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The Big Smoke
Ceara’s desperate for love; Seb’s desperate to get laid. Ceara adores reading novels; Seb hasn’t finished a book in years. Two strangers, both moving from small country towns to Brisbane – the big smoke. As they prepare to attend the same university, their paths seem set to collide, but they keep missing each other. Maybe fate is keeping them apart, or maybe it’s just chance.When the semester starts, things get complicated. Ceara’s best friend withdraws from her, Seb’s closest mate turns into a sleazebag, and the relentless demands of university make their stress levels soar. Before their first semester is over, both Seb and Ceara will be forced to question who they are and what they want from their lives. Will they have the courage to find the answers, or will they crumble under the pressure? And when they finally meet, will it be love at first sight or a collision of headstrong personalities?
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Cally Jackson
8 books65 followersCally Jackson grew up in the small country town of Gatton, Australia, and has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. After deciding at 17 that a Hollywood acting career was sadly out of reach, Cally turned to a career in professional communication with fictional writing as her labour of love.
In grade two, Cally’s passion for fictional writing proved a little problematic when she got in trouble for penning her own tale instead of copying directly from a story book as she was supposed to be doing – it was a handwriting exercise, after all.
Cally’s first novel, The Big Smoke, was published in 2012. A decade and two children later, The Ripple Effect series was born.
Cally now lives in Brisbane with her husband and children, where she continues to entertain herself and others by letting her imagination run wild.
In grade two, Cally’s passion for fictional writing proved a little problematic when she got in trouble for penning her own tale instead of copying directly from a story book as she was supposed to be doing – it was a handwriting exercise, after all.
Cally’s first novel, The Big Smoke, was published in 2012. A decade and two children later, The Ripple Effect series was born.
Cally now lives in Brisbane with her husband and children, where she continues to entertain herself and others by letting her imagination run wild.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 25, 2012
I'm going to be honest here and say that originally I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this. I wasn't sure it was going to be "my thing" by the blurb. For that reason, it means a lot more when I say I REALLY enjoyed this. Once you read you'll realize how brilliant the cover is and why the characters are sketched in.
This is a story about two people who want something very much, but it's the wrong thing. How many times have we been in the same place in our lives? The Big Smoke is a coming of age story about all the crap these two people have to go through in order to learn what's really important. And only then do they find what they wanted.
This story made me cry! I mean really hurt for these characters. A best friend, a dog, the "could have beens", and the letting go of guilt really hit home. Cally did a wonderful job digging into some deep emotional topics in a realistic and believable way.
This is a story about two people who want something very much, but it's the wrong thing. How many times have we been in the same place in our lives? The Big Smoke is a coming of age story about all the crap these two people have to go through in order to learn what's really important. And only then do they find what they wanted.
This story made me cry! I mean really hurt for these characters. A best friend, a dog, the "could have beens", and the letting go of guilt really hit home. Cally did a wonderful job digging into some deep emotional topics in a realistic and believable way.
October 31, 2012
This book sneaks up on you, grabs you by the throat, and doesn’t let you go until the last page. When I picked it up I was tired of reading material for young adults, or new adults, for that matter, that consists of a series of ‘then this happened and then that happened’ statements. The Big Smoke boldly sets itself against the current trend of shallow character development and over reliance on plot. What the reader finds instead is an organic development of connections, entanglements and emotional high stakes, which provide much food for imaginative reflection. The main protagonists, Seb and Ceara, are particularly appealing, and it is a great pleasure following them as they navigate the pressures, joys and sorrows of new adulthood, in an unfamiliar environment. A pleasure to dive into, this book should become a favourite with anyone who enjoys intelligent fiction, and believes that the ordinary moments of life are also the most significant.
November 21, 2012
It's a long time since I was the age of Seb and Ceara but Cally Jackson's writing took me back to those days when I was trying to find my way the world, desperately wanting to fit in. Cally has written each character in the first person which invites the reader into their hearts and minds. I've read this book twice and even the second time, knowing what to expect I had tears streaming down my face on the bus and people staring at me wondering what was wrong. This is the mark of excellent writing, taking your reader through all the emotions with your characters. Well done Cally, this book is a must read for everyone.
