protectiveness, yearning to find intensity and a bit of danger.
Barging into this world as itinerant fruit-pickers come a desperate brother and sister from Sydney. The hard-bitten Sheena has kidnapped her wild, ebullient eighteen-year-old brother Kieran and dragged him out west, away from trouble in the city. Kieran and Zoe are drawn to each other the instant they meet, sparking excitement, worry, lust, trouble . . .
How do we protect people we love? How do we bear watching them go out into the perilous world with no guarantee of safety or happiness? What bargains do people make with darkness in order to survive? From the creator of Offspring and author of Useful, The Whole Bright Year is a gripping, wry and tender novel about how holding on too tightly can cost us what we love.
Barging into this world as itinerant fruit-pickers come a desperate brother and sister from Sydney. The hard-bitten Sheena has kidnapped her wild, ebullient eighteen-year-old brother Kieran and dragged him out west, away from trouble in the city. Kieran and Zoe are drawn to each other the instant they meet, sparking excitement, worry, lust, trouble . . .
How do we protect people we love? How do we bear watching them go out into the perilous world with no guarantee of safety or happiness? What bargains do people make with darkness in order to survive? From the creator of Offspring and author of Useful, The Whole Bright Year is a gripping, wry and tender novel about how holding on too tightly can cost us what we love.
288 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2018
18 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Debra Oswald
33 books116 followersDebra Oswald is a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. She is a two-time winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award and author of the novels Useful (2015), The Whole Bright Year (2018) and The Family Doctor (2021). She was creator/head writer of the first five seasons of the successful TV series Offspring.
Her stage plays have been performed around the world and published by Currency Press. Gary's House, Sweet Road and The Peach Season were all shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Award. Debra has also written four plays for young audiences—Dags, Skate, Stories in the Dark and House on Fire. She has written three Aussie Bites books and six children's novels, including The Redback Leftovers.
Her television credits include award-winning episodes of Police Rescue, Palace of Dreams, The Secret Life of Us, Sweet and Sour and Bananas in Pyjamas.
Debra performed her one-woman show Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? at the Griffin Theatre in 2021 and a month-long season at the Ensemble in 2023.
Her stage plays have been performed around the world and published by Currency Press. Gary's House, Sweet Road and The Peach Season were all shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Award. Debra has also written four plays for young audiences—Dags, Skate, Stories in the Dark and House on Fire. She has written three Aussie Bites books and six children's novels, including The Redback Leftovers.
Her television credits include award-winning episodes of Police Rescue, Palace of Dreams, The Secret Life of Us, Sweet and Sour and Bananas in Pyjamas.
Debra performed her one-woman show Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? at the Griffin Theatre in 2021 and a month-long season at the Ensemble in 2023.
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March 8, 2018
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4.5 stars
The life changing events that occur one hot summer at a stone fruit farm in Australia in the year 1976, is the story of The Whole Bright Year by scriptwriter turned author, Debra Oswald. This is an intricate and meaningful tale of growing up, letting go, falling in love and making mistakes.
The Whole Bright Yearis author Debra Oswald’s second title for the contemporary adult fiction field. It picks up in the throes of picking season. The owner of the orchard, Celia, works tirelessly on her farm. Celia is also a widow and a mother to sixteen year old Zoe. While the move from the city to country has afforded Celia and Zoe and safe and secure environment, things are about to be shaken up by the appearance of two strangers. Finding she is desperate for fruit pickers at the height of the season, Celia has no option to take in two young blow ins to her farm. It is a fateful decision that has far reaching implications for Celia, daughter Zoe and the two workers, Sheena and her younger brother Kieran. The Whole Bright Year is an enthralling tale of family relations and love, in all its forms, told with plenty of heart and conviction.
I love tales that bring characters from the city to the country in search of a different life, or a way to escape an old life. In the case of The Whole Bright Year, the main character Celia made the move from the big smoke to the country, as a way to escape the grief over the sudden loss of her husband who was tragically killed. Even more heartbreaking for our lead, Celia was pregnant at the time her husband was killed. It has meant that she has had to bring up her daughter Zoe alone. Zoe also sadly never knew her father. Naturally the two have a very close relationship. The stone fruit farm Celia has managed for sixteen years is her heart and soul. The farm has helped distract Celia from her overwhelming grief and give her a purpose, so she can live again. As the book opens, the farm is about to produce its most successful harvest ever, but all this is at stake due to the lack of pickers available to collect the fruit. Lucky our side characters, Joe, Sheena and Kieran come to the rescue.
The Whole Bright Year is filled with some very well defined characters. Each protagonist has their own very distinct personality and Oswald does a very good job of teasing all aspects of her characters out. As a result, we to get to know the assets, as well as the flaws of all the characters in this novel. Oswald’s characters got firmly under my skin and my impression of them shifted with the turning events of the novel. I believe Oswald’s characterisation is of a high standard. This extends to both her leads and her side characters. In particular, I must mention the elderly character in this novel, Rosa. She is one the most well defined characters I have read in a book for some time. She really stood out from crowd. I personally loved Rosa’s place in the novel, her wise observations on the events going on around her was endearing.
In terms of the narrative, I enjoyed and felt very entertained by this novel from the start to the close of the book. I found myself quickly drawn into the busy peach harvest season and through Oswald’s storytelling abilities, I often felt like I was a bystander, watching all the events from this book unfold. As a mother, I was able to relate to Celia and understand her struggle between allowing her daughter Zoe assert her independence and wanting to protect her from no good. I had a horrible sinking feeling in my stomach as Zoe was drawn to Kieran and the turn of events between these two young people left me feeling just as frantic as Celia. All I can say is Oswald approaches this scenario of a teen gone off the rails and a mother trying to pick up the pieces with realism and insight. Kudos to Oswald for tackling this situation headfirst, in an authentic manner.
By far the thrill of this novel came from the orchard scenes. I was taken aback by Oswald’s rich descriptions of a typical working day on a busy stone fruit orchard. I breathed in the pungent scent of the ripe fruit, ready for picking. I could envisage the tractor amongst the orchard, as well as the all important sorting and packing process with accomplished worker Rosa. I could also literally feel the sweat and sticky heat of the sun beating down on the workers, their bodies heavily laden with the bulging picking bags of peaches. I could be greedy and say I wanted more of these farms scenes, as I took great enjoyment in these sections of the narrative. I loved the opportunity this storyline presented to learn about the peach farming industry, thanks Debra! I liked how timeline wise, we get a full season of fruit picking through the sequence of the events that take place in the book.
Although I would class The Whole Bright Year as an entertaining read, buried beneath the surface of this book is some serious issues indeed. Oswald examines the difficult territory of parenting a teen and in doing so, tackles a dangerous form of first love. She pulls apart this situation with skill and introspection. Overall, it is a very tumultuous ride for all the characters in this book, with some surprising and not so surprising results.
The Whole Bright Year is firmly rooted in the nostalgic seventies. I loved being transported to this not too distant age in Australia’s past. The pop culture and references to everyday fixtures (games and phones) reminds us of how far we have come. However, falling in love for the first time and the pressure of parenting a wayward teen alone are very much the same problems faced by those today, as in the past. A very real and visceral tale, The Whole Bright Year is a book that I would not hesitate to recommend.
The Whole Bright Year is book #21 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
4.5 stars
The life changing events that occur one hot summer at a stone fruit farm in Australia in the year 1976, is the story of The Whole Bright Year by scriptwriter turned author, Debra Oswald. This is an intricate and meaningful tale of growing up, letting go, falling in love and making mistakes.
The Whole Bright Yearis author Debra Oswald’s second title for the contemporary adult fiction field. It picks up in the throes of picking season. The owner of the orchard, Celia, works tirelessly on her farm. Celia is also a widow and a mother to sixteen year old Zoe. While the move from the city to country has afforded Celia and Zoe and safe and secure environment, things are about to be shaken up by the appearance of two strangers. Finding she is desperate for fruit pickers at the height of the season, Celia has no option to take in two young blow ins to her farm. It is a fateful decision that has far reaching implications for Celia, daughter Zoe and the two workers, Sheena and her younger brother Kieran. The Whole Bright Year is an enthralling tale of family relations and love, in all its forms, told with plenty of heart and conviction.
I love tales that bring characters from the city to the country in search of a different life, or a way to escape an old life. In the case of The Whole Bright Year, the main character Celia made the move from the big smoke to the country, as a way to escape the grief over the sudden loss of her husband who was tragically killed. Even more heartbreaking for our lead, Celia was pregnant at the time her husband was killed. It has meant that she has had to bring up her daughter Zoe alone. Zoe also sadly never knew her father. Naturally the two have a very close relationship. The stone fruit farm Celia has managed for sixteen years is her heart and soul. The farm has helped distract Celia from her overwhelming grief and give her a purpose, so she can live again. As the book opens, the farm is about to produce its most successful harvest ever, but all this is at stake due to the lack of pickers available to collect the fruit. Lucky our side characters, Joe, Sheena and Kieran come to the rescue.
The Whole Bright Year is filled with some very well defined characters. Each protagonist has their own very distinct personality and Oswald does a very good job of teasing all aspects of her characters out. As a result, we to get to know the assets, as well as the flaws of all the characters in this novel. Oswald’s characters got firmly under my skin and my impression of them shifted with the turning events of the novel. I believe Oswald’s characterisation is of a high standard. This extends to both her leads and her side characters. In particular, I must mention the elderly character in this novel, Rosa. She is one the most well defined characters I have read in a book for some time. She really stood out from crowd. I personally loved Rosa’s place in the novel, her wise observations on the events going on around her was endearing.
In terms of the narrative, I enjoyed and felt very entertained by this novel from the start to the close of the book. I found myself quickly drawn into the busy peach harvest season and through Oswald’s storytelling abilities, I often felt like I was a bystander, watching all the events from this book unfold. As a mother, I was able to relate to Celia and understand her struggle between allowing her daughter Zoe assert her independence and wanting to protect her from no good. I had a horrible sinking feeling in my stomach as Zoe was drawn to Kieran and the turn of events between these two young people left me feeling just as frantic as Celia. All I can say is Oswald approaches this scenario of a teen gone off the rails and a mother trying to pick up the pieces with realism and insight. Kudos to Oswald for tackling this situation headfirst, in an authentic manner.
By far the thrill of this novel came from the orchard scenes. I was taken aback by Oswald’s rich descriptions of a typical working day on a busy stone fruit orchard. I breathed in the pungent scent of the ripe fruit, ready for picking. I could envisage the tractor amongst the orchard, as well as the all important sorting and packing process with accomplished worker Rosa. I could also literally feel the sweat and sticky heat of the sun beating down on the workers, their bodies heavily laden with the bulging picking bags of peaches. I could be greedy and say I wanted more of these farms scenes, as I took great enjoyment in these sections of the narrative. I loved the opportunity this storyline presented to learn about the peach farming industry, thanks Debra! I liked how timeline wise, we get a full season of fruit picking through the sequence of the events that take place in the book.
Although I would class The Whole Bright Year as an entertaining read, buried beneath the surface of this book is some serious issues indeed. Oswald examines the difficult territory of parenting a teen and in doing so, tackles a dangerous form of first love. She pulls apart this situation with skill and introspection. Overall, it is a very tumultuous ride for all the characters in this book, with some surprising and not so surprising results.
The Whole Bright Year is firmly rooted in the nostalgic seventies. I loved being transported to this not too distant age in Australia’s past. The pop culture and references to everyday fixtures (games and phones) reminds us of how far we have come. However, falling in love for the first time and the pressure of parenting a wayward teen alone are very much the same problems faced by those today, as in the past. A very real and visceral tale, The Whole Bright Year is a book that I would not hesitate to recommend.
The Whole Bright Year is book #21 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
February 27, 2018
The Whole Bright Year is the second adult novel by Australian playwright, television scriptwriter and author, Debra Oswald. Young widow Celia Janson and her sixteen-year-old daughter Zoe were picking the peaches by themselves. Old Roza, their fruit packer, watched from the shed. Their regular pickers hadn’t turned up and the ripe Red Havens needed to be picked this week.
When Roza’s son Joe turned up with a tattooed young bloke and his pierced older sister, a pair he’d rescued when their car broke down, Celia was uncertain. She wanted to be cautious, to refuse. Without a car, they’d need to stay onsite, and to Celia, they were an unknown quantity.
Celia had come to the farm fifteen years earlier determined to give her baby daughter a safe and secure life, something she no longer trusted of the City. Ironically, Sheena had dragged Kieran away from the City for a similar reason, although this spiky woman wasn’t prepared to spill their life stories to Celia.
Desperate circumstances saw Celia taking them in as pickers: she would get her peaches picked; they would earn enough to get the car back on the road. No one there just then could have anticipated quite how profoundly it would change all their lives.
Oswald’s characters have depth and appeal and the reader cannot help but care about their fates. Firm favourites are likely to be the irrepressible Kieran, whose joy is infectious, and the solid and steady Joe. Oswald firmly anchors her tale in the late 70s with games, TV shows, music and current events and, while it’s a world devoid of social media, mobile phones and other electronic devices, it is bound to arouse some nostalgia in readers of a certain vintage. Social attitudes (a persistent undercurrent of xenophobia) and considering foods like stuffed peppers as exotic also reflect the times.
Oswald’s descriptive prose will make the reader want to pick a peach, hold it up to the nose, inhale deeply, and then take a bite, letting the juice run down the chin. But those descriptive talents can also evoke the opposite: “For Christmas, Heather went in for torturing the food into shapes. This year there was a bright-green jelly mould with chunks of vegetables trapped inside, surrounded by a wreath of lurid yellow Cheezels. Some kind of tinned fish has been mixed with artificial substances and what appeared to be a can of pineapple chunks, then formed into a fish shape. Heather was clearly most proud of an object shaped like an igloo made from ‘Deb’ dehydrated potato, with a sausage-meat interior. The reconstituted mashed potato formed a dry grey crust like an unfortunate skin condition, and the stuffing gave off a greasy smell like dishwater left in a sink too long, the smell of resigned misery.”
Oswald’s thoroughly credible plot explores the balance between protecting our children and letting them experience life, the pitfalls of judging on appearances, and the anxiety and heartbreak that result when a loved one goes missing. There’s no Hollywood happily-ever-after ending but a believable conclusion. Funny, heart-warming and thought-provoking, this one is even better than Oswald’s debut novel.
When Roza’s son Joe turned up with a tattooed young bloke and his pierced older sister, a pair he’d rescued when their car broke down, Celia was uncertain. She wanted to be cautious, to refuse. Without a car, they’d need to stay onsite, and to Celia, they were an unknown quantity.
Celia had come to the farm fifteen years earlier determined to give her baby daughter a safe and secure life, something she no longer trusted of the City. Ironically, Sheena had dragged Kieran away from the City for a similar reason, although this spiky woman wasn’t prepared to spill their life stories to Celia.
Desperate circumstances saw Celia taking them in as pickers: she would get her peaches picked; they would earn enough to get the car back on the road. No one there just then could have anticipated quite how profoundly it would change all their lives.
Oswald’s characters have depth and appeal and the reader cannot help but care about their fates. Firm favourites are likely to be the irrepressible Kieran, whose joy is infectious, and the solid and steady Joe. Oswald firmly anchors her tale in the late 70s with games, TV shows, music and current events and, while it’s a world devoid of social media, mobile phones and other electronic devices, it is bound to arouse some nostalgia in readers of a certain vintage. Social attitudes (a persistent undercurrent of xenophobia) and considering foods like stuffed peppers as exotic also reflect the times.
Oswald’s descriptive prose will make the reader want to pick a peach, hold it up to the nose, inhale deeply, and then take a bite, letting the juice run down the chin. But those descriptive talents can also evoke the opposite: “For Christmas, Heather went in for torturing the food into shapes. This year there was a bright-green jelly mould with chunks of vegetables trapped inside, surrounded by a wreath of lurid yellow Cheezels. Some kind of tinned fish has been mixed with artificial substances and what appeared to be a can of pineapple chunks, then formed into a fish shape. Heather was clearly most proud of an object shaped like an igloo made from ‘Deb’ dehydrated potato, with a sausage-meat interior. The reconstituted mashed potato formed a dry grey crust like an unfortunate skin condition, and the stuffing gave off a greasy smell like dishwater left in a sink too long, the smell of resigned misery.”
