Cart loading...
The Valley
$22.95
Synopsis
n/a Read More
Magazine article
The Valley is something of a lament for the weakening of the bonds that connect people and for the secrets that divide them. Resolution comes only through a return to the sanctuary of the valley of the characters’ origin, a return to country. In spite of moments of uncertainty in nomenclature (or perhaps even because of ), The Valley is ex... Read on >
Readers' reviews
-
Beautifully Told Outback Saga
-
I really enjoyed this book! It is set in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia and beautifully describes the harshness and isolation of the area.
The book follows four generations of the Walker/Rider family from 1916 to the present day, taking the reader from the coastal town of Broome to the huge outback cattle stations. We meet Billy, a teenager who goes bush to find his older brother, Des, just to have Des murdered soon after he finds him. Billy finds himself on the run with a young aboriginal girl Bessie, who takes him to her family's secret enclave in a hidden valley. The story winds through to Billy and Bessie's sons Bob and Two Bob, who find themselves employed on a nearby station, where Two Bob's daughter Milly falls in love with Andy, a young man from Broome. We learn of Milly's disappearance and Andy's anguish at his lovers loss. We eventually find our way to their son Dancer, a teenage boy struggling to find himself in the hard town of Broome, with many questions about his mother that his father Andy seems unwilling, or unable, to answer.
Steve Hawke shows a real understanding of the Aboriginal communities and a love of the lifestyle, giving us an authentic view of the lives of the workers on the stations, and the problems they face, both physically and mentally.
I found this book slightly confusing at first, with several time jumps in the first few chapters, but as you get to know the characters the story unfolds into a beautifully woven tale that brings the country, and it's characters, to life. This is not a book for those that like a lot of fast paced, mindless action. It is a slow burner, and you gradually become aware that you're hooked!
This book is a beautifully told tale, it makes the landscape and people come alive. It brings to the fore the plight of the native people in a harsh part of the world. I would recommend this book to all who love family sagas and the beauty of outback Australia.
Review by Kylie
(Posted on 19/07/2018)
