37. The Thorn Birds

By Colleen McCullough
Rated ★★★★★

This book is part of my Great 2007 Reading Adventure. The first time I read this book I was so engrossed in the story that all the rich details about the Australian Outback just sort of whizzed right by me. This time since I already know where the story is heading I have been sitting back, having a leisurely read and watching the scenery as it goes by.

The book is about the Cleary family, who are struggling to make a living in New Zealand until a rich sister sends for the family to livie on Drogeda, a large sheep ranch in Australia and tells the story of the struggles of the Cleary family, as they battle with, and come to love, the outback country of Australia.

I have been thinking as I am merrily reading along that the Australian Outback during this period of time is sort of like our Wild West at the same period only on steroids. While they didn't have a hostile native population to deal with it seems to me that what these people were doing was comparable to trying make a living raising sheep in the middle of the Mojave desert. I really know very little about Australia, or about the Australians. That's a shame because I suspect there is much to admire about them and their history.