Daughter of Australia in Aussie Readers

Mar 12, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-on-kindle, net-galley, arc, own-read, historical-fiction, favourites, 2016-release

Clutching her papa’s hand she walked beside him in the harsh desert sand of Western Australia. The heat of the sun was relentless – the country vast and unforgiving. When he sat her down beneath an old tree with a billy can of water, she wasn’t to know this would be the last time she saw her papa. Some time later, Ghan was doing his usual run of deliveries when he saw something in the distance, something which looked foreign in this land; upon checking he was horrified to discover a little girl Clutching her papa’s hand she walked beside him in the harsh desert sand of Western Australia. The heat of the sun was relentless – the country vast and unforgiving. When he sat her down beneath an old tree with a billy can of water, she wasn’t to know this would be the last time she saw her papa. Some time later, Ghan was doing his usual run of deliveries when he saw something in the distance, something which looked foreign in this land; upon checking he was horrified to discover a little girl who was more dead than alive. He was frantic in his determination to get her to the nearest town, Leonora, where he hoped she could be saved.

The orphanage which was run by the priest was a happy place – the children were treated well; their needs were met. James was the priest’s favourite as he’d been at the orphanage since he was a baby. The arrival of a mute and fearful little girl brought out James’ protective instinct; and so began a friendship that would last through the years. Their eventual separation was heart wrenching for them both with their adoptions taking them in different directions to one another. But they never forgot…

As the years passed, both Leonora and James became adults, living completely different lives on completely different paths. When Leonora returned to Australia to live in Wanjarri Downs her love of the country of her birth shone through. But she was torn – the secrets of her past had to remain buried; and her shock at meeting up with James again made her beg him to keep her childhood a secret. Would the torment of their pasts; the jealousy surrounding her; the horrors of war and the plight of the local indigenous people combine to break them?

I have been absolutely blown away by this book! Set in the early twentieth century Daughter of Australia is the debut novel of author Harmony Verna and the beauty of the writing, the sublime descriptions of not just the countryside but every event is amazing. I would have to say this novel is the best I have read in many years, if not the best ever – my words are not enough to convey the pure wonder of Daughter of Australia. I very much look forward to this author’s next book and highly recommend this one to all.

I chose these two passages to give some idea of the depth to her writing:

The clash of train cars coupling and grunting sent the eardrum retreating like a turtle’s head in a shell.

A month ago, America waved from the deck of the steamer and sent kisses from her shores, wished her well toward the other land, just as an aunt says goodbye and gently pushes a child to her mother. After weeks and weeks upon that ship, where the wind shifted and called to her, Australia grew from the very sea, rose to greet her with sheer cliff walls and ocean pinnacles that had not changed a stone but waited patiently for her return.

With many thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

POST SCRIPT: I have just discovered this author is NOT an Aussie (unfortunately) which makes this book even more exceptional because of the obvious research that has gone into the making of Daughter of Australia. ...more

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