Im Tal der roten Zedern: Die große Australien-Saga

by Di Morrissey, Alice Jakubeit (Übersetzer)

Paperback book, in German

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook

720 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Di Morrissey (born 18 March 1943 in Wingham, New South Wales) is one of Australia's most popular female novelists. She grew up in the remote surrounds of Pittwater, north of Sydney, Australia.

Growing up she counted famous Australian actor Chips Rafferty as a close mentor and friend who helped provide for her and her mother after the death of her father as a child, sending them overseas to California to live with family.

In her later years, Di went on to become a journalist on London's Fleet Street, and worked for CBS in Honolulu, where she lived with her husband who was in the foreign service, and even had a small role in the series Hawaii Five-0, a guest role in season three, episode seven, 1970 starring as 'Alicia Anderson'.

After moving back to Australia, Di published her first book 'Heart of the Dreaming' which instantly became a bestseller. Since then Di has published another 17 bestsellers, her latest being 'The Silent Country'.

Reviews

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was tempted to make The Valley my first DNF for the year but I slogged through it to the end. I feel like I should have enjoyed the story, after all I live in The Valley that this book describes - {Hungerford is Taree renamed} and Di Morrissey and her husband live the next town away just near Wingham (which Di calls Cedartown).
It was good to read about my town and its familiar environs and fun to recognise even some of the characters (including the couple at the cafe) she includes - but really that is all that kept me reading.
I found the alternating story threads too short to become involved, though of the several points of view, it was Isabelle Kelly's story, a woman of class, making her way alone in the bush in the late 1800's, that was most interesting. I also found the thinly veiled history of the area informational. I have lived in the area (coming from the city) for only 6 years and know every little abouts its origins.
The main reason I struggled I think is that for the first 250+ pages of this book very little actually happens, characters are introduced - settings are established but it lacks any action or drama. I don't think it ever really reached a point where I was wondering what would happen next or that there was any real suprises. I do feel that Morrisey tied things together very neatly at the end, but by that time I just didn't really care.
I picked it up, read a few chapters, and put it back down in several spurts over a few days which the short viewpoint shifts lends itself to but at nearly 600 pages I think The Valley is about twice as long as it should be. However if you are a family history buff, or a fan of family sagas you should probbaly give it The Valley a shot. It's not totally irredeemable but didn't work for me.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about the Manning Valley (NSW North Coast) and independent property owner and a very early settler, Isabella Mary Kelly.

A moving and enthralling read set in the past and present.



Listened to the audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda audio
Read by Kate Hood
Duration: 17 hrs, 35 min. 1.25x Speed

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did love this author for a short while, but found the earlier ones to be more enjoyable.

[✿ ♥ Heather ♥ ✿ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so hard to get through, I read it on and off over months and months, The only reason I kept going was because it was a gift from my mother-in-law.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danni needs a lifestyle change and has decided that she wants to try painting full time, to see if she has a talent for it. After some discussion with her mother Lara she decides to go to Cedartown – a town in the Hunter Valley Region that was the original settlement for her great grandparents Harold and Emily and where her grandmother Elizabeth grew up. When Danni gets there she falls in love with the place, then her mother Lara decides to join her to find out some of her family history, Lara especially hopes to find out something about her father Clem Richards, who she never knew. She is in luck, the family who own “Cricklewood” her mother’s childhood home, need someone to live there while they take a touring holiday. At the same time Lara is trying to find her family’s story someone is writing a book on an early pioneer of the area, Isabella Kelly. There is also someone telling Lara that she should let things lie and she should not be digging up the past.

This story is written between time zones, it is the story of Isabella Kelly, an early Australian settler and loan female farmer who came from England in the late 1800’s to the stories of Harold and Emily who married just after WWI and the 1930’s to 40’s for Elizabeth and Clem’s story. It also slips back to the present to tell us how Danni & Lara is getting on.

I am very interested in family history so this story was perfect for me, but I so love all the books I have read so far by Di Morrissey and this one was no exception.

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing to love here for me.

Insipid characters. Slow plot with no real turning point. Clear from the start everyone will live happily ever after.

[Ellie-Mae McDonald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably the worst, most predictable book I have ever read.

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

My wife recently stumbled on the story of Isabella Kelly in a book of short biographies of staunch outback women. Given to her by my mother, she discovered that the villain in Kelly's story was one of my mothers ancestors, Henry Flett. I was therefore interested to get an idea of the history of the Manning Valley and Isabella Kelly through the fictional tale told in this book. I'm not sure it helped.

True to Morrisey's usual approach, elements of the past are woven together to connect to characters in the near-present, telling the tale of an Australian region in the process. This one felt like it was closer to home for her than others I've read, but then it was for me too. In addition to the colonial period, a second historical element is set around World War Two. It wasn't quite the same, but another on my Flett line went to war from country NSW also. But in spite of these feelings of connection, I felt irritated by much of the storyline - too much filler and a cast of thousands to keep up with.

But the most difficult aspect was disentangling the fictional aspect of Kelly's life with the facts as I understand them. The apparent proposal by Flett happened at a different date to what has been written up here. Was this artistic license to protect the innocent or part of an alternate and perhaps contested history I'm unaware of? Either way I'm left doubting much of what I was reading. In spite of this it has motivated me to dig into this part of my heritage, with the strengthened understanding that we only ever know some of the truth and it is rarely only positive things that emerge. But genes are not fate and secrets are better out than in!

[Sharryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second Di Morrissey novel did not disappoint.
From the moment I picked up this book and started reading I was hooked on every word till the very last page. I found so many commonalities between myself and some of the main characters so this storyline really resonated with me.
The author has written through the years her characters lives entwined rather than in chapters constantly moving between the 1800’s and current day.
The story is based around a place known to locals simply as the Valley which is nestled between peaks and mountains and divided by a beautiful river.
The valley holds family secrets from generations past and one woman returns to learn more about her family heritage.
When she begins to ask questions she discovers the story of a forgotten valley pioneer whose life becomes entwined with hers.
I loved each and every one of the unique characters in this novel and thought they all brought added qualities to the story.
There is nothing better than reading a story that encapsulates your own loves, hopes and dreams and resonates loudly with you.
This book did this for me.

[Leah Toohey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed a couple of Di Morrissey's books previously, I jumped at The Valley when it was recommended to me. Being born and raised in the Manning Valley, in the hub of the valley that is Taree, and three generations of my family before me, I knew that Di had based this book around my homelands. Although I have not lived in the area since the late 90's, I enjoyed identifying local areas such as Hungerford (Taree), and Cedertown (Wingham), the beautiful Manning River which runs through the entire valley, as well as the parallels of the local history. I could even see characters in the book based on real life locals. Aside from the personal nostalgic trip, I really enjoy Di's style of writing and how she crafts a story around a real Australian location and characters who are relatable, beautifully capturing the essence of a country town, it's people, the sense of community that make these little towns what they are.

[Barbra]

This was a DNF for me. I have been trying to expand my reading of Australian authors and Di Morrissey is said to be one of Australia's most successful so I was excited to give one of her books a try. It may just be that I started with the wrong book but this was terrible! It included an element I generally love - storylines from different eras - but it jumped so quickly between the two that I never felt invested in either. Then, within the storylines themselves, nothing happens (at least in what I read). It was just pages of detailed, mundane dialogue between characters. I was already skimming by page 50 and at page 100 I decided I just couldn't endure 400+ more pages. It may have picked up but I just wasn't enjoying it enough to see it through.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got 6 hours into the audio book, I gave it a real good amount of time, but I just wasn't into it. I didn't care for the characters or the moving forward and backwards in time through the family tree. Just not for me. I have loved other books by Di.

[Dragonladymoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my first Di Morrissey books and the storyline really appealed to me. I identified with the woman searching for purpose in her single state and finding links and mystery in her rural lifestyle. An enjoyable read.

[sherryl bremner · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was quite good overall, I found it hard to keep track of the various threads in the plot. The point about the possible movie deal sounded dodgy and I expected more drama to come out of that.

[Paul McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Di Morrissey book. Australian history and a contemporary story about 2 women finding the way and reconciling the past.
This one was good as they usually are but would have been better with a less rushed ending and 100 pages shorter

[Ann Kewley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down- very addictive reading!

[Kat Ashworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable storyline and characters. Beautiful woven past with present.

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Had a few tears moments in parts of the book. But an amazing story!

[Tanya Boulter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah, blah blah yawn this is the beginning of her downfall

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to read as I struggled to keep going. I could only read for so long before having to put it down again. It was a good story, but seemed to drag on quite a bit.

[Pat Raab · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful blend of history and the present, and a journey not only to find oneself but to right old wrongs.

[Judy Murray]

Another good story. Perhaps a bit long winded!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, Di Morrissey has returned to a part of Australia she knows best - the hinterland of northern New South Wales, reminiscent of the Manning Valley where she was born. The Valley of the title is fictional in this novel, but nevertheless rings with the authenticity of someone who knows this part of the country well.

As usual, she populates her book with a host of interesting characters, Dani, a young mother from Sydney who wants to explore her fine art capabilities, her mother Lara who grew up with her grandparents in the region, and from the past, the very real historical personality of Isabella Kelly, much despised and litigated against in her lifetime, but whom Dani sees through the eyes of our far more enlightened 21st century.

Or is it? Old grudges can linger on in the isolated mountains and valleys of the hinterland, despite the proximity to major population centres. While Dani is captivated by Isabella's story, her mother Lara is curious to research some family history - but someone is intent on making things difficult for her.

This is another very satisfying and memorable read from Ms Morrissey, who seldom produces a 'dud' despite her prodigious output. First published in 2006, The Valley remains a winner.

[Pamela Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library not expecting to like it because I am always put off by an author being a best seller (it usually means it's rubbish). However, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Plenty of undeveloped characters, pedestrian plots and contrived connections, all of which I expected. But it did trot along at a reasonable pace and Morrissey managed to convey the atmosphere of several different periods of history quite convincingly. She'd obviously done her homework. I had major issues with the plot about the missing money - it didn't work for me at all and the scene on top of the mountain when Lara faces Thommo was just plain silly. It wasn't just that scene either that disappointed me. Having led us quite successfully along several garden paths Morrissey drops us far too quickly at the end of the book. Did she have a word limit that she suddenly found she'd reached or did she just get bored with the whole thing? A pity because there were parts of the book I really liked and I did read the whole thing which isn't always the case with random library books.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is about Dani, a 30ish divorcee who quits her job as a graphic designer in Sydney and moves to the peaceful valley in New South Wales where her mother was born, to ""find herself"" through becoming a painter. Initially she leaves her 8 year old son Tim behind with her mother, Lara, which I found odd and rather selfish. She befriends a range of local characters and begins to find out more about Isabella Kelly, an infamous landowner of the 1840s. Isabella's story, and that of various other characters, are told in flash-backs, spanning both World Wars and gradually it becomes clear who is related to who. Lara then decides to move up there herself, and research her own family history.
It's quite long and fairly slow and not much happens, but it is a nice story that makes you want to move to the Australian countryside and chill-out.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I've ever tried to read. This is the fourth book of Di Morrissey's I've attempted trying to find out why she's considered one of Australia's best authors. I'm sure her research is great but if she can't hold a readers interest what's the point. Don't publishers read authors works after the first book is a success? Seems not because I don't understand how she's managed to have so many published. Would not recommend this author.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite the saga. Got a bit of everything. Bit OTT re political correctness but still interesting. Gives some interesting insight into the appalling treatment of women and the indigenous in the early 1900.
The main female character demented me.
Enjoyed the process of searching family history the book contained. Enjoy.

[Jenny Rushforth]

I absolutely LOVED this book. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the family history involved; inspiring me to get my family history going. I truly love Di’s books. They’re all I read, presently.
I feel, I’m “there” in the moment, of the place she’s writing about. Truly WONDERFUL.
I love the research she does.
Thank you Di Morrissey

[Lisa Rich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Di Morrissey is an Australian author. Her books aren't too difficult to read and she always writes about a place. The Valley is set in the Australina bush and it is story of an early female pioneer and the troubles she met when establishing her home in the Valley.