Streets on a Map

by Dale Harcombe

Every choice carries a price as Abby discovers when she marries Joel. If she had known when Joel first walked into Clancy's what lay in store, she would have stopped the relationship before it got started. However, by the time she found out it was too late. The choice was made. Or so she thought.But then between her and her one friend in Astley, Laila, they arrive at solution that could benefit Abby and the small county town. A deliberately lit fire and an unplanned pregnancy threaten to bring their carefully laid plans and Abby's dreams undone. Problems of some newcomers to the town impinge on Abby's life too, but it is the arrival of an old resident of Astley that could end up destroying everything and not just for Abby. Who else's lives will be affected and changed forever. Will the unwelcome arrivals in Astley destroy everything Abby and Laila have worked to achieve? What is the secret that will have all of Astley reeling?

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

321 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

“Life never does what you expect”

Ever wondered how your life is like a journey, forever changing and evolving? Dale Harcombe’s novel, Streets on a Map, follows the ever changing lives of the residents of Astley, a small country town in NSW Australia.

Small town gossip, unemployment, drought, relationship issues, PTSD and crime, Harcombe explores many of the emotive issues that we encounter in life and relates how our actions have consequences for ourselves and those around us.

I loved how the characters evolved and grew, first Laila giving Abby confidence and unquestionable friendship and then Abby later doing the same for Zoe.

The characters are so diverse it’s hard not to see a little of our own lives in some of them and at times nod, thinking, yes that’s exactly how I feel.

Just as Abby grew to love the town of Astley, so did I.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Streets on a Map: Journey Through Changes was exactly that, a story told of a small country town, by Australian author and poet Dale Harcombe, where various stories of this community’s residents intersect and interweave, offering glimpses of the best and the worst of human nature. This novel isn’t meant to be a blockbuster. It ambles slowly through a group of people’s lives in this little town. Along the way it reflects the things that I imagine that the author loves – people, nature, colour, poetry, animals - and the way the people of this town (more often than not newcomers) 'keep on keeping on' through the many turns in the road.

I loved some characters (Laila and Zoe were my favourite) and I disliked some. I found Abby to be surprisingly negative, but I have a feeling Laila hadn’t finished weaving her magic here, with Abby.

Often I found myself smiling along the way when I came across a lot of the phrases used – simply because I hadn’t thought of them for a long time. Blasted nuisance, mite, blooming, stubborn as a farmyard bull! I thought the writing suited this type of storytelling, which I found to be particularly salt of the earth.

Our matriarch Laila reminded me of someone? I’m wondering if others who've read this have the same train of thought as me?!

With sincere thanks to the author for my copy.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You don’t stop caring for someone just because they make a mistake. We all make mistakes. The difference is whether we learn from them”

Streets on a Map: Journey Through Changes is a novel by Australian author and poet, Dale Harcombe. Abby Donovan never dreamed she would find it so hard to fit into her husband, Joel’s hometown. But Astley, in central west NSW, several hours travel from her beloved Sydney, seems to be a close-knit community with no space for her in the weave. Luckily, not everyone is wary of newcomers: Laila Harris holds out a metaphorical hand. “It’s a gift. All you have to do is accept it. There are things in this world that can’t be bought ……friendship is one of them”

Over the following years, Abby finds herself slowly becoming part of the community, and she learns just what living in a small town can mean: “…appreciated concern or….an intrusion? ….it was both one of the privileges and the pitfalls of a small community. Here, where lives intertwined like streets on a map, such things were more noticeable”. Abby grows and matures, delighting when things go well and learning to cope when they don’t. She realises “There’s always a choice. It’s easy to use circumstances as an excuse for what happens to us”

In the tradition of Anne Tyler and Maeve Binchy, Harcombe takes a cast of ordinary characters and subjects them to everyday happenings. Along the way, she throws them some challenges and gives them words of wisdom to share: “…in some way, we are changed by the people we associate with. And their perceptions of you are coloured by their own personalities and experiences. You appear to them the way they expect you to behave. Between them they bring out the different aspects of your personality”, Laila tells Abby.

Harcombe expertly renders the feel of a typical central west town, the different attitudes of community members, unwavering ostracism side by side with incredible generosity. Her characters are familiar and appealing, none wholly good or bad, all flawed to a greater or lesser degree. Their dialogue is exactly what is heard on the streets and in the shops of every country town. Harcombe gives the reader some humour, some heartache, even some excitement (someone gets stabbed!), but above all, an entertaining and enjoyable read.
With thanks to the author for my copy.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When recently married couple Abby and Joel Donovan moved from Sydney to the small country town of Astley, where Joel had lived and grown up with his family, Abby wasn’t sure how she would cope with the quiet country life. She was used to the hustle and bustle of city life, and as a singer had found herself with much to do, rushing to and from rehearsals and shows which gave her a constant buzz.

After eight weeks, which seemed like a lifetime to Abby, she was filled with remorse for leaving her life in Sydney. She loved Joel, but with him out every day at his job and her in his old family home day in and day out with nothing to occupy her mind, she thought she’d go crazy! Making friends with the only person in town who wasn’t suspicious of the newcomer, she found Laila a special person, the mother she missed desperately after losing her own two years previously. When the idea of opening a restaurant in town took hold in Abby’s mind, somewhere she could sing again, it was Laila who encouraged her, and together they made the “Lincoln Lodge” a reality.

An unplanned pregnancy just when the restaurant was proving to be extremely popular created problems, and secrets in Laila’s past threatened to upend her calm demeanour. With dramas on both Abby and Joel’s sides of the family, new people in town and the gossips having a field day, nothing was boring in Astley for long.

I really enjoyed this book; with the small town “telegraph” meaning everyone knew what the other person was doing almost before they did…and that definitely happens in country towns in Australia! The care of the townsfolk when one of their own suffered, with them all pooling together to help was great, and real; there were triumphs and downfalls, sadness and happiness – all emotions every-day, down-to-earth people feel. Some great little twists throughout had me engrossed in this book until the last page! I have no hesitation in recommending this novel.

With thanks to the author for my copy.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I wrote this novel,rather than give my thoughts on it, I have with the reader's permission used her review. It is one of several great reviews of it. Others are on my website.This review is 5 star as are some others and some are four and four and a half. I'll leave it to those who read it to decide.

*****page-turner to the end!

By L.Swann,

Do you want to read a book that will keep you so enthralled you just have to keep turning the pages? Then Streets on a Map is exactly that book. The story line is alive with excitement, surprises, disasters and emotion. The histories, habits and complexities of the characters are carefully weaved into the story providing a beautiful balance between a plot that will keep you guessing and characters which deepen, becoming old friends the more you get to know them. The story stayed in my mind long after I would put the book down, and often I would find myself wondering about the characters; their habits, their motives, what they would do next. This always made me eager to find the next time I could sit down and continue the story. I thoroughly recommend this book as a refreshing, enjoyable and page-turning read. This is my second reading of this book and I never read books twice!

If you want to read more reviews of Streets on a Map you will find them on my website www.daleharcombe.com

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a good read - 3.5 stars, if GR allowed. A sweet story about the ups and downs of the journey through life in a community. I liked the exploration of the various themes - of resolving conflicts, of the flow-on effects of our actions on others, of the inter-connectedness and community of country towns, of forgiveness, to name a few.

Although I'm certainly no expert regarding crafting a story, at times, I felt the pacing of the story to be slightly wrong - some happenings felt rushed and could have been fleshed out a bit more, others seemed to drag a little. Also, at times, some characters seemed to contradict something they'd already said, or say things that another character had already said.

There was a lot happening in this story, which certainly made it interesting, but I was sorry not to find out more about some of the happenings - I'd like to have found out more about the Reubens and the Johnson's who seemed to leave the story abruptly quite early and more of Shannon's background a bit earlier in the story (we find out more about her family about 2/3 of the way through, but she has only felt like a minor character until then).

But those aspects are probably me being picky, and overall, it was an interesting story and a thoroughly enjoyable read!

I look forward to reading more of Dale's adult novels (no pressure, Dale!) in the future.

[Paula Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby, a successful singer in metropolitan Sydney, marries Joel and moves to Astley, the country town he was raised in. Feeling shunned by the locals and at a loss for things to do, she must get creative. Before long, Abby discovers that life in the small town holds more in store than she ever anticipated.

Astley turns out to be a paradigm of the wider world. Normal people lead lives of quiet heroism. Every day is full of noble gestures that may go unnoticed in the grand scheme of events, yet have the power and potential to change the lives of others. A deliberately lit fire, a baby's early delivery, a brand new business, the return of an estranged sister and a cold-blooded attack are just some of the issues dealt with in the story.

As the characters are all honest, regular, down-to-earth people, it's no stretch of the imagination for readers to see that we too, may be a source of huge blessings. It is a story of how small ripples may have more far-reaching effects in our sphere of influence than we may imagine. Beautiful reflections about relationships and the Australian lifestyle make "Streets on a Map" the sort of book that helps us to realize the value of what we have. I found myself refreshed with a renewed sense of optimism and contentment by the finish.

[Omega Writers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four reviews from our CALEB reviewers:

Overall rating: Three and a half stars

(1)
When Abby marries Joel, she had no idea how dramatically her life would change. Suddenly she’s living in a small country town, her singing career possibly over, and with nothing to occupy her days. However, friendship with an older woman, Laila, brings a new direction. As new changes are encountered she learns the power in forgiveness, the grace of second chances and the joy found in the simple things of life. An enjoyable story about relationships and community, with a gentle background of faith lived out with honesty and vulnerability. WN


(2)

Every choice, trivial or momentous, has a consequence. Every decision at a fork in the road means one path remains untrod. The other route can become so familiar it seems to form a backdrop to life rather than the pathway through it. As Heraclitus once said: You cannot step twice into the same stream.

Abby has moved with her husband to a small country town where he grew up. Restless and isolated, she is inspired to consider opening a restaurant where she can sing and entertain. In surmounting the obstacles between thought and reality, Abby makes new friends. DS


(3)
This is a satisfying book that I would recommend to others. It has nice peaks and conclusions.

I love how the transition from city to country is treated. Country life and community is also portrayed very well. It comes across as very real and very Australian.

I would have loved to see Laila’s relationship with God explored more, not a nebulous force but a vibrant reality. More deliberate conclusions would help, for example, “I did this because I love God”. Perhaps this is a personal edge and not what the author intended.
Bookseller’s Choice – reviewer CALEB Prize

(4)
I really enjoyed the setting and storyline in this book. I love the development of the characters and their growth. The one disappointment was that the main character was still a non-Christian at the end of the book. If she had even had a moment where she wanted to know more about God, this would have worked for me. I know it doesn’t always happen in real life, but as I was expecting it, I was disappointed when it didn’t happen. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the book.

[Susan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Streets on a Map by Dale Harcombe is an interesting story of a young woman, Abby who moves with her husband, Joel to the country town where Joel has grown up. Abby is a city girl who has to adjust to a new life style in an unfamiliar setting. The book raises a number of issues associated with forming relationships, moving on from dysfunctional families, forgiveness and building trust. Some good Judeo-Christian ethics are subtly woven into the story. I liked the way this was handled as it didn’t feel contrived.

However, there were a couple of things that didn’t work well for me. I never warmed to Joel, perhaps because the first time we are introduced to him, he is arguing with Abby. He comes across as insensitive, and since they had no history of Christian standards, there were times when I wondered why Abby didn’t pack her bags and return to Sydney. I also wondered what line of work Joel did.

Another issue I had was getting a mental picture of Astley. I have lived in small country towns and I couldn’t get a feel for how big it was. The level of gossip and rumours that circulated suggested a very small town yet it seemed to have a number of services like a hospital suggesting it wasn’t that small.

However these issues weren’t significant enough to distract from a good story and others may not even notice them.

