“There is a
legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly
than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it
leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until
it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales
itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above
its own agony to outcarol the lark and the nightingale. One
superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to
listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at
the cost of great pain… Or so says the legend.”
― Colleen McCullough
― Colleen McCullough
Meghann (Meggie) Cleary, a four-year-old girl living in New Zealand
in the early twentieth century, the only daughter (in a large family
of sons) of Paddy, an Irish farm labourer, and Fee (a woman who is
mystery herself) is the main protagonist. The story is about her
struggles and choices.
Meggie's life changes when her poor dad is invited to live and work
in the estate of his wealthy sister, Mary Carson in Australia. There
is no looking back after that. The whole family happily travels west
to Australia. Here Meggie meets Ralph de Bricassart, a young
ambitious priest who had befriended old Mary to
escalate his position in the church. Mary who had fallen for the
young priest detests Meggie at first sight seeing how her innocent
beauty as already encaptured Ralph's attention.
Time passes by as Meggie grows up into a beautiful young woman of
seventeen. Till this point Meggie had already witnessed a lot of family
drama, especially between her favorite brother Frank and Paddy. She is ignorant and vulnerable. The tragedies of her life and Ralph's support
throughout compels her to trust him more than any one else.
The turning point is Mary Carson's death and the whole aftermath of
Ralph discovering the details of Mary's will, which she had artfully
conspired in a desperate attempt to keep Ralph and Meggie away.
Now it is Ralph, who has choose between Meggie and his ambitions...
Now it is Ralph, who has choose between Meggie and his ambitions...
His decision has solely shaped the course, the story then takes.
The book is a thrilling breath-taking experience. It makes you laugh,
cry and sulk at the same time. You end up hating the character you
loved and loving the character who had hated so far. You almost feel
justified about so many unjustified and unreasonable acts when you
finally put the book down. Even if somethings remain unjustified, accept them as they were meant to be so.
And be sure when you're through it, you are set to encounter a void
in your mind which will be difficult to fill in the coming days
without thinking about this book.
Yes. This books gives you a very serious hangover...
Caution: Thinking too much is not advisable as it can seriously get you tagged as a MAD person by the people around you...
RATING
