Sharpay’s Comments (group member since Jan 23, 2018)

Sharpay’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

They really don't do they Brenda?! :D

So my Good Reads banner at the top of the page reads 'Summer Reading What's hot' which seem terribly ironic considering it is freezing here and I'm watching snow fall outside the window :D

Brenda wrote: "What did you rate it Carmen?"
I think I'd give it a high 3 1/2 stars? I didn't like all the characters, and some were confusing to me. But the elements of the fundamentalist church and the crimes committed in the name of religion certainly gave the book an interesting if perverse depth. It was a page turner for me.

Well I finished this yesterday and I was totally surprised that Dean was Patrick. Although it made total sense and I had never really thought Kim's mother Carol would be in any way involved. It frustrated me a bit that it was so quickly assumed Carol must have stolen Sammy all those years ago when so much was unknown and there could have been so many other possibilities for what happened.

It was hard to feel much empathy or warmth for some of the characters. Like at first I felt greatly for Jack Went, but then his treatment of Travis made me so angry and I couldn't reconcile what he did. Although apparently Travis could.

I otherwise enjoyed this as the suspense definitely kept me turning the pages. I thought the story telling, alternating between the past and present was an interesting way to allow the story to unfold. I echo others thoughts that Kim was all to passive in how she accepted things, rather than screaming and demanding answers. But I guess that wouldn't have made for a good story.

I'm only part way through this book but enjoying it and devouring it quickly. Very easy to get into. I'm interested to see how the characters develop / are impacted from the time when Sammy went missing to the present.

Sally906 wrote: "Hi Carmen - nice to meet you"

Thank you :)

Brenda wrote: "Welcome to the group Carmen :) I hope you can find your way forward with your reading, and hope we can help you!"

Thank you :)

Hello, my name is Carmen and I have had a goodreads account for a while but first time joining in discussions. Wish I could say I'm an avid reader, I'd like to be but admit I am a poor reader. But I figure it is a physical practise that gets better the more you do it. So that's what I am trying to do at the moment; read more physical books. I also like to listen to audible books when driving but I don't think it is quite the same as reading. I live in the bush in the Snowy Mountains NSW.

I really like goodreads for seeing what's new, recommendations and also reviews. Reviews often help me learn, understand and get perspective on stories and writing that I otherwise wouldn't have known.

Trish L wrote: "I have just finished this book, a quick and easy read. I was naughty and peeked at the Author's Notes before getting into the story so I knew what was coming. Considering the dearth of actual docum..."

Yes I agree with you Trish, we don't really know how the girls, or McPhail, would have felt or behaved in reality at that time. The magic of fiction tells the story we read. But I do think it helps to paint the picture of the passing of time, as the girls grow into women, and lose the innocence of childhood. I think it is plausible they were aware of their maturity in some ways, what are appropriate and not appropriate ways for young women and men to behave. It seems almost ironic they are playing a childlike game which ends so tragically, and so painfully would have robbed Kate of any innocence she may have had left.

I really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and I especially love Australian history. I like the detail in the storytelling of running the cottage, the baking, and the different roles between men, women and children. I really liked Kate as a character and I didn't want anything bad to happen to her so the ending definitely left my heart strings sore.

I didn't feel that Kate was in love or obsessed with Harriet so much as it was just the difference in their personalities. Kate seemed to feel and experience things so deeply, even when she didn't know what it was she was feeling. Harriet seemed to just float along with less concern, like when it describes her flicking idling through the pages of a magazine. Where as Kate would want to be completely immersed into the depths of a story book, which takes a lot more investment and commitment. The story also tells things so much from Kate's perspective it is hard to really know what Harriet is feeling.

Fascinated this is a true story especially having spent every summer camping on the coast near Jervis Bay. I never knew the history before.