The Secrets at Ocean's Edge in Aussie Readers

Jan 17, 2018 Brenda rated it really liked it

Shelves: aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, net-galley, reviewing-by-request, literary-fiction, 5000-books, 2018-release, own-read, historical-fiction, arc

It was 1932 when Ernie and Lily Hass and their ten-year-old daughter Girlie packed the last of their meagre belongings onto the cart behind Brownie and slowly headed away from their home in Perenjori, making their way into their new life in Dongarra. The wheat farm that had failed because of the Depression, the lack of support from the Government and a fire was what they were turning their backs on. Ernie was sure he could make their future better with the guesthouse they would open beside the b ...more

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May 13, 2018 Kate Forsyth rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, australian, aww2018

Set during the Great Depression, The Secrets at Ocean’s Edge tells the story of Lily Hass and her daughter Girlie who have just moved to the small West Australian town of Dongarra, where Lily’s husband Ernie hopes to kick-start a new business running a guest house. Both Lily and Girlie struggle to make new friends and adapt to their new home. Secrets from the past shadow their lives, and things are complicated by the arrival of Lily’s brother, Tommy, who struggles to deal with shellshock from hi ...more

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Feb 08, 2018 Helen rated it really liked it

This is a compelling story one that had me turning the pages, it is the story of life during the depression, in a seaside town Dongarra in Western Australia, there are so many characters in this story, men that came back from the war damaged, yes life was really hard but strength and stubbornness gets them through hardship, hurt and to a life although not perfect it is so much better after their struggles.

Ernie and Lily Hass and their daughter Girlie have had to give up their wheat farm in Peren This is a compelling story one that had me turning the pages, it is the story of life during the depression, in a seaside town Dongarra in Western Australia, there are so many characters in this story, men that came back from the war damaged, yes life was really hard but strength and stubbornness gets them through hardship, hurt and to a life although not perfect it is so much better after their struggles.

Ernie and Lily Hass and their daughter Girlie have had to give up their wheat farm in Perenjori the depression has hit hard, a fire causes more problems as does emus and rabbits, but ever positive Ernie moves the family to Dongarra to start a guest house and shop. Lily wants to be in with the woman of the town and works hard with Girlie and the CWA, she is working hard to not attract gossip in any form there was enough in the last town. But when her long lost brother finds them life starts to change and Lily is beginning to wonder if she will be able to keep her secrets.

Ernie has secrets that he keeps to himself as well and life seems to be running smoothly in the new town but with a clash of one of the town’s people things are getting difficult and problems are arising life for Ernie and Lily is becoming alienated and their daughter Girlie is feeling it as well, with one problem after another falling on their doorstep Ernie is still determined to get ahead.

This is a story of many secrets, secrets that when uncovered will cause even more problems, I found this story a very busy story a lot going on and a lot of characters to get to know with Ernie, Lily, Girlie and Tommy being the family that need to come to terms with the things that have happened in their lives so as they can move on. I remember my grandparents talking a lot about this era and how hard things were and this showed so well throughout the story. I did find it a bit hard to like Lily at the beginning but wow by the end I had nothing but praise for her and what she went through, and Ernie and Lily finally found a way to be happy. It is a moving story that I recommend.
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Mar 09, 2018 Tabitha Bird rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-books

Behind all women are the ghosts of the women we most want to be. The haunting, if you like, of the perfection we may try to live up to. I felt for Lily, the mother in this story, not only because of the weight of the secrets she bares, but because of the guilt she wore like a sodden coat and the ever present stench of 'not being enough.' I think most women can relate. What awful things we do to ourselves when we simply refuse to love who we are, accept our past as being the best we were able to Behind all women are the ghosts of the women we most want to be. The haunting, if you like, of the perfection we may try to live up to. I felt for Lily, the mother in this story, not only because of the weight of the secrets she bares, but because of the guilt she wore like a sodden coat and the ever present stench of 'not being enough.' I think most women can relate. What awful things we do to ourselves when we simply refuse to love who we are, accept our past as being the best we were able to do at the time and hold hope for all our tomorrows.

I still battle the ghost of a woman I think I 'should' be and the crazy-making thoughts that I will never be 'enough'. The thought I was struck with while reading this book was, 'the woman I fail to measure up to in my head isn't even real.' She's a ghost of my own making. *sigh.

I had my hair cut recently and thought, "I don't look like me." But then I stared deeper into that mirror. I AM me. There isn't anyone else to be. I am that person in the mirror. I am all her ashes and all her beauty. And if I would only learn to fully accept her, I would not feel so continually haunted by my own judgements. It's a process I suppose. And that's just it really, I am a process. I am more convinced than ever after reading this book that the only freedom we ever really have will come from loving ourselves EXACTLY where we are and EXACTLY as we are.

Secrets was a deep and heavy thread throughout this novel. Oh, the sheer magnitude of them! The crippling weight! And yet, when they were told the characters were free. Even just simply free to accept their own imperfections.

Kali Napier writes beautifully! Her words made me think about myself as a woman, about the way I support or don't support the women around me and how I can love deeper. Her story made me think about how we women have come a long way since early Australian days, and yet, sometimes, not so far at all. In our own harsh judgements, the 'Lilys' of 1932 are not so different from women today and the things we battle in our heads. We are still learning to love. Learning to forgive and learning to accept. May we all be a little gentler with ourselves and with our sisters wherever we may find them.

Thank you for a gorgeous story, Kali! A debut to be proud of! ...more

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