Not as good as television's 'Secret Valley'...

Given the fact that I had already written this book off as dull and ah-booooo-ring, I was mildly impressed. It was better than I predicted. I give this book one star on the Jess Enjoyment Scale, with a slightly higher two stars on the General Literary Critique scale. It has a boredom factor of 8/10.

I have found this book a hard one to critique. I have carried with me since childhood a resounding disinterest for Australian stories, across all artistic arenas. Predictably, this characteristic has been the subject of contempt from many of my peers. I have always found it hard to engage with stories of my own country's history/people; they don't capture my imagination to the fine degree to which I have become accustomed. I blame television.
So I was totally uninterested by the premise of Secret River, and was really, really not looking forward to reading it. As it turned out, I did find it quite a chore and I wouldn't have gotten very far if not for bookclub (then again, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near it if not for bookclub). However, I did enjoy it a bit more than I thought I would; though still not much. I have been dreading this post as it seems everyone else totally dug Secret River. So I am expecting indignant replies. But here's to honesty.

The rave reviews on the cover seem largely wack to me. 'Unforgettable' - no. 'Overwhelmingly Beautiful' - no. 'Breathtaking' - hell no. I would agree that it was 'Subtle and Satisfying' though. I liked Grenville's style of prose and I appreciated having a traditional story arc for once, with some actual dramatic tension and a conclusive ending. I thought the humour and compassion with which Grenville treated her characters was effective. I liked the way Thornhill was allowed to grow and develop as a character, without forced judgement from the writer. The relationship between Thornhill and his wife was quite lovely, and I liked Thornhill's appreciation of his wife as she matured from a young sprite into middle-age. In the days before divorce and plastic surgery, relationships were for life and you didn't go off someone when they got fat and started growing hair where there was no hair before. Although, we've all seen the English, there's not really such a thing as 'trading up' over there, what with all the bad teeth and the 'freshen yer drink, guv'na?'.

I also thought the dialogue between the Thornhills and the Aboriginal people was pretty hi-larious - giving them names like Saucy Polly and holding one-sided conversations involving the word 'bugger'. You can sense the fear underneath the bravado, with Thornhill putting on a show for his wife and kids.

I also liked the way everyone spoke like Alf from Home & Away.

So all up, a dreary read with some pleasant interludes.