Slipstream: On Memory and Migration

by Catherine Cole

Catherine Cole's Slipstream is a beautifully-woven memoir that captures the essence of growing up as the child of 'Ten Pound Poms' in Australia. Born to migrant parents who left their close-knit Yorkshire community to start afresh in Australia, Catherine's childhood was filled with the contrasting worlds of a small mining village in northern England and the Australian heat, beaches and cicadas. In Slipstream , she explores the humourous and poignant mix of these two worlds. The book delves into the experiences of the British who migrated to Australia under the 'Ten Pound Pom' scheme and have since been referred to as 'Australia's forgotten migrants'. Catherine examines the appeal of the scheme, and documents the journey of these migrants as they left their homes, were sponsored, settled and built new lives in a very different terrain. Slipstream is not just a memoir, but also a reflection on migration and its impact on individuals and communities. It offers insightful perspectives on post-war opportunity, freedom of movement and kindness to strangers. With a mix of personal stories, cultural observations and historical insights, Slipstream is a heartfelt exploration of the sacrifices made by migrants to build a better future for their children in a new land.

236 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2023

Reviews

[AnMa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a five-hour train ride home recently, I was completely immersed in the final chapters of ‘Slipstream’. As a ‘third culture kid’ who grew up elsewhere, throughout the book I found myself gasping in places, stopping to ask “oh! Did my parents feel like that too?”

This book was deeply moving, and for me this was a gut-level kind of read the whole way through.

It is such an evocative story on so many levels, from the sound of the author’s parents’ Yorkshireness, and her journeying through identity/identities/ and being of two places, two homes. The story also reminds us how important it is to know where and who we are from, and how our identities are made and unmade..

As a family story it is fascinating and enormously touching, and will appeal to anyone interested in the experiences of migrants - such an important book for our times.

[Mani Bronstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book a week ago by a friend. I am so glad I was. My parents are migrants to the UK from Hungary and its been such a pleasure to read the author's observations on migration - we should all be reading books like this right now. I hope it gets selected as a school text book and that lots of people read it. It makes you feel very sad in parts, because you realise what people go through when they leave their homes. Its also funny and gives a lot of insights into the migrant experience, whatever culture you're from. One for everyone's Christmas/seasonal celebration book lists I hope.

[Penny Royston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s about migration - and more specifically Ten Pound Poms from the UK. The author’s parents are from Yorkshire and they migrated after the war. It’s very informative and also very personal. The family memoir is mixed with reflections on how people’s lives are affected by leaving their homes. The sections on the author’s late brother are really moving. It’s a book to make you think about family and a must for anyone who has ever been a migrant themselves. Highly recommended.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Cole is a wonderful story teller, this memoir weaves the past present and the what ifs into a beautiful tapestry of her family journey as immigrants in a new country and her returning and discovering her version oof the home country and imagining it if her parents hadn't made that enormous journey. This story is one that many migrants could identify with.
Totally recommend this book.

[Tom Antonius · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ideal book for anyone studying or teaching in migration studies. very well written and compassionate. I'm a fan of this author. She understands the drive people have for a safe home - that desire that propels so many migrants. Highly recommended.

[Maria Kowalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book!

[Kate Coll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous