Did you like the book?

I did enjoy this book but I would have to say the whole time I was reading it I had to keep reminding myself it was written by Fiona Palmer and was not another Rachael Treasure book. These two authors have such similiar writing styles that I often forgot who wrote it.

My only criticism is the storyline was very similar to other Australian outback novels I have read. The farmer who does not believe his daughter should be farming the land - a very chauvanistic view of life. Having lived in the city all my life and having very little to do with farms/farmers I don't know how accurate this is. I guess that there must be some truth in it though because the female authors who have written these novels have all grown-up and/or lived on farms. There also always seems to be the young farmer who stands-up for the young daughter who desperately wants to farm her family property.

How did you feel about the characters? Whom did you like or not like and why?

I particularly liked Blake and his sister Simone in this novel. Although they had a minor role in the book I loved their personality, conversations etc. For me some of my favourite moments in the book were when Blake was involved in the scene. Isabelle annoyed me at times - if only she'd communicated a bit better then some of her problems wouldn't have existed. I liked Will's character but like Isabella at times he annoyed me - I would have been happier if he'd spoken up rather than felt sorry for himself! Will redeemed himself in the end for me though.

I enjoyed all the characters except for her Dad... I could only imagine how he felt about losing one daughter already and didn't want to lose the 2nd... It took a farm accident and a minor stroke and his daughter leaving home for a 2nd time for him to finally realise that she was more than capable of doing the work...

And like Dianne there were parts I felt she was a little immature and should have stay and talk things through...

And had a really good laugh when Blake was eyeing Will off...lol Poor old Will not realising he was gay...lol

And I can only imagine how HARD it was for Blake to own up to being gay... Especially as they bread them Country boys tough...lol And there not meant to be that way...

Lee

And I imagine Kathy has to??? Joan have u???

Would love to have a discussion about this book... Last night I couldn't put this book down...

Also does anyone know of any other books with similiar story lines to this one??? I would like to learn more about Aussie History... I mean we all know who founder Australia etc...

Basically I didn't know that our Government gave Ex Serviceman Immigrants land back in the 1920's... So I'm thinking what else have I miss out on...

My Mum was telling me there were a few movies made like this book... But unfortunately she couldn't remember the names of them... She remembers one of the story lines was about a girl called Eliza and it was to do with Parramatta... Does anyone remember this movie or others...

Lee

At first I thought - "oh no - here we go again - another old fashioned dad who thinks that women should stay in the farmhouse and leave the farming to the men" , but as I read further I realised that Izzy's dad's actions were mostly about trying to protect her and he was still dealing with his grief over Claire's death. I suspect that he also felt a measure of guilt over what happened to Claire and probably thought that if he'd stopped her working on the farm she'd still be with them so he wanted to wrap Izzy up in cotton wool. His decision to stop her working on the farm seemed to come mostly from love and they were a loving family, unlike the dysfunctional family with the horrible dad and selfish mother in Jillaroo .

I've only read a couple of hundred pages of Rachel Treasure so I can't do the same comparisons as you did, Dianne and Lee. What I did notice though was that I liked all the characters in The Family Farm and wanted things to work out for them. I didn't like any of the characters in Jillaroo and struggled to be sympathetic to their problems because a lot of them seemed to be brought on by their refusal to grow up and act like responsible adults.
Although both authors were dealing with characters in a similar age group I thought that FP found a balance that was missing for me in the RT book.

Although I don't want to read any more about sheep stations, cattle stations or wheat farms for a while I'll probably keep an eye out for Fiona Palmer's next book and give her another try.

Joan

>Would love to have a discussion about this book... Last night I couldn't put this book down...

>Also does anyone know of any other books with similiar story lines to this one??? I would like to learn more about Aussie History... I mean we all know who founder Australia etc...

>Basically I didn't know that our Government gave Ex Serviceman Immigrants land back in the 1920's... So I'm thinking what else have I miss out on...

>My Mum was telling me there were a few movies made like this book... But unfortunately she couldn't remember the names of them... She remembers one of the story lines was about a girl >called Eliza and it was to do with Parramatta... Does anyone remember this movie or others...

