Bye, Beautiful

by Julia Lawrinson

Sandy does not know if she would fit in anywhere, but she feels like a complete outsider in this hot, wheatbelt town where her policeman father has just been transferred.And then she meets Billy, the part-Aboriginal mechanic's apprentice and town heart-throb. Sandy's feelings for him are overwhelming her, but she is about to find out that her greatest rival is her own sister, the alluring, confident Marianne.Set in Western Australia in the 1960's, this is a story of secrets and heartbreak, of families and changing times.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical

265 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Julia Lawrinson is an Australian writer of children's and young adult fiction. Her debut novel Obsession (Fremantle Press, 2001) won the Western Australian Premier's Prize for Young Adult Writing: since then her work has been shortlisted for numerous awards. Her latest book for young adults is Before You Forget (PenguinRandomHouse 2017). Her latest novel for children is Mel and Shell (Fremantle Press 2021), and in 2023 she published her first picture book, City of Light (ill. Heather Potter and Mark Jackson) with Wild Dog Books. Her memoir, How To Avoid A Happy Life, is out with Fremantle Press.

Reviews

[Lien To · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
This story definitely attempts to explore important issues and elements of sexism and racism in the late 60's but it was rather bluntly written.
The characters we read from were very shallow and hardly had any depth to them at all. Sandy was such a frustratingly timid character to read from. When she wasn't annoying her sister or self-pitying herself, she was thinking about the unlikely possibilities with Billy (uRGH DON'T GET ME STARTED ON BILLY WHAT KIND OF AUTHOR WOULD NAME ONE OF THEIR MAIN LEADS BILLY?!?!? AND ADD A BILL TO THE STORY AS WELL :@) I found absolutely no character development (except from Marianne when she said goodbye to Sandy in an affectionate way but when Sandy comes to visit her a year later, we see her selfishness and stupidity had not change when she revealed that she forced Peter into the marriage when it wasn't his son).
The plot was weak and could been avoided very easily earlier in the book.

What I really wanted more of in this book was more to May's character. From the start to the end, she delivered such a promising strong, intelligent and committed individual. She fought through her education regardless of all the criticism and teasing she received from her teachers and peers and that is really admirable. I feel that the story would be more more enjoyable reading from her view to deal with all this rather than Sandy's 'problemts'.
I wasn't fond of the writing style in this book but it delivered the scenes very clearly for me to picture so that was good.
Overall, I'm excited to study and explore deeper in the themes presented in this book.

[Meg 🌞 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have many issues with Bye Beautiful, namely the characterisation of Sandy. She's fourteen years old, yet she deals with most situations throughout the book with the outlook of a small child. She seems incapable of making decisions and is seen as weak under pressure. This would have been alright if her character had evolved but I didn't see any character progression throughout the book.

Also, the ending to me seemed clunky and unexplained, and totally strayed from the characters. It failed to tie in some of the issues in the book.

This is a book I will never read again, and if I had been given a choice, would not have read in the first place.

[Oma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the conservative era of Australia’s 1960s can be hard enough, but it is even harder for 14 year old introverted Sandy Lansing who is just coming to terms with comprehending the adult world. The Lansings move from their suburban home in bustling Perth to a small and intimate wheat belt town in rural Western Australia. Beneath the layers of red, thick dust, the sun’s harsh rays and the oppressive heat, there are the emotions of the family bubbling away; Just waiting to be able to surface.

Sandy, the middle child, is portrayed as introverted and shy, the type of character who tells her story through her thoughts. Whereas, on the other hand, Marianne is an ostentatious and audacious character who is fully aware of her stunning looks and needs no reminding. It may appear that due to the two sister’s diverse personality they would have nothing in common. That is until local heartthrob; Billy Read captivates the hearts of both Marianne and Sandy.

Lawrinson has used her exceptional writing skills to create a story that is both full of passion and hatred, love and lust, wanting and longing. What I really appreciated was the union shown between the two sisters. Lawrinson showed how easily animosity and envy could invade with a click of a finger and of how loyalty can come back in exactly the same time. The 1960s setting was a great backdrop for the story as it showed a beautiful setting hiding with in it an eerie cloud of grief with the death of an unexpected victim.
Marriane and Sandy showed how they defied small town narrow mindedness, but did one of them take one step too far for the era?

This beautiful story was quite well balanced with its highs and lows. At times being placid and comforting but also antagonising. I would recommend Bye Beautiful to adults and young adults searching for a mature read that will leave you with a shiver up your spine.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I feel the major themes of Bye Beautiful (specifically, the destructive power of racism and prejudice) are extremely important, and I enjoyed some of the descriptions of the WA landscape, overall I felt this book was lacking.
Simply put, if I didn't have to read BB for school, I probably would not have finished it (and I read pretty much anything!)

