"So, what's it about? Do they get together?" asks my husband as I finish this book (after several weeks of dwelling on my bedside table). How to answer this question in a concise and sensible way?
"Think - How I met your mother", I say.
Hubby shrugs, nods and wonders off. It is a dissatisfying answer.

The unnamed narrator tells us (the reader) he looks like his great-grandfather Oscar, and mention of a relocated church and christmas pudding take us back to the nervous and red-headed ancestor.

What I had to remind myself after reading this was that it was published in 1988 (it felt more modern) - a time I remember as a 'great celebration of a nation', with Australia's bicentenary. As a school girl I recall fireworks, public celebrations, big scale musical anthems on television and a vague mention of the 'poor blacks'.

To be honest, I think there is quite a lot that went over my head in this book. I recognise much of the geography (it's where I live), and his attention not only to historical detail and minutiae (the planks of the bridge to Balmain apparently would be stolen by the locals regularly), but how deftly these details were sprinkled in and added to the richness of the story.

I suspect each Oscar and Lucinda are drawn from earlier figures and events other readers may recognise from history and literature (Angela Carter mentions Oscar resembling Myshkin - which I had to google and had me feeling like The Idiot), and while in a 21st century setting their actions and reasoning would seem absurd, they are 19th century Victorians (Oscar believing the unthinkable journey to the north will prove his love and worth to Lucinda, rather then just declaring his love and passion).

It was with the realisation of the publication date that I saw the themes of this book as more then a parody of our current genealogical obsession and Dickens-like Australian colony tragic-comedy. Of course it is a challenge and rethink of the sexism and racism of our early colony's history. While vacuous commercials sung out on our televisions in 1988 'Let's lend a hand, and show the world how great we all can be. All those years of sweat and tears/ it's our Bicentenary' our history and the historical record were bias and even faked (like the lie that this country was empty or unclaimed before British colonization) to represent a past and situation which suited a particular audience both then and now.

Once I started looking at the story from this point on the comparisons between 19th century Britain and the pre-modern people and land of Australia become more obvious. The complexions of Oscar and Lucinda for one. She with her untameable hair and fair skin, challenging society with her pantaloons and walking dresses based upon her mother's feminist ideas but, a modern adaption in this new country. Oscar's blazing red hair and sunburnt complexion as he floats down the river to Boat Harbour, clearly seen from the river banks, holding his bible.

Two characters, ridiculous and innocent, gentle and educated. Two people in love and moving from the old country and ideals of Britain to the colony of New South Wales seen from the vantage point of his 20th century Australian great-grandson. This would have been a better answer to give my husband.

After reading the book of course I moved on to watch the film which had the happier and less satisfying ending. But, like the book captured the local settings beautifully and the dozens of secondary characters who go in to carrying this story along. The film was very well cast (in my humble opinion), with Richard Roxburgh as menacing Mr Jeffries being my favourite.

Apparently Frank Herbert said something like 'There are no endings, it's just where the story stopped', and 'Oscar and Lucinda' made me think of this. The idea that these characters carrying on beyond these sentences and pages pleases me. And the little touch of our narrator (Geoffrey Rush in the film - which will now be entwined with the book in my head now) relating a letter that was found from Lucinda many years later was marvellous.

Thank you Mr. Carey.
I greatly enjoyed 'The true history of the Kelly gang' and 'Jack Maggs', but never finished 'Parrot and Olivier in America' and 'The chemistry of tears' and feel guilty for this. But, also feel I must now go and read ALL his other books too.

Posting to Edwardstreet for The Southern Cross Book Exchange.

A Wishlist book that my daughter delivered to me on Mothers Day. Wonderful surprise received as part of the Southern Cross Book Exchange. Perfect to have the DVD as well! how generous and kind, a Wishlist book as well, how cool is that.

This had been on my wish list due to great reviews. I found this a long a difficult read, and the resolution came very quickly and rather unexpectedly at the end.
Pleased I read it but not a top ten for me. I was lucky enough to also be sent the DVD, which I will watch with great interest as it may make it all more "real" for me.

Consider this a C author book or a Sthn X bookexchange

I have ancestors who came though Australia and I do love to read books set in a time and perhaps places they may have been as I said above this was quite a difficult read for me but I find as I look at it this morning as I wrap it I remember it positively.

Thanks, Edwardstreet. I think I'll let this go on as a C Author book as it has come my way before.

This is one of those books I have picked up over the years and then put down again so this may be the catalyst to read

Being released as part of the downsizing cull of 2016