>Lee

>NSW, Australia...

I haven't read the book Lee and I'm not planning on reading it. I used to read a lot of those type of books but I've had my fill of them - for now anyway.

I don't know what the story line is but you might like to look out for the series of books written by E V Timms, Lee. They were written a long time ago so I don't even know if they are accessible these days but they dealt with early days in Australia. I can remember when I was a kid my mum used to buy the latest one in the series for dad for Christmas each year - it was quite a long series. I read them at some stage - probably when I was a teenager.

There have been quite a few movies and tv shows about early days in Australia. I remember a movie called Eliza Fraser but I don't know if that's the one your mum remembers Lee. Eliza Fraser was shipwrecked off the Queensland coast and Fraser Island is named after her so I don't know if any of it took place in Parramatta.

There have been shows about John MacArthur and his wife Elizabeth and they lived on a farm called Elizabeth Farm at Rose Hill - just near Parramatta.

A couple of TV shows that I remember that were big hits were Against the Wind with Jon English. It was about people transported to the colony.

And Rush, about the gold rush. http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/rush.htm
Everyone was in love with Sergeant McKellar played by John Waters.

Joan

Joan

QUOTE FROM JOAN'S POST
I've only read a couple of hundred pages of Rachel Treasure so I can't do the same comparisons as you did, Dianne and Lee. What I did notice though was that I liked all the characters in The Family Farm and wanted things to work out for them. I didn't like any of the characters in Jillaroo and struggled to be sympathetic to their problems because a lot of them seemed to be brought on by their refusal to grow up and act like responsible adults.

Joan, I know Lee and I are constantly saying this but Jillaroo was the wrong RT book for you to begin with. I know you didn't like it at all - it was my least favourite book of RT's as well. Honestly though, if you gave her a second chance you would see the similarities between the two authors. Although I enjoyed The Family Farm and it was exceptionally good especially since it was her first novel I still have to say that I prefer Rachael Treasure...mind you they are so, so similiar in writing styles/storylines there is very little between the two authors in my opinion.

I know I have said it before but I do agree with Dianne u and Kathy started on the wrong book with RT... Jillaroo is my least favourite as well... I recently bought a copy of The Stockman but am going to wait a while before I read that and see what I think...

Joan, Did u tell me U try to listen to The Cattleman's Daughter??? I don't know but does it make a difference to how u think about a book to reading it to listening to it???

I recently gave the Jillaroo to my niece to read so I'll be interested to see what she thinks...

And I agree with you both about her Dad... It was done out of love I just couldn't take to him... Don't know why or how come just one of those characters I suppose...

I to will definately be looking out for more books by FP...

Lee

Lee, I have a few really good non-fiction books I have bought as a result of this course. I purchased C.M.H Clarke's "A History of Australia" I'm not suggesting you buy this series (6 books) they sell for anything between $500 - $1500 secondhand for the set of six. This series covers Australian history from 1788 to 1935. It is an excellent series of books and if you have time it is worth going to the library to look at. I also bought C.M.H Clarke's "Select Documents in Australian History 1788-1850". This book is fascinating and is well worth having a look at. I also have another book which gives you information about life in early Australia "Life Lines: Australian women's letters and diaries 1788-1840" edited by Patricia Clarke and Dale Spencer. The last two books can probably be borrowed from the library.

Lee

Yes he did give Will credit but then if I remember correctly Will took a long time to really make him realise that it was Izzy who had been running the farm while dad was in hospital.
Dad was stubborn and refused to acknowledge Izzy's work but I'm inclined to think that both Izzy and Will could have handled things better and taken more time to make him listen and understand.
I'm not suggesting that dad's behaviour was excusable but I do have some sympathy for him because he was only trying to protect her.

>QUOTE FROM JOAN'S POST
>I've only read a couple of hundred pages of Rachel Treasure so I can't do the same comparisons as you did, Dianne and Lee. What I did notice though was that I liked all the characters in >The Family Farm and wanted things to work out for them. I didn't like any of the characters in Jillaroo and struggled to be sympathetic to their problems because a lot of them seemed to be >brought on by their refusal to grow up and act like responsible adults.

>Joan, I know Lee and I are constantly saying this but Jillaroo was the wrong RT book for you to begin with. I know you didn't like it at all - it was my least favourite book of RT's as well. >Honestly though, if you gave her a second chance you would see the similarities between the two authors. Although I enjoyed The Family Farm and it was exceptionally good especially >since it was her first novel I still have to say that I prefer Rachael Treasure...mind you they are so, so similiar in writing styles/storylines there is very little between the two authors in my >opinion.

>Dianne,

>I know I have said it before but I do agree with Dianne u and Kathy started on the wrong book with RT... Jillaroo is my least favourite as well... I recently bought a copy of The Stockman >but am going to wait a while before I read that and see what I think...

>Joan, Did u tell me U try to listen to The Cattleman's Daughter??? I don't know but does it make a difference to how u think about a book to reading it to listening to it???

>I recently gave the Jillaroo to my niece to read so I'll be interested to see what she thinks...

>And I agree with you both about her Dad... It was done out of love I just couldn't take to him... Don't know why or how come just one of those characters I suppose...

>I to will definately be looking out for more books by FP...

>Lee

>NSW, Australia...

I've got to admit that I'm a bit confused. I thought that Jillaroo was the book that was suggested for us all to read and discuss. That was why I borrowed that one instead of one of her other books.
And since it was her first book it seemed the logical place to start.

Unfortunately sometimes a bad experience with a new-to-me author puts me off wanting to try anymore but I'll try and keep an open mind and give her another chance somewhere down the track.

I don't have any different expectations Lee whether I'm reading or listening. I enjoy both forms. The only difference is that if you get a reader who doesn't appeal to you it can spoil an audio version for you but then I just read the book instead and move on to another audio.

I usually borrow audios from the library or download them from the eLibrary but recently one of the stores had a 25% discount on iTunes cards so I thought I might shout myself the audio of a book by a favourite author. Fortunately I listened to an excerpt of it first and didn't waste my money. The way the reader pronounced the heroine's name put me right off it and since the name was certainly going to be mentioned all the time in the book I knew I'd never get to the end of it so I saved my money
Even if the library gets a copy I won't bother borrowing it.

Joan

The reason I ask this is cause I haven't listen to a book on CD etc for years... And I just wanted to see if u felt much differently to when u read a book to when u listen to it...

Also I don't know if anyone is interested... My MIL was telling me that the Good Guys have a deal going atm buy 2 $20 iTunes Cards for $30... I don't know if the offer is still on or not... Might be worth ringing be4 u go...

Lee

Lee, I can get caught up in the book whether I'm reading or listening. I've been known to drive into the garage and stay there listening instead of going inside because I'm at an interesting part in the story. Just the same as I can find an excuse to postpone housework because I'm up to an interesting part in a book that I'm reading.
Recently I was listening to something in the car and wanted to go back and re-listen to a part so I came inside and was lucky enough to be able to borrow the book again from the eLibrary immediately so I downloaded it and tracked down the part I wanted and then I sat at the computer and listened. It saved me having to bring the CD in with me from the car and I was able to keep going with the book whenever I was at the computer.

Audio books are great for when you are driving or walking or just doing things around the house.

Joan

I really enjoyed the book and had tears in my eyes a couple of times. Guess i am a softie. I loved Izzy she was so full of life with lots of energy and her love for the farm was really what the story was based on.

Totally understood why her father didnt want her running the farm especially after the loss of his other daughter. I am sure any dad in his position would be thinking the same thing. But he didnt count on his daughters strong will until he lost her anyway.

Lots of good characters in the book. Blake was so sweet and it was different to see Fiona give Izzy a male best friend as mostly you find they are females apart from those that they fall in love with.

Sometimes i thought she went into too much detail and i wanted her to move along more quickly with the story. But its her first book and i have a feeling she will get better and better.

I wouldnt hesitate in recommending this book to anyone.

Kathy

I'm glad that you finally got to read it Kathy.

I agree that parts of it did move a bit slowly but then I decided to put it down to the laid-back country attitude - no need to rush.

I'm pretty sure that when her next book comes out I'll give her another try,

Joan