My biggest annoyance was the narrator, Sandy. I understand she is constructed to be relatively 'naive,' (especially given the conservative, 1960s household she belongs to) but I did find her utter incomprehension of >i< everything >/i< that was going on a little far-fetched (or maybe just frustrating!) I also felt that her feelings of inadequacy ("marianne is so much prettier/smarter/more outgoing than me,") were almost bombarded on the reader. Was it just me, or did Sandy seem to be whining about something every page or so?

I really wanted Sandy to have this big moment when she stands up for someone, or does something significant, but alas I was disappointed.

Wow! This review turned out much more negative then I planned. Ok, it wasn't an awful book, but I just feel it could have been much better.

[Abbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, that was a horrible experience. Even worse than Crow Country *shock*. I did not think that the writing was at all good and there was next to no character development, which made me feel nothing but annoyance at how bad it was. I thought that some of the issues explored in the book (racism, sexism, religion etc.) was quite interesting, though could have been handled better than it actually was.

[paper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull, pointless, plodding. I did get some enjoyment out of it, but that was only while putting each individual page through the document shredder after finding it covered in mould in the bottom of my sister's schoolbag.

[Sylvs (NOVELty Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Before you ask me why I read this book (considering I usually read fantasy, Sci-Fi or contemporary/romance) please know that I had to read this due to the school curriculum and that this book was definitely out of my reading-comfort zone.*

Now that I got that out of the way, I should probably properly start.

_________________________________________

Everybody said to me that this book was amazing. Everyone recommended it to me and said I’d love it too (even though the Goodreads reviews say otherwise) Truth be told, now having read the book and finished it, that it was a satisfactory read. But I personally wouldn’t put it on my favourites list.

The book was about these 3 siblings, Marianne, Sandy and Lawrence who move from Perth (Western Australia) with their parents, Glad(ys) and Frank to the country where their dad becomes the local cop.

Sandy hates it there until she meets the part-aboriginal boy: Billy Read, a skilled mechanic’s apprentice and the town’s heart-throb. As her affections for him grow, so does Marianne’s and Sandy begins to realise that her sister may just be her biggest rival.

Throughout the book, yes we see racism and different themes and issues but I think that it was not conveyed as well as it should’ve. Those issues were second to that of whining Sandy’s affections for Billy Read which was one of the major problems I had reading this.

I HATED Sandy. She was whiny and whingy and she complained A LOT. There was little to no character development about her and the whole cast of characters in fact. If you asked me what are Sandy’s favourite hobbies I would seriously have no idea how to answer to that one.

She was portrayed as introverted and shy but those are character TRAITS not hobbies or what she likes to do. Marianne was portrayed as extroverted and even though she was not the main character, she had a little bit more character built into her. She seemed to like going swimming and talking to friends and (probably) enjoyed sewing considering she sewed her own dress for the dance. But that was when it ended with me and Marianne's good terms.

I liked her character in the beginning but when it reached the middle and end I really started to hate her and that was not due to the whole “BILLY IS MINE” thing going on. It was more due to the fact that she seemed selfish even though Lawrinson probably intended for her to sound helpless or desperate.

She married this guy named Peter just because she was with a child and needed to pretend the baby was his.

????????????????????


I got pretty annoyed as you can probably tell but Bill Read (Yes there is a character called Billy Read and his uncle is called Bill Read. Yes, you can see the irony here) and Frank Lansing were so racist and sexist that it just was a bit too much.

I think the characters should've been better but overall, it was alright. The storyline was pretty good even though the characters weren’t.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.2 STARS

[5A · Rating 1 out of 5]

In a sentence, Bye Beautiful written by Julia Lawrinson in 2006, follows Sandy, as events of love, conflict, and drama unfold after moving into a new town during the 1960s. Bye Beautiful mainly examines small-town culture with a shallow exploration of sexism, discrimination, religion, scapegoating, and alienation.