October 7, 2012
I received an Advanced Reader Edition of Cally Jackson's debut novel, and I read it in just a few days. It was THAT good. As a warning I want to say that my review may contain some spoilers, because I can't think of a way of talking about this tale without discussing what goes on in Ceara and Seb's lives.
"The Big Smoke" has two narrators. We've seen this plenty of times before most notably used by William Faulkner in "Absalom, Absalom." However, it is also used to great effect by George R.R. Martin in a "Song of Ice and Fire" and by countless other writers who use it to find a means of perspective in a story that is too big to encompass just one point-of-view. Cally's take on this is to use first-person, and it works wonderfully as a vehicle to tell her story. So expect to be inserted into the heads of Ceara and Seb alternately throughout the book. Cally does tell you which head you are in because the chapters are labeled with their names, and they both possess a very distinctive voice.
Cally Jackson is a great writer. The first character I want to talk about is Ceara. Her narrative can be summarized by something her friend Kristi says to her. "You're so desperate to be in a relationship, you fall in love with anyone who gives you the slightest bit of attention. You seem to think your life will only be complete when you have a boyfriend."
And it was at that moment in the book that I finally understood that behind the angst of being a new adult is often the search for validation, because we (guys and gals) go into college without a sense of identity. And maybe that's what college is supposed to do: give us time to find ourselves. I can comfortably say that Ceara definitely understands who she is by the end of the book, and it is through this vehicle that she attains happiness.
The second narrator, Seb (short for Sebastian) is told in an authentic male voice that oftentimes left me in awe that Cally could capture so perfectly how boys feel in the first year of college. Do we think about sex all the time? Absolutely. I often lament when looking back on my college years about how difficult the curriculum was because I had too many distractions caused by raging hormones. Sebastian really connects with this feeling. As well, she gives us a very human side to Seb by showing us the many rights of passage that men must attain to reach adulthood, the compromises of living with a roommate, and ultimately how every story has multiple points of view.
And it is in this that Cally is amazing. Seb's parents are divorced and there are two sides to that story. But the deconstruction doesn't stop there. "The Big Smoke" also has two sides (the tale of Ceara and Seb). Cally brings these two ships together by the end after they have each worked through their myriad issues and are now ultimately ready for a true relationship that will stand the test of time. And I just want to say, I love the way these two narratives interweave with each other through events like Seb saving Ceara's life, to mutual acquaintances and friends, to the university they both attend, and to the city they both call home. We know from the beginning (of course) that boy and girl will eventually come together. But the fun is finding out exactly how that's going to be done. And I liked that it happened naturally through time as they both became adults and knew exactly what they needed to make them complete.
This book is difficult for me to classify in terms of genre. I think it fits soundly into "New Adult," but I have no idea if that is an actual genre yet (even though more and more people are talking about it).
I think "The Big Smoke" would appeal to those who like "Literary Fiction." If you have read Michael Chabon (author of "The Wonder Boys") you would like this book, or perhaps readers of "The Ice Storm" might find similarities that they would enjoy. "The Big Smoke" is a complex look into the lives of college freshman that tackles issues of body image disorder, anorexia, abandonment, sex, relationships, and loss. This is a great book, and you would do good to read it for yourself.
"The Big Smoke" has two narrators. We've seen this plenty of times before most notably used by William Faulkner in "Absalom, Absalom." However, it is also used to great effect by George R.R. Martin in a "Song of Ice and Fire" and by countless other writers who use it to find a means of perspective in a story that is too big to encompass just one point-of-view. Cally's take on this is to use first-person, and it works wonderfully as a vehicle to tell her story. So expect to be inserted into the heads of Ceara and Seb alternately throughout the book. Cally does tell you which head you are in because the chapters are labeled with their names, and they both possess a very distinctive voice.
Cally Jackson is a great writer. The first character I want to talk about is Ceara. Her narrative can be summarized by something her friend Kristi says to her. "You're so desperate to be in a relationship, you fall in love with anyone who gives you the slightest bit of attention. You seem to think your life will only be complete when you have a boyfriend."
And it was at that moment in the book that I finally understood that behind the angst of being a new adult is often the search for validation, because we (guys and gals) go into college without a sense of identity. And maybe that's what college is supposed to do: give us time to find ourselves. I can comfortably say that Ceara definitely understands who she is by the end of the book, and it is through this vehicle that she attains happiness.
