The Colour
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Anne-Elliott from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Amazon Synopsis:
'This is a writer whose breadth of imagination and supple prose transcend the genre: she is one of the finest writers in English' Daily TelegraphJoseph and Harriet Blackstone emigrate from Norfolk to New Zealand in search of new beginnings and prosperity. But the harsh land near Christchurch where they settle threatens to destroy them almost before they begin. When Joseph finds gold in the creek he is seized by a rapturous obsession with the voluptuous riches awaiting him deep in the earth. Abandoning his farm and family, he sets off alone for the new gold-fields over the Southern Alps, a moral wilderness where many others, under the seductive dreams of 'the colour', are violently rushing to their destinies. By turns both moving and terrifying, it is a story of the quest for the impossible, an attempt to mine the complexities of love and in the process discover the sacrifices to be made in the pursuit of happiness.
'This is a writer whose breadth of imagination and supple prose transcend the genre: she is one of the finest writers in English' Daily TelegraphJoseph and Harriet Blackstone emigrate from Norfolk to New Zealand in search of new beginnings and prosperity. But the harsh land near Christchurch where they settle threatens to destroy them almost before they begin. When Joseph finds gold in the creek he is seized by a rapturous obsession with the voluptuous riches awaiting him deep in the earth. Abandoning his farm and family, he sets off alone for the new gold-fields over the Southern Alps, a moral wilderness where many others, under the seductive dreams of 'the colour', are violently rushing to their destinies. By turns both moving and terrifying, it is a story of the quest for the impossible, an attempt to mine the complexities of love and in the process discover the sacrifices to be made in the pursuit of happiness.
Having just read Rose Tremain's "How I Found Her" and enjoyed it tremendously, I was delighted to find this one. I didn't know I had travelled all the way to Birmingham with it until I picked it up!
Almost 6 years and two house moves later, I found this book again.
It was an excellent read, introducing me to time in New Zealand' s history that was completely new to me. It wasn't the easiest read, parts are really quite brutal, but it certainly was compelling. I did wonder why some of the threads were there - the Maori nurse seemed like an afterthought, for instance. Harriet was an admirable heroine and Joseph weak. The Chinese gardener and Joseph's mother, Lillian, were people I'd like to have met.
It was an excellent read, introducing me to time in New Zealand' s history that was completely new to me. It wasn't the easiest read, parts are really quite brutal, but it certainly was compelling. I did wonder why some of the threads were there - the Maori nurse seemed like an afterthought, for instance. Harriet was an admirable heroine and Joseph weak. The Chinese gardener and Joseph's mother, Lillian, were people I'd like to have met.
