From the Bookshelf of Aussie Readers…

The Thorn Birds

Colleen McCullough

Why we're reading this: Re-visit a classic! Australia's bestselling book that was turned into a mini-series in 1983. At the story…more
[close] Re-visit a classic! Australia's bestselling book that was turned into a mini-series in 1983. At the story's heart is the love of Meggie Cleary, who can never possess the man she desperately adores, and Ralph de Bricassart, who rises from parish priest to the inner circles of the Vatican...but whose passion for Meggie will follow him all the days of his life.

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What Members Thought

Jul 15, 2011 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-read, favourites

I read The Thorn Birds way back in the early 80's, and remember loving it! I also watched the mini series with Richard Chamberlain...loved it too!!

Three generations of Cleary's with Meggie as the main character, and her love for the priest. All set in the Australian outback, covering the hardships of the bush....

Because of the fact that I read it so long ago, I can't remember details, therefore I will just tell you, if you love historical romance, this is a book for you!!! I will re-read this at ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2014 Kathryn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, 4-5-stars, reading-list-2014, australian-authors

I finished this book a couple of days ago and I loved it! It’s my first Colleen McCullough and it is certainly an Australian classic (shame on me for not reading it before this!). But I shall definitely be reading more McCullough at some point to rectify my earlier omission!

It’s the story of a family spanning 54 years from 1915, beginning in New Zealand, up to 1969, having encompassed characters’ lives in Australia, Europe and England. I was a little daunted by the size – 743 pages in my copy – ...more

13 likes · Like · see review