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Walking to the Moon
When I stood up I could not see my mother. She was not on the beach, and when I looked back across the water she was not there either. I asked, or was about to ask, where she had gone when I saw something floating a little way off, not far from the shore. In the icy elongated moment that followed I could neither move nor hear nor speak.
A woman wakes from a coma, its cause unknown. She refuses to see her family; she does not say why. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she becomes stronger. Now she will walk. Where?
Walking to the Moon, Kate Cole-Adams' enthralling, seductive first novel is both a psychological journey and a piercing exploration of abandonment and loss. A work of striking subtlety and maturity, it heralds the arrival of a brilliant new voice in Australian literature
A woman wakes from a coma, its cause unknown. She refuses to see her family; she does not say why. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she becomes stronger. Now she will walk. Where?
Walking to the Moon, Kate Cole-Adams' enthralling, seductive first novel is both a psychological journey and a piercing exploration of abandonment and loss. A work of striking subtlety and maturity, it heralds the arrival of a brilliant new voice in Australian literature
- GenresAustralia
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Kate Cole-Adams
3 books22 followersKate Cole-Adams is a writer and journalist. She lives with her family in Melbourne. Walking to the Moon is her first novel, and was shortlisted in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards (Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript) in 2006. It was published by Text Publishing in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 5, 2014
Rating and review to come. Needs some thought.
This is a hard book to review. Much of the writing is beautiful prose. The first paragraph alone was enough to convince me I wanted to read this book. The cover helped too. I found it a haunting cover that suited the theme. But back to the writing. One line that struck me as true was, ’illness pares you away: manners, appetite, ego, past.’ I liked the description of ‘clouds, which have been combed across the sky by some high wind.’ And the descriptor of charred trees, ’Everything is burnt. Up here the trees are black twigs, pushed into th ground by a child, brittle scarecrow arms raised to the sky.’ Those who have seen our bush after a bush fire will not be able to forget that image.
The story concerns a woman coming out of a coma. Giving no reasons why, she refuses to see her husband or her young daughter. What a telling sentence when the narrator says about her handwriting, ’Everything is designed to conceal, to make sure the person next to me cannot see into my mind.’ That could almost be a metaphor for the novel as the narrator tries to not give away too much of herself to doctors and health care workers. This is a book about memories, love and loss and how it shapes a person. I found the writing interesting mostly. It is not a page turner but moves along at a languid pace.
When the author can write such beautifully and gently descriptive passages that convey so much, I struggled to understand when she then resorted to cruder language. For example instead of staying ‘made love’ she used the cruder term and went into far too much detail at times for this reader. I also found it hard to relate to Jess, the main character and narrator, and felt detached from her. But maybe that was the point? She held the reader at a distance.
This is a hard book to review. Much of the writing is beautiful prose. The first paragraph alone was enough to convince me I wanted to read this book. The cover helped too. I found it a haunting cover that suited the theme. But back to the writing. One line that struck me as true was, ’illness pares you away: manners, appetite, ego, past.’ I liked the description of ‘clouds, which have been combed across the sky by some high wind.’ And the descriptor of charred trees, ’Everything is burnt. Up here the trees are black twigs, pushed into th ground by a child, brittle scarecrow arms raised to the sky.’ Those who have seen our bush after a bush fire will not be able to forget that image.
The story concerns a woman coming out of a coma. Giving no reasons why, she refuses to see her husband or her young daughter. What a telling sentence when the narrator says about her handwriting, ’Everything is designed to conceal, to make sure the person next to me cannot see into my mind.’ That could almost be a metaphor for the novel as the narrator tries to not give away too much of herself to doctors and health care workers. This is a book about memories, love and loss and how it shapes a person. I found the writing interesting mostly. It is not a page turner but moves along at a languid pace.