I cannot express my frustration towards this novel as this continues to be the worst novel I've read for 2024. The characters were shallow, and not in the deliberate analytical way, but in the more or so, "I CAN'T WRITE FOR SHIT" way-- or perhaps it was deliberate, in which case, why? We follow Sandy, a 14-year-old girl, with zero aspiration, and little to no character development despite the novel being a bildungsroman and coming-of-age story. The most we EVER get from Sandy is her sense of self-pity rooted in her indecisiveness, rising to the idea of isolation and traditionalism emerging from a small-town culture... however, it is written in such an inartfully expressed manner that made me cringe and physically exhale outwards (condemnatorily). Sandy comes from a traditionalistic background, which yes, is understandable for her shy and indeterminate personality TO SOME DEGREE. What's not okay, is for Sandy to keep these traits throughout the whole novel, while loathing about the world around her. Sandy does not resolve her inner turmoils, all the while complaining about her annoyances without enacting a singular action-- and no, not in the Nick Carraway sense, but in the literal "I am a child who wrote this" sense.

Aside from Sandy's poor characterisation, development, and general writing, the majority of the characters are built by stereotypes and generalisation (asides from May). You could contend that the narrative lens is through Sandy, an emotionally underdeveloped 14 year-old-girl, however, the writer sure isn't. The plot and characters were bland, BORING, MONOTONOUS, PROSAIC, STALE, MUNDANE, UNINSPIRING, TEDIOUS, DULL, UNINTERESTING, HUNDRUM, SOPORIFIC, BANAL, NONDESCRIPT, AND STRAIGHT UP FLAT.

Also, more than half the plot of the novel strived on an unobtainable love interest; a racially discriminated 19-year-old Aboriginal mechanic called Billy. What makes it worse is that Billy is purely introduced as a plot device to instigate themes of racism and social injustice, all the while attempting to establish "coming of age" through a pedophilic ROMANTICISED relationship between Sandy (14) and himself (19).

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is getting a one-star just because I am unable to give it zero. There aren't words to describe how bad this book is. I am simply unable to fathom why this book had received rewards because it seems like a child wrote it. The main character of this book is Sandy (14 years old) and she acts like she is 10, however, she does want a 19-year-old guy to like her? Can someone explain this to me? This book is an excellent example of someone wanting to meet a word count because pages and pages go by before something happens. I really do recommend that you don't waste your time reading this.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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A review by you! 
Bye, Beautiful, by Julia Lawrinson

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0 

Teenage fiction.  New chip moves to country town 1966. 3 kids. Told thru perspective of middle child Sandy, yr9. Outsider. Anxious.  Overshadowed by her older cooler sister both fall for local cool guy Billy. 

Story about small town country town in WA. Racism.  Hypocrisy. Horrible but how it was for many.  

[Lily Vivienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok i guess,,, fit the genre of bildungsroman
felt very slow paced
climax and tension didn’t feel there until over halfway though the book
themes and issues explored were sprinkled throughout,, could’ve done more with it i feel
just not something i actually enjoyed, good tho if you want to explore australian books

[Deanne Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explores similar themes to Jasper Jones but from a feminine perspective. It lacks tension. I liked the speculation by the protagonist of the possible ways the murder could have gone down and the ending after she leaves her sister's place. However, I needed complexity in characterisation. More colour and shade. The novel is solid enough but it doesn't sing.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

sympathy read for my sister's english class. girl i am so sorry

[Shay-Leigh Mow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one!

[Florence · Rating 1 out of 5]

worst fucking book ive ever read

[eellakriss · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book floated between intensity and mediocrity. There’s a lot of 60s references, and a lot of stuff that is clunky to understand if you’re not from Perth.

the protagonists view is written to simplify really big issues like sexism, racism, pregnancy, adolescence, etc etc etc, but is written through what is clearly a stab at neurodivergency, but is misdirected and sometimes written in a frustrating way.

It clearly intends to tackle racism in Western Australia, but from the perspective of a white, financially comfortable book, written by a white author.

The ending, in terms of the last few pages, was a bitter, semi realistic depiction of ‘real life’.

definitely worth a read, but don’t break your back trying to get your hands on it.

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Bye, beautiful for my English assignment this year, so it wasn't a book i would have picked off of the shelves. It was interesting, however I wasn't impressed by Sandy (the main character) who simply suffered in silence throughout the novel. she is a pitiful character and makes no effort to do anything in the novel. When she does finally take action, she begins to ruin her sisters life. this book frustrated me to no end and i didn't really like any of the characters, i only felt sorry for them. i guess thats what it was like in 1960s australia, but it really wasnt my cup of tea. i wouldnt say i disliked the book, because i honestly did keep reading and didnt have to force myself to turn each page, but it isnt one of my favourites and there isnt much from these charcters i can learn from. i learnt a lot about the era and the way people lived in those times, how racism was a major part of peoples lives (and unfortunately still is). anyway, this is just my oppinion and i hope that those who wish to read it enjoy it, because it was a good book, but not something i could relate to easily.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really impressed me, until it sort of fizzled out in the end, sadly. I loved that we had Sandy, as an extreme introvert, for our main character, and so many of her thoughts and actions rang so very true to that. I loved the 1960s setting – there was a wonderful sense of place, and beautiful writing, beautiful contemplations of infinity and the velvety night sky. Loved the relationship between the sisters Sandy and Marianne. I loved that the story didn’t go in the direction I thought it was headed in some instances. While I liked Marianne and Sandy, and the focus was rightly on them, I felt the rest of the family was a bit underused and underdeveloped. Overall, I’m torn between loving the subtlety and realism of the story, and wanting a bit more resolution, a bit more character development, a bit more of a connection between characters. But definitely a worthy read.