Oswald’s thoroughly credible plot explores the balance between protecting our children and letting them experience life, the pitfalls of judging on appearances, and the anxiety and heartbreak that result when a loved one goes missing. There’s no Hollywood happily-ever-after ending but a believable conclusion. Funny, heart-warming and thought-provoking, this one is even better than Oswald’s debut novel.
March 5, 2019
I love Debra Oswald's work for TV, but this novel just didn't grab me like I thought it would. The orchard setting was fabulous and I really felt that it came to life for me, but I didn't particularly care for any of the characters and the plot didn't give me anything I haven't read before. Just OK for me.
March 18, 2018
I loved this book. Debra has created heartwarming characters who leap off the page and become real people with whom the reader has a personal relationship. The plot is compelling. This book is a great accomplishment. Looking forward to the next novel by Debra Oswald.
January 9, 2021
The Whole Bright Year is the second adult novel by Australian playwright, television scriptwriter and author, Debra Oswald. The audio version is narrated by Maria Angelico. Young widow Celia Janson and her sixteen-year-old daughter Zoe were picking the peaches by themselves. Old Roza, their fruit packer, watched from the shed. Their regular pickers hadn’t turned up and the ripe Red Havens needed to be picked this week.
When Roza’s son Joe turned up with a tattooed young bloke and his pierced older sister, a pair he’d rescued when their car broke down, Celia was uncertain. She wanted to be cautious, to refuse. Without a car, they’d need to stay onsite, and to Celia, they were an unknown quantity.
Celia had come to the farm fifteen years earlier determined to give her baby daughter a safe and secure life, something she no longer trusted of the City. Ironically, Sheena had dragged Kieran away from the City for a similar reason, although this spiky woman wasn’t prepared to spill their life stories to Celia.
Desperate circumstances saw Celia taking them in as pickers: she would get her peaches picked; they would earn enough to get the car back on the road. No one there just then could have anticipated quite how profoundly it would change all their lives.
Oswald’s characters have depth and appeal and the reader cannot help but care about their fates. Firm favourites are likely to be the irrepressible Kieran, whose joy is infectious, and the solid and steady Joe. Oswald firmly anchors her tale in the late 70s with games, TV shows, music and current events and, while it’s a world devoid of social media, mobile phones and other electronic devices, it is bound to arouse some nostalgia in readers of a certain vintage. Social attitudes (a persistent undercurrent of xenophobia) and considering foods like stuffed peppers as exotic also reflect the times.
Oswald’s descriptive prose will make the reader want to pick a peach, hold it up to the nose, inhale deeply, and then take a bite, letting the juice run down the chin. But those descriptive talents can also evoke the opposite: “For Christmas, Heather went in for torturing the food into shapes. This year there was a bright-green jelly mould with chunks of vegetables trapped inside, surrounded by a wreath of lurid yellow Cheezels. Some kind of tinned fish has been mixed with artificial substances and what appeared to be a can of pineapple chunks, then formed into a fish shape. Heather was clearly most proud of an object shaped like an igloo made from ‘Deb’ dehydrated potato, with a sausage-meat interior. The reconstituted mashed potato formed a dry grey crust like an unfortunate skin condition, and the stuffing gave off a greasy smell like dishwater left in a sink too long, the smell of resigned misery.”
Oswald’s thoroughly credible plot explores the balance between protecting our children and letting them experience life, the pitfalls of judging on appearances, and the anxiety and heartbreak that result when a loved one goes missing. There’s no Hollywood happily-ever-after ending but a believable conclusion. Funny, heart-warming and thought-provoking, this one is even better than Oswald’s debut novel.
When Roza’s son Joe turned up with a tattooed young bloke and his pierced older sister, a pair he’d rescued when their car broke down, Celia was uncertain. She wanted to be cautious, to refuse. Without a car, they’d need to stay onsite, and to Celia, they were an unknown quantity.
Celia had come to the farm fifteen years earlier determined to give her baby daughter a safe and secure life, something she no longer trusted of the City. Ironically, Sheena had dragged Kieran away from the City for a similar reason, although this spiky woman wasn’t prepared to spill their life stories to Celia.
Desperate circumstances saw Celia taking them in as pickers: she would get her peaches picked; they would earn enough to get the car back on the road. No one there just then could have anticipated quite how profoundly it would change all their lives.
Oswald’s characters have depth and appeal and the reader cannot help but care about their fates. Firm favourites are likely to be the irrepressible Kieran, whose joy is infectious, and the solid and steady Joe. Oswald firmly anchors her tale in the late 70s with games, TV shows, music and current events and, while it’s a world devoid of social media, mobile phones and other electronic devices, it is bound to arouse some nostalgia in readers of a certain vintage. Social attitudes (a persistent undercurrent of xenophobia) and considering foods like stuffed peppers as exotic also reflect the times.
Oswald’s descriptive prose will make the reader want to pick a peach, hold it up to the nose, inhale deeply, and then take a bite, letting the juice run down the chin. But those descriptive talents can also evoke the opposite: “For Christmas, Heather went in for torturing the food into shapes. This year there was a bright-green jelly mould with chunks of vegetables trapped inside, surrounded by a wreath of lurid yellow Cheezels. Some kind of tinned fish has been mixed with artificial substances and what appeared to be a can of pineapple chunks, then formed into a fish shape. Heather was clearly most proud of an object shaped like an igloo made from ‘Deb’ dehydrated potato, with a sausage-meat interior. The reconstituted mashed potato formed a dry grey crust like an unfortunate skin condition, and the stuffing gave off a greasy smell like dishwater left in a sink too long, the smell of resigned misery.”
