Spirits of the Ghan in Aussie Readers

Sep 22, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley, aussie-authors, 2015-release, read-on-kindle, contemporary-fiction, arc, favourites, own-read, indigenous

Jessica Manning would tell people she was “Aboriginal Irish – an exotic mix” with a grin as she quoted her father. Her mother Rose was Aboriginal and father Toby was Irish; the love between the pair was heart-warming to Jess and after her mother’s death, their memories and love for Rose continued unabated. Living in Sydney, Jess studied her heritage at university and when she was hired as an Aboriginal negotiator where she would work with the Elders as the Ghan railway was slowly constructed bet Jessica Manning would tell people she was “Aboriginal Irish – an exotic mix” with a grin as she quoted her father. Her mother Rose was Aboriginal and father Toby was Irish; the love between the pair was heart-warming to Jess and after her mother’s death, their memories and love for Rose continued unabated. Living in Sydney, Jess studied her heritage at university and when she was hired as an Aboriginal negotiator where she would work with the Elders as the Ghan railway was slowly constructed between Alice Springs and Darwin, her dreams felt like they were coming true.

It had been around a century since the line finished at Alice Springs, and with the usual delays, arguments and discussions, the agreement in 2001 to finally complete the railway to Darwin was a welcome one. But the crossing of Aboriginal land through the Red Centre was fraught with problems – many sacred sites had to be avoided and building the line couldn’t start until the agreements were made. Jess’ heritage was with the Arunta people, and she had such an intense understanding of their culture and all it involved, that it was obvious her spirituality was deeply ingrained within her. She was perfect for the job – was highly respected by both Aboriginal and white people alike.

Matthew Witherton hailed from Adelaide, where he had followed in his father’s footsteps – boss of the survey team which was marking the corridor for the rail line, Matthew was a quietly confident, casual young man who was well-respected by his men. When he and Jess met for the first time, Matthew had no idea of the impact Jess would have in his life. Suddenly the long ago past was confronting him; could Jess help him? Did she understand what was happening? Because Matthew certainly didn’t. The mysterious wrongs of the past needed to be remedied and time was running out…

I absolutely loved Spirits of the Ghan by Aussie author Judy Nunn! She is a wonderful writer; a storyteller who knows how to cast a spell over her readers. The descriptions of the Australian outback, the laying of the now famous Ghan railway line and the country it flows through – all is done so that I felt like I was there. The flies, the heat; I felt it all! Told in two timelines, 1876 and 2001, they came together in a most satisfying way. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Spirits of the Ghan to all.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
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Sep 29, 2015 PattyMacDotComma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, australian-author, indigenous-first-nations, arc-netgalley-done

4.5★
Aboriginal girl from Redfern searches for mum’s family in the Red Centre and meets sensitive Adelaide surveyor working on the famous Ghan railway.

Sounds like a blurb for an airport pot-boiler, doesn’t it? On the contrary, this engaging, interesting novel runs from the 1800s to today and spreads across the continent from isolated parts of the Northern Territory to metropolitan capital cities.

Central Australia has always been sparsely populated, but many cultures have found their way there a ...more

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Oct 13, 2016 Kathryn rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, reading-list-2016, australian-authors, 4-5-stars, bookclub

I enjoyed this, and learnt some things along the way! I hadn’t realised that the full Ghan railway hadn’t run all the way through from Adelaide to Darwin until the 21st century! I also hadn’t thought about what was involved in bringing the project about - the blasting through rock, the negotiations with Aboriginal elders, the remoteness from major centres…

Like my first Judy Nunn (Elianne), this was an interesting read. I read a Q&A with Judy Nunn on her website where she said that taking a train ...more

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Nov 01, 2015 Janine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley

I'm a first-time reader of the prolific Judy Nunn. She has obviously done quite a lot of research as the elements in the book take in Australia's colonial history as well as touching on The Stolen Generation of aboriginal children. Rose's story (Jessica's mother) is very emotional and I think a good depiction of that time in Australia's history; the aftermath which is still being felt today by the Aboriginal people. Aboriginal spiritual belief is also a feature of the story which is why Jessica' ...more

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Jan 10, 2016 Ken rated it it was amazing

Having travelled on The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide last year, this book was a 'must read'. I enjoyed it enormously. Nunn weaves an interesting contemporary tale around the massive task of building the railway line across the country with the spirits of the original inhabitants. ...more

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