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Kate and Harriet had been best friends all their lives – Kate’s father was the head lighthouse keeper and Harriet’s father was his assistant. Together their families had lived through heat, cold; summers and winters on the isolated cape on the edge of the Australian coastline. It was the 1880s and Kate and Harriet grew up knowing fun and laughter, adventures and love.
Harriet was two years older than Kate and suddenly Kate could see her friend was turning into a young woman. She was at times jeal ...more
Harriet was two years older than Kate and suddenly Kate could see her friend was turning into a young woman. She was at times jeal ...more
3.5★
“ Skylarking is a work of fiction, based on the true story of Harriet Parker . . . her best friend, Kate Gibson, . . . the hut of Donald McPhail at Cape St George in 1887. I came upon this story while camping with dear friends . . . at Greenpatch camping ground in Jervis Bay, New South Wales.”
This is an edited version of the Author’s Note at the end of the book, and it does show the bare bones of the story she had to work with. For her debut, she has created a believable story that I think w ...more
“ Skylarking is a work of fiction, based on the true story of Harriet Parker . . . her best friend, Kate Gibson, . . . the hut of Donald McPhail at Cape St George in 1887. I came upon this story while camping with dear friends . . . at Greenpatch camping ground in Jervis Bay, New South Wales.”
This is an edited version of the Author’s Note at the end of the book, and it does show the bare bones of the story she had to work with. For her debut, she has created a believable story that I think w ...more
This is a fine accomplishment - a fictional retelling of a small and forgotten moment in Australia's history. Mildenhall's reimagining of the small lighthouse community is convincing, and the chain of events that ratchet up of tension as the book moves towards its denouement are beautifully pieced together. I wasn't quite convinced by the central friendship, but this is an enjoyable read and a promising debut.
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Not a bad effort for a debut novelist. It was an easily read story, and made me think about the changing roles of women in society and the difference between happiness and contentment. However I thought the ending felt a bit anticlimactic. 3.5★
Skylarking is a historical fiction novel based on a real event and set in an area of the country I have visited many times.
The story develops slowly, in Kate's viewpoint, of her childhood in the isolated colonial community surrounding a light house. Kate's best friend, Harriet, is a couple of years older than Kate and her main focal point. The story progresses slowly as the girls get older and their positions in the community, along with their own families, changes. In addition, the friendship b ...more
The story develops slowly, in Kate's viewpoint, of her childhood in the isolated colonial community surrounding a light house. Kate's best friend, Harriet, is a couple of years older than Kate and her main focal point. The story progresses slowly as the girls get older and their positions in the community, along with their own families, changes. In addition, the friendship b ...more
What an amazing, beautiful book! I loved it from the first page to the last! Well done Kate I look forward to many more lovely stories
Mar 08, 2016
Kate Moffatt
marked it as to-read
Mar 12, 2016
Ace Taylor
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Apr 08, 2016
Jennifer
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May 06, 2016
Bri
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Aug 06, 2016
Belinda
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Nov 02, 2016
Julia Durie
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Dec 03, 2016
Donna
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Jan 17, 2017
Carly Bowden
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Mar 16, 2019
Robyn
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Oct 20, 2019
Kim
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Feb 20, 2025
Pam
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Aug 21, 2025
Gaynor
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