Oswald’s thoroughly credible plot explores the balance between protecting our children and letting them experience life, the pitfalls of judging on appearances, and the anxiety and heartbreak that result when a loved one goes missing. There’s no Hollywood happily-ever-after ending but a believable conclusion. Funny, heart-warming and thought-provoking, this one is even better than Oswald’s debut novel.
February 6, 2019
I found this book left me wanting to know more about the characters, I felt they weren’t explained properly and the events in this book seemed rushed, there was no real build up other then ‘young love’ which I completely understand can happen but the circumstances seemed unrealistic considering Zoe and Kieran only knew each other for 10 days. I felt the Cecilia and Joe thing quite restrained and unexplained, even more so that Joe had sex with Sheena and nothing came about it other then ‘a good fucking was needed’
The scenes were painted perfectly for me, such as the peach farm and the rigorous work that came with it and I felt it was going into something quite nice but morphed into something unexpected which unfortunately I didn’t enjoy.
2.5 Stars ⭐️
The scenes were painted perfectly for me, such as the peach farm and the rigorous work that came with it and I felt it was going into something quite nice but morphed into something unexpected which unfortunately I didn’t enjoy.
2.5 Stars ⭐️
February 22, 2018
My favorite of Debra's books so far.
April 4, 2018
An outstanding book which I read almost in one sitting. Beautifully written with a story line that continues to build up and till the last page. Highly recommended.
April 5, 2018
I loved this novel. Wonderful story line of a mother who yearns to hold on
to her child to keep her safe from life, and the daughter who needs to break
away to make that life. The other interlocking characters - Roza, Sheena,
Kieran, Joe , each have stories that bring tenderness and tension to the
story, as well as a lot of humour. A must read.
to her child to keep her safe from life, and the daughter who needs to break
away to make that life. The other interlocking characters - Roza, Sheena,
Kieran, Joe , each have stories that bring tenderness and tension to the
story, as well as a lot of humour. A must read.
July 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this gritty Australian novel. The story of Celia and her 16 year old daughter, Zoe who together, run a peach orchard. Their relationship seems fine until brother and sister, Kieran and Sheena come along as itinerant fruit-pickers.
The minute cracks in Celia and Zoe's relationship, crack wide open when Kieran and Zoe run away together.
The minute cracks in Celia and Zoe's relationship, crack wide open when Kieran and Zoe run away together.
May 26, 2025
A tender family drama, featuring self-discovery, protective love and grief. Set in 1976 in Australia.
February 4, 2018
2.5 stars. This book started out doing ok. I was liking the characters and the peach farm setting. Then things had to turn ugly and I started to hate Zoe and Kieren and there behaviour. I really disliked how childish Zoe had become. I never like Kieren to start with but his choices that he made we infuriating for an 18yr old boy.
I still liked Roza and Celia and I didn’t see why she was the issue for Zoe when all Celia was doing was being a parent!
This angered me and I just couldn’t stand Zoe and Kieren as characters and it made me hate them with there childish behaviour.
I also didn’t need to know in graffic detail how the two dogs died, that made me vomit
I still liked Roza and Celia and I didn’t see why she was the issue for Zoe when all Celia was doing was being a parent!
This angered me and I just couldn’t stand Zoe and Kieren as characters and it made me hate them with there childish behaviour.
I also didn’t need to know in graffic detail how the two dogs died, that made me vomit
December 30, 2024
(4.5 stars) This book needs to be made into a movie, from about 15 pages in I knew I was going to absolutely fall in love with this book and I sure did.
I love the Aussie humour and casual language it carried throughout. I also relate to a small degree, as I grew up on a farm and know what the long days and heat are like and found myself reminiscing on central west NSW in the beginning of the book as it was so descriptive, I knew exactly what the author was talking about. I’ve never read an Australian based novel but I need to add more to my list, this opened me up to a broader appreciation for Australian authors and books and I certainly need to dive deeper into that. The author has created heartwarming characters, setting and plot which creates a unique experience and relationship with the reader which I LOVE. Although until I noticed, Kieran was extremely childish, he actually did my head in at times. There were also times that were VERY slow, and I felt there were bits of ‘context’ and details we didn’t need which dragged the book along. I feel as if I was expecting the book to be mostly from Zoe and Kieran’s perspective of leaving, instead it was mostly Sheena’s and Celia’s which left me clueless for a large chunk of the book. Based off the blurb I thought it would have been more about the couple fleeing. Chapter 17 was where is started to pick up again and had me screaming at the book in so many ways mostly because of Kierans foolishness but also the fact that it was brushed over about what really happened to Zoe and as to why Zoe and Kieran were split. Also from here on is where the twists started showing up too, especially the introduction of Mick he infuriated me. The dog scene was beyond me, I didn’t expect that at all, I had to put the book down and walk away. I completely skipped that and went onto the next chapter. I also wanted more clarity at the end of the book, like what was Kieran doing after he got out of prison?
I love the Aussie humour and casual language it carried throughout. I also relate to a small degree, as I grew up on a farm and know what the long days and heat are like and found myself reminiscing on central west NSW in the beginning of the book as it was so descriptive, I knew exactly what the author was talking about. I’ve never read an Australian based novel but I need to add more to my list, this opened me up to a broader appreciation for Australian authors and books and I certainly need to dive deeper into that. The author has created heartwarming characters, setting and plot which creates a unique experience and relationship with the reader which I LOVE. Although until I noticed, Kieran was extremely childish, he actually did my head in at times. There were also times that were VERY slow, and I felt there were bits of ‘context’ and details we didn’t need which dragged the book along. I feel as if I was expecting the book to be mostly from Zoe and Kieran’s perspective of leaving, instead it was mostly Sheena’s and Celia’s which left me clueless for a large chunk of the book. Based off the blurb I thought it would have been more about the couple fleeing. Chapter 17 was where is started to pick up again and had me screaming at the book in so many ways mostly because of Kierans foolishness but also the fact that it was brushed over about what really happened to Zoe and as to why Zoe and Kieran were split. Also from here on is where the twists started showing up too, especially the introduction of Mick he infuriated me. The dog scene was beyond me, I didn’t expect that at all, I had to put the book down and walk away. I completely skipped that and went onto the next chapter. I also wanted more clarity at the end of the book, like what was Kieran doing after he got out of prison?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
Loved this Australian based book. Debra s grasp of trauma, youth, substance use and mental health issues is exceptional. She is such a talented story teller who has made a simple easy read out of a heavy set of incidents.
The sucker for romance in me wishes for a different ending, yet I know that only happens in stories.
The sucker for romance in me wishes for a different ending, yet I know that only happens in stories.
March 11, 2018
*Slight spoilers ahead.*
Apparently this is the novel of Debra Oswald's play The Peach Season. Play, book, we are in the hands of a masterful writer here. At first I didn't think I'd be interested in the outworkings of an unusual (but obviously on-the-run-and-desperate) fruit picker taking off with the teenage daughter of the orchard owner, herself widowed by a violent act. But I really enjoyed Oswald's first book Useful, so was more or less happy to go with the flow and give it a go. That, and the fact Debra Oswald is talking at my library this week. Turns out going with the flow worked out well for me, with a ripper story. Each character is marvellously portrayed, and the book itself is almost film in motion, very visual. I'm now longing for a peach. My only complaint is I'd like to get inside Zoe's head a bit more. Her runaway act seemed very sudden, and her stubborn refusal to even ring her mother slightly inexplicable. Anyway, an excellent read.
Apparently this is the novel of Debra Oswald's play The Peach Season. Play, book, we are in the hands of a masterful writer here. At first I didn't think I'd be interested in the outworkings of an unusual (but obviously on-the-run-and-desperate) fruit picker taking off with the teenage daughter of the orchard owner, herself widowed by a violent act. But I really enjoyed Oswald's first book Useful, so was more or less happy to go with the flow and give it a go. That, and the fact Debra Oswald is talking at my library this week. Turns out going with the flow worked out well for me, with a ripper story. Each character is marvellously portrayed, and the book itself is almost film in motion, very visual. I'm now longing for a peach. My only complaint is I'd like to get inside Zoe's head a bit more. Her runaway act seemed very sudden, and her stubborn refusal to even ring her mother slightly inexplicable. Anyway, an excellent read.
March 14, 2018
There was something a bit wrong with the timestamp of this novel. It was meant to be 1976 but it was basically today sans mobile phones and the internet. That sort of thing really irritates me, but if you can look past that it wasn’t a bad story.
March 15, 2018
It almost felt like a young adult book. The sense of the 1970s was not that strong, apart from a couple of food references. Hard to believe the police didn't do more, given the time the under-age character was missing.
March 2, 2019
What a great read. I've heard of this author but never watched her tv shows. She drew such vivid characters and the plot twisted and turned beautifully. I felt empathy for all of them except the wife!
February 8, 2018
A bright and intriguing read...
A little slow to start, this was an enjoyable read, that went where I didn't expect it to go! Highly recommended!
A little slow to start, this was an enjoyable read, that went where I didn't expect it to go! Highly recommended!
May 8, 2018
Unexpected, flawed, compelling characters. Loved seeing how they came though.
May 1, 2019
Gripping then profound. Loved this. Have now read a second time and loved it even more. I love the way it's so unexpected in terms of how the characters shift, change and grow.
February 25, 2019
We’d have to go back to ‘The Secret Life of Us’ for a more engaging home grown tele comedy-drama series than ‘Offspring’. We’d have to go back to Clive James’ ‘Unreliable Memoirs’ for a funnier and more engrossing chronicle of growing up in Oz than ‘Flesh Wounds’. The award winning small-screen success that ran for seven seasons was written by Debra Oswald. The autobiography came from the pen of Richard Glover, Sydney newspaper columnist and radio identity. Both had new books, that I’ve just caught up with, in ‘18. They are wife and husband.
Sometimes it’s no easy task to move from one form of writing to another, so I am led to believe, but Oswald does it seamlessly. She has produced another gem, to accompany her small screen offering, with her new novel ‘The Whole Bright Year’. This the author developed from her stage play, ‘The Peach Season’. An offspring too is front and centre. Zoe, only child of widowed orchard owning Celia, hasn’t caused a great deal of angst for her mother during her teenagerhood. That changes when hard-bitten Sheena and her ‘all over the shop’ step-brother, Keiran, arrive to do some peach picking. It’s not a peach from a tree that the 18 year lad starts to take liberties with. As for Zoe, she turns out to be no shrinking violet either. The mother daughter relationship starts to go awry as Zoe takes a shine to the unreliable young man with the law on his tail. He’s been rescued from his bad big city influences by his half-sister and Sheena is determined to keep him on the straight and narrow. But she hadn’t reckoned with Zoe. When his past does catch up with him, Celia has a crisis on her hands – how much can she interfere in her daughter’s affairs? Neighbour Roza and her unhappily married son Joe are good guys to have in your corner as events spiral out of hand.
Single motherhood, first love and the kindness of friends all figure in this warm novel of ripe fruit and unsavoury city life versus the healing powers of going bush. I enjoyed it so much.
Hubby does pretty well with ‘The Land Before Avocado’ as well. It’s hard to imagine that, in the decade that produced safari suits, the wine cask and non-compulsory seat-belt wearing, avocados were still to emerge in their rightful place as top of the food chain for the scene setters of today. Glover takes us back to a time when homosexuality was outlawed, kids roamed freely from breakfast to dark and the execrable fondue was the height of dining sophistication. The author takes our hand as we transverse the landscape looking for its pluses and minuses – and the latter wins hands down. He gives us plenty of evidence for this – sometimes too much – to show we have it far better these days of digitality and hand-held connection to the planet, despite their pitfalls. Glover conducted much of his research in the magazines of the time, designed for the fairer gender, particularly the Women’s Weekly. He was very interested in the recipes. Most contained huge dollops of mayonnaise. In the book he’s at his best when writing on such topics as the family diet, life for kids and the archaic divorce laws. But his assertion that the only aspect of the 70s that was superior to today was the music. Really? What a fuddy-duddy. There’s no qualms when it comes to the 21st Century being better for gays, indigenous peoples, gender balance, attitudes to migration and multiculturalism as well as equality of the sexes. But, boys and girls, we still have a way to go. Oh, and our tucker’s improved immensely.
So, if you can’t remember or imagine what life was like before the av and social media, take a trip back in time with Richard Glover. He presents a world that would be almost alien to the millennials. I survived it, almost unscathed. Maybe you did too. Would I want to go back there? No way. This book answered that.
Sometimes it’s no easy task to move from one form of writing to another, so I am led to believe, but Oswald does it seamlessly. She has produced another gem, to accompany her small screen offering, with her new novel ‘The Whole Bright Year’. This the author developed from her stage play, ‘The Peach Season’. An offspring too is front and centre. Zoe, only child of widowed orchard owning Celia, hasn’t caused a great deal of angst for her mother during her teenagerhood. That changes when hard-bitten Sheena and her ‘all over the shop’ step-brother, Keiran, arrive to do some peach picking. It’s not a peach from a tree that the 18 year lad starts to take liberties with. As for Zoe, she turns out to be no shrinking violet either. The mother daughter relationship starts to go awry as Zoe takes a shine to the unreliable young man with the law on his tail. He’s been rescued from his bad big city influences by his half-sister and Sheena is determined to keep him on the straight and narrow. But she hadn’t reckoned with Zoe. When his past does catch up with him, Celia has a crisis on her hands – how much can she interfere in her daughter’s affairs? Neighbour Roza and her unhappily married son Joe are good guys to have in your corner as events spiral out of hand.
Single motherhood, first love and the kindness of friends all figure in this warm novel of ripe fruit and unsavoury city life versus the healing powers of going bush. I enjoyed it so much.
Hubby does pretty well with ‘The Land Before Avocado’ as well. It’s hard to imagine that, in the decade that produced safari suits, the wine cask and non-compulsory seat-belt wearing, avocados were still to emerge in their rightful place as top of the food chain for the scene setters of today. Glover takes us back to a time when homosexuality was outlawed, kids roamed freely from breakfast to dark and the execrable fondue was the height of dining sophistication. The author takes our hand as we transverse the landscape looking for its pluses and minuses – and the latter wins hands down. He gives us plenty of evidence for this – sometimes too much – to show we have it far better these days of digitality and hand-held connection to the planet, despite their pitfalls. Glover conducted much of his research in the magazines of the time, designed for the fairer gender, particularly the Women’s Weekly. He was very interested in the recipes. Most contained huge dollops of mayonnaise. In the book he’s at his best when writing on such topics as the family diet, life for kids and the archaic divorce laws. But his assertion that the only aspect of the 70s that was superior to today was the music. Really? What a fuddy-duddy. There’s no qualms when it comes to the 21st Century being better for gays, indigenous peoples, gender balance, attitudes to migration and multiculturalism as well as equality of the sexes. But, boys and girls, we still have a way to go. Oh, and our tucker’s improved immensely.
So, if you can’t remember or imagine what life was like before the av and social media, take a trip back in time with Richard Glover. He presents a world that would be almost alien to the millennials. I survived it, almost unscathed. Maybe you did too. Would I want to go back there? No way. This book answered that.
April 17, 2018
A single mum, hard working Celia - running a stone fruit orchard- is mother to Zoe, a caring, passionate, intelligent, focused teenager. While reading Debra Oswald’s ‘The Whole Bright Year’ I sat back and contemplated while sipping on my @duejolly Rosé- having just been blessed with our adorable granddaughter- I suddenly thought oh wow! What does my daughter have ahead of her! She now has her own daughter, and I’m thinking just like my girl- intelligent, caring, feisty, loving, curious, empathetic, enquiring- the list of my daughter’s attributes is endless- she is also a talented musician and the most amazing teacher- can you tell how much I love this beautiful person- which she is totally inside and out. Oh yeah I was writing this book review From my take this lovely story is about how much a parent loves their child and how much they want to protect them. It also reminds me of my elder sister- the eldest daughter and third eldest of 9 kids. My ‘Sis’ was amazing; yeah I may have washed the dishes and stirred the copper full of nappies (younger readers may need to google ‘coppers’) not to be confused with police. But my Sis was the 2IC who took charge when Mum and Dad were otherwise occupied. I feel there is a beautiful tribute to siblings looking after their younger siblings- and the helplessness of parents just trying to do the right thing coming up against teenagers who rightly want to forge ahead with their own lives- but also wanting their parents’ love without the parental restraint. This book takes you back to the 1970’s ... sorry Mum and dad - I get it now.
March 16, 2018
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The Whole Bright Year by Debra Oswald. (2018).
This story is set in Australia in 1976 on a stone-fruit orchard where Celia, a widowed single mother, lives with her 16 year old daughter Zoe. Sheena and her 18 year old wildchild brother Kieran come to work as fruit pickers on the orchard. Sparks fly between Zoe and Kieran which could lead to strife as Kieran has a troubled past and Celia struggles with anxieties and stress for her daughter.
It's a very easy read, I finished it in about 3 hours. The story starts slow and then picks up pace about halfway through. As a mother myself I found Celia's anxieties for her daughter were relatable and I could easily imagine stressing about your 16 year old daughter, particularly your daughter experiencing first love with a young man who doesn't seem to be the best influence. All of the characters in this novel are well written and each had quirks/struggles that made them human with vulnerabilities.I liked that the story was plausible and had a realistic ending rather than finishing in the usual happily-ever-after ending that one may expect.
The Whole Bright Year by Debra Oswald. (2018).
This story is set in Australia in 1976 on a stone-fruit orchard where Celia, a widowed single mother, lives with her 16 year old daughter Zoe. Sheena and her 18 year old wildchild brother Kieran come to work as fruit pickers on the orchard. Sparks fly between Zoe and Kieran which could lead to strife as Kieran has a troubled past and Celia struggles with anxieties and stress for her daughter.
It's a very easy read, I finished it in about 3 hours. The story starts slow and then picks up pace about halfway through. As a mother myself I found Celia's anxieties for her daughter were relatable and I could easily imagine stressing about your 16 year old daughter, particularly your daughter experiencing first love with a young man who doesn't seem to be the best influence. All of the characters in this novel are well written and each had quirks/struggles that made them human with vulnerabilities.I liked that the story was plausible and had a realistic ending rather than finishing in the usual happily-ever-after ending that one may expect.
October 18, 2018
This book is divided into two parts, and my reaction to the two was quite different. I really liked Part One, centred around the peach harvest and the blossoming of a youthful romance. The characters were nicely developed, and I particularly liked the ageing Roza (whose recipes reminded me of my grandmother's) and the prickly Sheena.
Part Two didn't sit so well with me. I couldn't relate to the motivations behind many of the characters' decisions, which was frustrating after enjoying their development in Part One. The ending felt rushed and was a bit unsatisfying for me. But I liked the way the last chapter of the book returns to the peach harvest, completing the circle of the year and hinting at the continuing growth of the characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but greatly preferred the first half.
Part Two didn't sit so well with me. I couldn't relate to the motivations behind many of the characters' decisions, which was frustrating after enjoying their development in Part One. The ending felt rushed and was a bit unsatisfying for me. But I liked the way the last chapter of the book returns to the peach harvest, completing the circle of the year and hinting at the continuing growth of the characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but greatly preferred the first half.
March 12, 2018
A gritty novel that takes us back to the mid 70s and is set mainly amongst peach tree orchards. Starting at the peak of picking season two interesting characters enter the world of Celia and Zoe and end up turning everyone's lives upside down. The novel highlights how quickly things can turn for the worse or the better, depending on what choices are made. A solid read, a strong 3.5 stars, couldn't quite move it to a 4.
August 31, 2018
I expected more from this novel because of Debra Oswald's screenwriting and plays. It reads more like a young adult novel than one for those over 18. Set in 1976 but one only knows this from clues (Mousetrap game for Christmas) if one lived through it. It is not until almost one third in to the book that the year is mentioned. The characters have little redeeming features and so much of the storyline is unbelievable. I was sorry I didn't enjoy this more.
March 31, 2022
A heartfelt story of a widowed mother Celia wanting her only child Zoe with her for as long as possible, but the arrival of Kieran and Sheena as unexpected itinerant workers on the orchard, shatters her dream, as Kieran and Zoe become lovers and run away. The story covers Celia trying to find Zoe then turns to Sheena before coming to the concluded end, colourful characters, emotions with Roza, the old Hungarian neighbour my favourite.
June 1, 2024
An easy read on a rainy day.
The narrator for the audiobook was really good. I don’t listen to many Aussie narrators but this one captured the different characters really well.
I got absorbed into the story unfolding and the orchard fruit picking scenes sounded like back breaking work. I could imagine this playing out on the screen.
I liked the places I could identify around Sydney. Such a different time in the 70s.
The narrator for the audiobook was really good. I don’t listen to many Aussie narrators but this one captured the different characters really well.
I got absorbed into the story unfolding and the orchard fruit picking scenes sounded like back breaking work. I could imagine this playing out on the screen.
I liked the places I could identify around Sydney. Such a different time in the 70s.
March 9, 2025
I listened to this as an audiobook and it was delightful - the characters are all very endearing, and the narration is excellent.
Plot-wise it travels along well enough, but it was the individual characters - all slightly troubled in their own ways yet none self-indulgently so - and the telling of the tale that got me plugging in my earphones whenever I found an opportunity to hear the next chapter unfold.
Plot-wise it travels along well enough, but it was the individual characters - all slightly troubled in their own ways yet none self-indulgently so - and the telling of the tale that got me plugging in my earphones whenever I found an opportunity to hear the next chapter unfold.
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