A hiking trip into the Tasmanian wilderness is intended to be a journey of both discovery and rediscovery for Rick. This is the chance for him to connect with his estranged daughter Sophie and to revisit the beautiful landscape where he met her mother twenty five years earlier when they were protesting against the building of a dam. It is in this majestic but unforgiving environment that past choices are questioned and future paths determined.
With its vivid portrayal of both landscape and characters, this is a riveting and insightful examination of family.
Winner of the People's Choice Award, NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2010.
Easy to read, quite a page turner with a flowing style. Discussion was generally enthusiastic. Members could recognise traits of the protagonists in themselves or friends/relatives. Wanaka 013
Very mixed reception. Some really enjoyed the style of writing while others couldn't get to grips with the concept. Napier 021
Well liked. Interesting characters. Tauranga 015
Some loved it, some hated it, some did not finish it. Very heated discussion about the characters - some felt they were self indulgent no-hopers. Others thought they reflected their era ... Plot a bit predictable, but a good yarn. Auckland 280
Very mixed comments which made for a very interesting discussion. 3-4 disliked it intensely, others enjoyed immensely the style of writing, descriptive physical landscapes and the inner landscapes of the three main characters. Well worth reading and a satisfying ending. Napier 016
Very well received. Two even gave it 9/10. Auckland 069
All enjoyed the book. Engendered a lively discussion. An easy read. Upper Hutt 007.
OPOTI 001
15-02-2024
This book was not an immediate page turner, but most enjoyed it in the end. Lots of stuff going on, but static in some ways too!
DUNED 029
15-02-2024
While it was difficult to have much empathy with the main characters, we found it an absorbing read with a good deal of humour. It gave rise to plenty of discussion mainly related to family relationships, less so on conservation issues.
AUCK 153
15-02-2024
This book stimulated a lot of good and lively discussion. We all liked how the characters developed from troubled people to more complete and compassionate people. Also liked the underlying humour.
MOSG 004
15-02-2024
The book was very much enjoyed with the majority of the group, especially with some who had tramping experience. Good discussion about various aspects of the characters.
TIMAR 007
15-02-2024
The majority thought the author provided excellent characterisations and she was able to "get inside heads" but the overall comment was "another story about a dysfunctional family". One member had tramped the same route, and shared maps and photos. She wholeheartedly enjoyed the book, but many skimmed to the last few pages.
CHCH 240
25-09-2023
Mixed reviews from our group; we knew the era of protests, eco-warriors, and other issues, and one knew the area in Tasmania. No one was 'gripped' by the book, but it did show how the three main characters developed over the story, and their relationships with each other.
OTAKI 001
09-07-2020
Quite mixed responses to this book. Lots of discussion about the characters. They were engaging and developed over the story, with plenty of humour and retrospective insight. We enjoyed the satirical exposure of new-age (current age) spiritual quests, eco-marketing, and most of all, the whole process of forming relationships with family and others.
DOUBT 002
26-06-2020
A captivating read.
TAUR 022
18-12-2019
Good page turner. Some members had done the Cradle Mt. walk and said that descriptions were very good.
CHCH 299
21-10-2018
Opinions ranged from it being an okay read to not enjoying it at all, some felt that some of the actions of the characters were unlikely, others felt there were loose ends, others that it dragged in the middle. All felt it picked up at the end and there were some good descriptive passages.