When the author can write such beautifully and gently descriptive passages that convey so much, I struggled to understand when she then resorted to cruder language. For example instead of staying ‘made love’ she used the cruder term and went into far too much detail at times for this reader. I also found it hard to relate to Jess, the main character and narrator, and felt detached from her. But maybe that was the point? She held the reader at a distance.
March 5, 2025
If you want to read a story without a satisfactory ending, this is the one for you. There are moments of brilliance in this book, moments when you think that the substance will add up to something. It did not, which I found frustrating.
The main character is not particularly likeable, so self absorbed that it was difficult to invest any sympathy or interest in her story.
Would I read another book from this author? Yes. In the hope that she will create the masterpiece she seems capable of doing.
The main character is not particularly likeable, so self absorbed that it was difficult to invest any sympathy or interest in her story.
Would I read another book from this author? Yes. In the hope that she will create the masterpiece she seems capable of doing.
August 23, 2022
Although it is a beautifully written prose, I had a hard time understanding the purpose of the story. Unless we should treat as a zen-diary where path is the purpose. 🤔
I understand the pain, I didn’t had a climactic ending, as if there’re more to be said and done. However, it must’ve been simply not my vibe and a poor timing for our encounter with the book.
I understand the pain, I didn’t had a climactic ending, as if there’re more to be said and done. However, it must’ve been simply not my vibe and a poor timing for our encounter with the book.
October 21, 2016
Vague, wishy washy, self indulgent and unresolved plots bound up with pleasant prose that at times is brilliant. Basically, why bother?
March 3, 2012
Walking to the Moon is a sensitive treatment of a very difficult subject - depression in all its varying forms. The main character Jess's type of depression is not directly stated but manifests as a detachment from her family.
Jess has suffered two blows to her psyche, one in the present and one in the past. The author Cole-Adams skillfully weaves between the two, gradually unfolding both stories. This is the strength of the novel for me and the lyrical writing.
My only criticism would be that sometimes it is hard to sympathise with the Jess. But maybe that is Karma as I have received the same criticism for my main character Jane. All the writer can do is render the character as truthfully as possible and not worry about what every single reader will think. Obviously some will sympathise and some will not.
Jess has suffered two blows to her psyche, one in the present and one in the past. The author Cole-Adams skillfully weaves between the two, gradually unfolding both stories. This is the strength of the novel for me and the lyrical writing.
My only criticism would be that sometimes it is hard to sympathise with the Jess. But maybe that is Karma as I have received the same criticism for my main character Jane. All the writer can do is render the character as truthfully as possible and not worry about what every single reader will think. Obviously some will sympathise and some will not.
January 13, 2011
I thought this was a beautifully written book about a women emerging from a mysterious coma and coping with the psychological challenges of re-entering her life. My only disappointment was the ending which I felt was slightly ambiguous. Loved it though and would read more by this insightful author who provides extraordinary insights into the minds control of the body,
July 4, 2013
A woman finds herself in hospital and undergoes an emotional and physical journey.
Bit of an odd book, dealing with love / lose / memories. I found it interesting (and in places thought provoking) but wasn’t quite sure what I took away from the reading experience.
Bit of an odd book, dealing with love / lose / memories. I found it interesting (and in places thought provoking) but wasn’t quite sure what I took away from the reading experience.
June 22, 2015
I dont usually read selfdiscovery books and such, but I got this book for 3something euros so I gave it a shot. This was not a book for me! I found it very slow and I was hoping for something a little more... Creepy? Wrong? Unsetteling? as her life unfolded, but no, there was nothing.
February 9, 2009
The language and the pace of this book is beautiful.
July 5, 2011
Beautiful writing, a unique story but somehow I felt detached from it.
January 9, 2010
Interesting, but I felt that the story was unfinished at the end.
April 26, 2016
Depression so great you end up in a coma. The book takes you in a journey so intricate and powerful you can't help being intrigued to the last word.
September 5, 2013
I couldnt get into this book Im afraid, and shelved it. Very hard going.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews