The Thorn Birds (urspr publ 1977; utgåvan 1979)

I had really high expectations for this one and, unfortunately, the book just didn't live up to them. I was told by multiple people that I wouldn't be able to put it down and instead had to keep forcing myself to pick it up. I gave it 266 pages before putting it down. The writing itself was good and the story had some really interesting themes that would have been fun to explore a bit further. But there was too much that bogged the plot down between a few exciting moments - too much about the weather, the landscape, the sheep shearing, etc. Oh, and the romance was way too over-the-top, to the point of irritating me a bit. It had the potential to be a sudsy, fun summer book but didn't work for me (though I think the miniseries could improve on my issues with the book). Though it was somewhat interesting, I couldn't face committing another 400 pages to these characters.

An intriguing family drama with an Australia that defies imagination is overwhelmed by an ocean of soap and topped with a mountain of fromage. That romance was just too much for me--and way too creepy in its origin. ( )

AG-4

Engrossing! I really loved the way the author described the passions, the landscape and the characthers ( )

The Thorn Birds has been on my tbr shelf (I laughingly refer to it as a shelf as if there aren’t that many books I have not yet read – ha!) for about six years. It’s not generally the kind of book I go in for, but I bought it for some reason – I have a feeling my aunt recommended it – and just occasionally I like to get caught up in a sweeping saga, so in search of some escapism (at the time of writing, most of the world is on lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic) I decided this might do the trick.

Pretty much all I knew about The Thorn Birds prior to reading was that there was a tv series adaptation in the 1980, starring Richard Chamberlain; I knew it was about the love between a woman and a Catholic Priest, and apparently it was extremely scandalous!! With this in mind, the book turned out to be a bit of a surprise. I was expecting a love story but this is more of a family saga, concentrating on three generations of the Cleary family. It takes place from the early to mid/late 20th century on a homestead in Australia (mainly) and at the centre of it is Father Ralph De Briccassart and his love for Meggie Cleary. It starts as a paternal type of love as Meggie is only a child when they first meet, and Ralph is a young priest, but as she grows older, their love becomes more – but Ralph’s vocation is always between them.

A lot of the book is given over to other characters – in the beginning, Meggie’s brothers and parents; and later on the net generation of the family, Justine and Dane. The hardships and realities of running a sheep station in Australia.

I did more or less enjoy the book – clearly it was well researched and it did hold my attention for the most part. However, I did not particularly warm to Meggie and I certainly didn’t like Ralph, who seemed particularly mercenary and manipulative. Nonetheless, I am glad I read it although it wouldn’t be a story I would probably want to reread at any point. ( )