The second narrator, Seb (short for Sebastian) is told in an authentic male voice that oftentimes left me in awe that Cally could capture so perfectly how boys feel in the first year of college. Do we think about sex all the time? Absolutely. I often lament when looking back on my college years about how difficult the curriculum was because I had too many distractions caused by raging hormones. Sebastian really connects with this feeling. As well, she gives us a very human side to Seb by showing us the many rights of passage that men must attain to reach adulthood, the compromises of living with a roommate, and ultimately how every story has multiple points of view.
And it is in this that Cally is amazing. Seb's parents are divorced and there are two sides to that story. But the deconstruction doesn't stop there. "The Big Smoke" also has two sides (the tale of Ceara and Seb). Cally brings these two ships together by the end after they have each worked through their myriad issues and are now ultimately ready for a true relationship that will stand the test of time. And I just want to say, I love the way these two narratives interweave with each other through events like Seb saving Ceara's life, to mutual acquaintances and friends, to the university they both attend, and to the city they both call home. We know from the beginning (of course) that boy and girl will eventually come together. But the fun is finding out exactly how that's going to be done. And I liked that it happened naturally through time as they both became adults and knew exactly what they needed to make them complete.
This book is difficult for me to classify in terms of genre. I think it fits soundly into "New Adult," but I have no idea if that is an actual genre yet (even though more and more people are talking about it).
I think "The Big Smoke" would appeal to those who like "Literary Fiction." If you have read Michael Chabon (author of "The Wonder Boys") you would like this book, or perhaps readers of "The Ice Storm" might find similarities that they would enjoy. "The Big Smoke" is a complex look into the lives of college freshman that tackles issues of body image disorder, anorexia, abandonment, sex, relationships, and loss. This is a great book, and you would do good to read it for yourself.
October 18, 2012
THE GOOD: Relationships, romance, drama, humour, heartbreak, coming of age--this book has a lot packed into it! It's a long book. Not long in a this-story-is-dragging-on-forever-I-wish-it-would-end kinda way. No, no, no. Long in a I-scored-two-awesome-books-in-one kinda way!! The chapters alternate between Seb and Ceara, two very different characters with distinctive voices. They're heading off to university with all their hopes, dreams, fears and expectations--which is already a lot to deal with before you add in the ordeals life is about to throw at them: eating disorders, horrible house mates, broken friendships, and more.
Ceara is the reserved, bookish type, so I identified pretty well with her ;-) And Seb ... well, he's a guy! I've obviously never been inside the head of a boy (duh!), but it seemed like the author did a great job of getting inside Seb's head. I LOVE reading a story from two points of view, and it was fascinating to see all the threads of these two separate lives interweaving, criss-crossing, just missing, and then finally coming together (how and when? I'm not going to tell you that. You have to read it for yourself!).
THE BAD: There really isn't anything to say here. I read an early ARC, so I can't comment on the absence or presence of typos or grammatical errors in the final version. (But I can tell you that the author is something of a perfectionist!)
THE PRETTY: I just love this cover. It's different from a lot of other covers out there. It's more arty, which is cool. And I LOVE the lights and the hazy reflection in the water!
So, if you're a fan of contemporary upper YA or NA, you should definitely check this one out when it's released later this month :-)
Ceara is the reserved, bookish type, so I identified pretty well with her ;-) And Seb ... well, he's a guy! I've obviously never been inside the head of a boy (duh!), but it seemed like the author did a great job of getting inside Seb's head. I LOVE reading a story from two points of view, and it was fascinating to see all the threads of these two separate lives interweaving, criss-crossing, just missing, and then finally coming together (how and when? I'm not going to tell you that. You have to read it for yourself!).
THE BAD: There really isn't anything to say here. I read an early ARC, so I can't comment on the absence or presence of typos or grammatical errors in the final version. (But I can tell you that the author is something of a perfectionist!)
THE PRETTY: I just love this cover. It's different from a lot of other covers out there. It's more arty, which is cool. And I LOVE the lights and the hazy reflection in the water!
