Time, Flow Softly

by Nancy Cato, Kate Hosking (Reading)

Whilst living in Echuca, Philadelphia Gordon has developed a strong attachment to the river, and a fascination for paddle steamers. When she becomes owner of a paddle steamer she wishes that she had been born a male and not bound by the conventions society imposes upon females.

When Delie meets a young handsome riverman, Brenton Edwards, she falls hopelessly in love with him. However, the future is not the idyll she had foreseen. She is dogged by tragedy and her mind becomes plagued by many questions. Will she ever escape the treadmill of motherhood? Is she doomed to forever be subordinate to a philandering, reckless husband?

Genres: Audiobook

Audio CD

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Nancy Fotheringham Cato AM (11 March 1917 – 3 July 2000) was an Australian writer who published more than twenty historical novels, biographies and volumes of poetry. Cato is also known for her work campaigning on environmental and conservation issues.

Cato was born in Glen Osmond in South Australia, and was a fifth-generation Australian. She studied English Literature and Italian at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1939, then completed a two-year course at the South Australian School of Arts. She was a cadet journalist on The News from 1935 to 1941, and as an art critic from 1957 to 1958.[2]
Cato married Eldred De Bracton Norman, and travelled extensively overseas with him. They had one daughter and two sons.[1] Dr Nancy Cato Norman died at Noosa Heads on 3 July 2000.
Cato's cousin was also named Nancy Cato and was host of children's TV show the Magic Circle Club in the mid 1960s.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Part 2 of All The River Runs, an Australian novel written in 1958, which was also a popular TV mini-series in 1983, which I have not yet seen. This book continues the story of Philadelphia Gordon who was shipwrecked and orphaned off the Victorian coast in 1890, then taken in by the formidable Aunt Hester and Uncle Charles, on their property in Echuca along the Murray River. The story now continues with Delie having moved out of home and trying to make her way as an artist. The book focuses on her relationship with handsome paddle-steamer captain Brenton Edwards. Delie owns shares in the boat, and soon falls head over heels for Brenton, although for me personally any appeal was short-lived as his reckless, selfish, overgrown man-child personality soon became apparent. Delie struggles, juggling a rapid succession of small children, with her duties on board the paddle-steamer, and her own desires to paint the beauty and harshness of what she sees around her. It is a good story which creates an impression of life on the river but the writing was fairly plain and uninspiring. 3 stars for me.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part Two of All The Rivers Run.

This section dealt mostly with Philadelphia's romance/life with Brenton Edwards, who I loved growing up watching the miniseries. Although the book is good and interesting, I'm not sure I'd recommend any fans of the miniseries to read the book. Brenton is so very different from the book to the show that before the book was done, I hated him. And I can see why the miniseries was so romantic: because the book is rather depressing.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book continues Philadelphia’s life story, with her attending art school in Melbourne, and eventually marrying Brenton Edwards & their married life aboard their paddle streamer. It started out ok, although not quite as interesting as the first book, but then got steadily worse as she came to terms with married life & then being a mother to many small children, with her husband turning out to be the biggest child of all! His behaviour towards her & their kids so horrible at times that it made for some hard reading!! A vastly different portrayal to that in the TV miniseries, which was more romanticised. I’m not sure if I can stomach any more of these books, might leave them for a while!