[Watermelon Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST IMPRESSION:
Just a normal romance. Nothing more. Probably a lot of drama. The title's really pretty for some reason, and it plays along with the actual plot. But the cover designs ugly. Just saying.

WRITING STYLE:
It was beautiful. Though written in third person, I think it was fabulous. Very elegantly written and I felt for the main character, Sandy.

PLOT:
The plot was way different than I expected. Much more touching, much more original. You honestly have to read it to understand. But it starts off slow: just a quick warning.

CHARACTERS:
Sandy was an amazing character. She is strong even when she's made not to be. I really admire her, because despite all her problems, she still appeals to me with how she handles with them.

OVERALL:
A story which I'll never forget and an ending you don't want to miss.

AMOUNT OF STARS:
4

[Anthony Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful novel, by an incredible writer.

In terms of portraying a very specific time and place, and providing readers with a vivid sensory - as well as narrative - experience, this novel by fellow W.A. Author Julia Lawrinson is one of my all time favourite. Even if you're not familiar with the landscape or era that she's writing about, from the very first pages the clautrophobia of small country town life, and the cultural tensions within it, are palpable.

At times gentle and lyrical, at others confronting, Bye Beautiful is a balanced, impressive work of literary fiction for adults and young adults alike.

[J Leaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this unpretentious novel. The 60s setting is very evocative and Lawrinson captures the context very well - the values, roles of men and women, attitudes to the 'other' - here represented by a handsome, charismatic aboriginal man. There is a dreadful sadness watching the vibrant and independent older sister come up against the conservatism of the time. The deference of the family to the father figure is terrible especially given his ultimate hypocrisy. Sometimes the name dropping of products used in this period to create the context is a little self conscious but this is a minor distraction in an otherwise absorbing tale.

[Pip Tlaskal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good solid read, spot on with the setting and giving the flavour of the time. However as a love story it does not really work. I thought the main character of Sandy would be the one having the real love affair with BIlly, the aboriginal boy. The reader, just like sandy, seems removed from the real action; I did not feel as if I really understood the love story between sandy's sister Marianne and BIlly because it was all told in third person; almost like a police report that their father would write. It could be such a passionate story but through sandy's eyes it is kept very tame and safe.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one from our library that I have to question...definitely a book for older children, though I know of one girl in my class who would read it. The issues of racism and mysogyny are quite confronting to the thinking of today and very much at odds with what children know in Australia today, (the racism is not as obvious, but it is still present!).
What I did find difficult was the long setting for the narrative....two thirds of the book before the "action" began and then it was finished very quickly.

[Robyn Mundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA. Sandy's father, the new policeman of a small wheatbelt town, rules the cop shop and his family with an iron fist. He bans Sandy and her older sister Marianne from associating with Billy, the part-Aboriginal mechanic's apprentice and town heart throb. The haunting preface sets the tone of this tough tale of patriarchy and racism. YAs will have cause to appreciate not being born in the '60s. Prepare to take a confronting leap back into the past.

[Cool Beans · Rating 1 out of 5]

A disgustingly boring, waste of time, which I could have spent doing on better things. However having to read it for school, I had to withstand myself from trying to throw the book across the room. Only interesting part was when Sandy gets her period and thinks she's dying *that's pretty funny dude*.

[Kfunham]

one of the most compelling books ever - Perth in the 1960sm copper's daughter, small town, older sister falls in love with Aboriginal boy, pregnant and then father (policeman) bashes him to death, all covered up. Very gritty

[eprptegshtgn · Rating 2 out of 5]

studied it for year nine, and I thought it was a good story which was ruined by analyzing it to death. I thought at that stage we should of been doing much more complicated things.

[TheSeeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book by a beautiful author. Every single book by Julia Lawrinson has blown me away.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review at my blog:

http://elimy.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/...

[Arnia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this book for English.
It was okay, but I wouldn't choose it for myself and I wouldn't read it again.
It's set in Australia.