So, if you're a fan of contemporary upper YA or NA, you should definitely check this one out when it's released later this month :-)
January 11, 2013
It's 2002 and Seb and Ceara are destined for each other, they just don't know it yet. Jackson does a great job of getting into her male and female characters' heads and showing us their anxieties about rites of passages such as moving into your first apartments (no dorms in Australia, apparently) getting your first job away from home, learning to drive in the big city, and making new friends. The authorial hand is very light and the action grows organically from the actions of the characters. The point of view alternates between the two characters, with many "chapters" being only a couple of screens on my Kindle. There's no overarching plot other than the fact these two characters meet once, but then almost meet each other again many, many times. Part of me wishes that there had been more structure, but I fear that this might have taken away from the characters' thoughts.
The parents are very flawed people, and that was a bit gutsy. It gives the story a darker edge and provides depth to the characters.
The men in the novel sometimes sounded like masculine women. They spend a lot of time talking about their feelings and checking in with each other to make sure their relationships are ok. Most men are less communicative and less concerned about the state of the relationships.
But these are minor quibbles. Jackson's novel takes you into the lives of just out of high school kids and gives it a verisimilitude that is quite impressive.
The parents are very flawed people, and that was a bit gutsy. It gives the story a darker edge and provides depth to the characters.
The men in the novel sometimes sounded like masculine women. They spend a lot of time talking about their feelings and checking in with each other to make sure their relationships are ok. Most men are less communicative and less concerned about the state of the relationships.
But these are minor quibbles. Jackson's novel takes you into the lives of just out of high school kids and gives it a verisimilitude that is quite impressive.
December 23, 2012
I was introduced to this book through an article about Cally Jackson on the intranet at work, but after reading the first two chapters I went straight to Amazon and bought the e-book. I'm a bit past the age range of Seb and Ceara, but Cally's vivid writing brought back those angst-filled uni days where you're trying to figure out who you are and what you want and deal with massive changes in your life, while having to deal with the stresses of studying at the same time.
I really liked Seb and Ceara and was interested in what they thought and how they dealt with things. The chapters alternated between their individual voices and the pace of the writing meant that the story moved on at an energetic pace. The characters were realistic and the situations believable. The author also managed to intelligently interweave Seb and Ceara's separate lives without having to resort to implausible coincidences. I also thought she managed to get into the head of a 17-year-old boy very well, something I was never able to do!
Young adults and recent Uni graduates will appreciate this the most, but sympathetic grown-ups will understand the situations and feelings well too. 4 stars!
I really liked Seb and Ceara and was interested in what they thought and how they dealt with things. The chapters alternated between their individual voices and the pace of the writing meant that the story moved on at an energetic pace. The characters were realistic and the situations believable. The author also managed to intelligently interweave Seb and Ceara's separate lives without having to resort to implausible coincidences. I also thought she managed to get into the head of a 17-year-old boy very well, something I was never able to do!
Young adults and recent Uni graduates will appreciate this the most, but sympathetic grown-ups will understand the situations and feelings well too. 4 stars!
December 20, 2012
I loved this book! At first I thought I might be too old to enjoy this novel but it sure took me back to my uni days. The characters were portrayed so perfectly. I remember those feelings of loneliness, betrayal, self worth, love and doubt.
I was on the edge of my seat reading faster and faster and getting annoyed when the 2 characters that I had gotten to know so well throughout the story kept missing each other.
It's a well written story of fate and chance, of love and lust, of self doubt and self worth. There are many lessons learned in this novel and I truly enjoyed re-learning a few of them.
Thank you Cally Jackson for a great read!
I was on the edge of my seat reading faster and faster and getting annoyed when the 2 characters that I had gotten to know so well throughout the story kept missing each other.
It's a well written story of fate and chance, of love and lust, of self doubt and self worth. There are many lessons learned in this novel and I truly enjoyed re-learning a few of them.
Thank you Cally Jackson for a great read!
February 6, 2013
The Big Smoke by Cally Jackson was an honest look at two 'new adults' launching into college. Each character (male and female) was given individual voice. The issues were definitely issues that young adults face these days. A good read!
June 27, 2024
Great coming of age story about Seb and Ceara, both having moved to Brisbane from small country towns for uni. Told in alternating view points their stories are quite separate until the end. After a chance encounter early on in the story, despite often being close to each other they never actually meet until right at the end. They both have a lot going on and over times get themselves sorted out. I was really engrossed in their stories and didn’t want to put the book down. I really liked the short chapters - as it gave me a little info on each character before going back to the other one. Great read
July 24, 2013
Um...what the heck?