Overall an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Dale Harcombe for providing a free book for review.

[Ausjenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another good Aussie book. In this book we see a city girl who has moved to the country and a small country town at that. Astley is a small country town where everyone know everyone and any new comers are notice. Abby has made friends with Laila and they end up working on a plan together. Add some new other newcomers including Shannon and the Zoe. Laila's sister also comes back to the town and this will affect Laila. The story was interesting getting to know the different characters and and the different storylines. We also learn about forgiveness when something happens which many think is unforgivable. We also see how 2 people can live in the one house but there memories of events are so different. The other issue we see is how we can see ourselves one way and then we meet someone and suddenly we see things in a new way and learn new things about ourselves. This happened at times in this book.
This is a christian book and there are Christian values in the book albeit subtle, but I was a little disappointed that the main characters were still not christians at the end of the book or had an encounter where they realise they need God in there lives.

[Iola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abby and Joel Donovan have recently moved to Joel’s home town of Astley, near Bathurst. They are renovating Joel’s childhood home, and Abby is having trouble fitting in to the close-knit community, especially as the move has meant she has had to give up her career as a singer. She feels alone, as the only friend she’s made is Laila, an older woman. Laila is probably the best character in the book—a spunky older woman who has made it through many life trials with her sense of humour and faith intact.

This is supposed to be a book review, not a critique. Unfortunately, it’s more like a critique because I found the story difficult to get in to, easy to put down, and marred by distracting writing and punctuation. The story is written in the third person, mostly from Abby’s point of view. The viewpoint is consistent in that there is no head-hopping, but it would have been better to have scenes from the viewpoints of more than one character (we do eventually get some scenes from Laila’s viewpoint, but not until almost halfway through the book. Unfortunately, we then get the viewpoints of several minor characters, including some head-hopping).

Joel and Abby have been married less than a year but I only saw the immaturity of their relationship and their struggles, not the reason they fell in love and married in the first place. I also felt that I was being shown what happened—she did this, he said that—rather than getting an insight into the reactions of the characters, the choices they made, and why they made those choices. I found Abby difficult to relate to and never got to know Joel well enough to decide whether or not I liked him (I’m leaning towards not).

There were several flashbacks in the story, which had a negative effect on the pacing. It’s one thing to have an occasional flashback to a point in time before the story began in order to show us something about a character that is relevant to their current situation—if it’s actually relevant (which was debatable). What were more annoying were the flashbacks to incidents within the timeline of Streets on a Map, which just made it feel as though the story was being told out of sequence.

My other major complaint was that there was very little Christian content, despite the book originally being published by a Christian publishing house and now being offered as part of a blog tour for Christian novels. Laila was a strong Christian, and I kept waiting for something to happen that would draw Abby towards God. I’m still waiting. I can only assume the theme of the novel was the uselessness of life without God, because what came through was a series of experiences with very little in the way of character reaction or personal growth. There was the potential for a good story here, but it didn’t eventuate.

Thanks to Dale Harcombe and ACRBA for providing a free ebook for review.

[Ruth Bonetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant holiday read about the transition of city singer to an Australian country town. Tighter editing would improve, especially of over zealous punctuation. A story of country town interactions with a host of characters who are mostly likeable. The title is arresting but I'm not sure of its relevance.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Although I did enjoy parts of this book, it was frustrating to me to have characters with significant events in their lives introduced and then just dropped with no explanation of what happened to them.

In the beginning of the book, we are told about a young man being suspected of committing a crime which eventually leads to his family leaving town. However, there is no follow-up of whether he was even convicted of the crime or any resolution whatsoever about what caused a fire resulting in a young girl's death.

Then later in the book, the sister of the main character, Abby, appears to undergo a complete transformation in her personality and goals after going through a very stressful life event. However, then she abruptly leaves the story and and the reader is left completely hanging about whatever happened to her later. This sister had had an important role in Abby's life!

I didn't feel like the story flowed well although I did like the characters of Laila and Abby.

[DLV · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was Enjoyable!
It is well written with Great characters!!