This was awesome...and then it was terrible...and then it was awesome again...and then it was terrible...and then it was awesome and I was so sad it ended.
It's actually really fun to read a book that takes place in your own country with the Australian slang and your own trees.
The setting is the best thing about this book. The characters are pretty good even though they get into all sorts of ridiculous situations. I liked that they're real people and crazy stuff does go down and they make a ton of mistakes but they're all really rich characters. Oh, and the dialogue is fabulous. But the story lacks punch. And it's not exactly tasteful.
Both the hero and the heroine lead their separate lives transitioning to the city and to uni. Both are desperate to either get laid or get into a relationship.
It just got too convoluted and complicated for me. There are soooo many problems it was stressing me out because it was so close to home.
This was awesome...and then it was terrible...and then it was awesome again...and then it was terrible...and then it was awesome and I was so sad it ended.
It's actually really fun to read a book that takes place in your own country with the Australian slang and your own trees.
The setting is the best thing about this book. The characters are pretty good even though they get into all sorts of ridiculous situations. I liked that they're real people and crazy stuff does go down and they make a ton of mistakes but they're all really rich characters. Oh, and the dialogue is fabulous. But the story lacks punch. And it's not exactly tasteful.
Both the hero and the heroine lead their separate lives transitioning to the city and to uni. Both are desperate to either get laid or get into a relationship.
It just got too convoluted and complicated for me. There are soooo many problems it was stressing me out because it was so close to home.
November 22, 2012
I'll admit I know Cally - BUT...this was a totally great book on it's own merits. It had me laughing, crying (yep - true) and really revelling in the uni life of Brisbane a decade or so back (I am sure I almost got run over on the same street). The characters are so real you will swear you knew them in your 20s. Their experiences are so raw and so detailed, it's like living them yourself. And perhaps that's the best bit of this book. Most of these experiences we have all had in our own way. Perhaps not the exact same way - but the themes remain as true now as ever: of being happy with who you are, learning to accept our loved ones for who they are - and knowing true love/friendship. Great book - you'll never regret reading it - and some of the scenes will remain with you forever. Awesome job Call-ster.
December 17, 2012
I highly recommend this read. It was for my teenage daughters at the time I purchased it, but I read the book in a few days' straight, and have only just handed it over to them now! It's a great coming of age tale based on the story of two young adults finding independence and belonging in a big city, and I thoroughly enjoyed my journey with them. For all readers, young and old.
February 23, 2013
I don't read a lot of contemporary, but I sure am glad I read this book! Cally does a fabulous job of weaving each character's life throughout the story, building momentum right until the last page. Her characters are authentic, real people. I feel like I've know them forever.
A must read!
A must read!
May 27, 2013
I will give this 3 1/2 stars.........A good Aussie book. I didn't realize that till after I downloaded it so learned a little Aussie jargon along the way.
This was a very long novel between Seb & Ceara POV's. This isn't a normal hot romance that is between the two characters, it's about them going thru their own personal experiences before they have their own together (meaning they aren't together for only about 8% out of a 415 pages of the book.)
I still enjoyed the story throughout. It was neat how all the characters were always crossing paths with the two main characters. This was definitely an emotional ride with a lot of different issues teen face today.
This was a very long novel between Seb & Ceara POV's. This isn't a normal hot romance that is between the two characters, it's about them going thru their own personal experiences before they have their own together (meaning they aren't together for only about 8% out of a 415 pages of the book.)
I still enjoyed the story throughout. It was neat how all the characters were always crossing paths with the two main characters. This was definitely an emotional ride with a lot of different issues teen face today.
November 21, 2012
Once into “The Big Smoke”, it was hard to put down. I found it an engrossing story of moving into adulthood. The characters grow with the narrative and one cares a lot about what happens to them.
In a nutshell, it was a great read.
And will be a great Xmas gift for the late teens and early 20’s.
In a nutshell, it was a great read.
And will be a great Xmas gift for the late teens and early 20’s.
April 3, 2013
This is not a romance novel. It is a coming of age book about two different people who have several chance connections with only one encounter. It's good for what it is and we see character growth by the end. I would just have liked to see these two interact with each other sooner rather later.
November 11, 2012
3.5 If only they had gotten together sooner! What a tease!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews