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River Run
January 1951: Eleanor Webber is fleeing a failed love affair and has returned home to River Run, her family's sprawling sheep property in Western NSW.
Her hope is to take time to heal, but there's little chance of that happening. With tensions rising in the shearing shed, a mysterious stranger appears on the horizon and Eleanor's younger brother, Robbie, entangles her in a situation that will have serious repercussions for every member of the Webber family for years to come.
Her hope is to take time to heal, but there's little chance of that happening. With tensions rising in the shearing shed, a mysterious stranger appears on the horizon and Eleanor's younger brother, Robbie, entangles her in a situation that will have serious repercussions for every member of the Webber family for years to come.
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Published January 5, 2017
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About the author
Nicole Alexander
36 books189 followersNicole Alexander is the author of eleven novels: The Bark Cutters, A Changing Land, Absolution Creek, Sunset Ridge, The Great Plains, Wild Lands, River Run, An Uncommon Woman, Stone Country, The Cedar Tree and The Last Station.
The Limestone Road will be published March 2025.
Awards: The Bark Cutters - short-listed for an Australian Book Industry Award.
Non-fiction includes;
Poetry: Divertissements: Love. War. Society. - a Anthologies: Dear Mum / Great Australian Writers
Nicole lives in north-west NSW, Australia
The Limestone Road will be published March 2025.
Awards: The Bark Cutters - short-listed for an Australian Book Industry Award.
Non-fiction includes;
Poetry: Divertissements: Love. War. Society. - a Anthologies: Dear Mum / Great Australian Writers
Nicole lives in north-west NSW, Australia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 1, 2017
4★
It’s great to hear an authentic voice in a story that takes place on an Australian property. This is January, 1951, and it’s hot. Eleanor has returned home from Sydney to mend a broken heart. Her uncle, (who is now her step-father), asks what brings her “back to the family farm”.
“Eleanor noted the line that briefly furrowed her mother’s brow. Georgia hated River Run being called a farm, as did she. It was far more than that.”
My rural experience was 30 years later than this story, but in a similar area, and even then I don’t recall people referring to “farms”. They were properties, possibly a “farming property” if they were mostly cropped.
A property is more or less what Americans would call a ranch. And ranchers, or property owners, generally aren’t called farmers. Not to their face, anyway. Except in drought, of course, when we all worry about the nation’s farmers and farm families, because we don’t really know what else to call them!
But I digress. This was just to point out why I appreciated Nicole Alexander’s authentic voice.
“Beyond the manicured vegetation and the iron-roofed outbuildings, an irregular tree line marked where the river flowed through the property. And still their land stretched on. Into distant paddocks she’d never been to. Across a country marked by fire and drought, rootless drovers and torrential rain, war-made swagmen and blacks on walkabout. This was a big land.”
This is sheep country, it’s hot, and shearing is about to take place when Eleanor comes home. Her little half-brother, Robbie is a tearaway 11-year-old, full of beans, mischief and half-understood information from the news about Reds Under the Bed.
He’s convinced the Commies are coming, so he’s set up a lookout with provisions in a tree along the river, far from home. He’s suspicious of everyone, jumpy, and armed with his .22 rifle. And it’s hot. Not a healthy combination, and it does have repercussions.
There is a fair bit of current affairs with people arguing about Menzies, Korea, unions, prejudice, and politics. There’s also the politics of the woolshed when shearing starts, and the various levels of power sort themselves out: owner, overseer, wool-classer, shearers, shed-hands, shearer’s cook – and more.
The description of shearing activities seems to flow naturally—a good introduction for readers unfamiliar with the subject, without being an awkward information dump. I did find much of the dialogue about current affairs a bit too explanatory for my taste.
It’s a big household, with a cook, a governess, visitors, and lots of food. And it’s HOT! Oh . . . did I mention that already? :)
You haven’t lived until you’ve cooked on a wood stove in the Aussie summer heat. Alexander captures the atmosphere beautifully. And there’s language that readers new to Aussie rural life will enjoy.
I loved reading this great old expression (new to me, I admit), used by Rex, the old gardener who’s been there for 40 years:
“’Damn would-to-Godders . . . I remember getting on the train with your father, Eleanor, when we enlisted in ’16 and the local member standing there.’ Rex lifted his hands as if he grasped the lapels of a coat, tilted his chin. ‘Would-to-God I’d be going with you if I could, boys. Would-to-God’.”
We might have to resurrect that, I think.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. I can see how Nicole Alexander has carved out her place in Aussie storytelling.
It’s great to hear an authentic voice in a story that takes place on an Australian property. This is January, 1951, and it’s hot. Eleanor has returned home from Sydney to mend a broken heart. Her uncle, (who is now her step-father), asks what brings her “back to the family farm”.
“Eleanor noted the line that briefly furrowed her mother’s brow. Georgia hated River Run being called a farm, as did she. It was far more than that.”
My rural experience was 30 years later than this story, but in a similar area, and even then I don’t recall people referring to “farms”. They were properties, possibly a “farming property” if they were mostly cropped.
A property is more or less what Americans would call a ranch. And ranchers, or property owners, generally aren’t called farmers. Not to their face, anyway. Except in drought, of course, when we all worry about the nation’s farmers and farm families, because we don’t really know what else to call them!
But I digress. This was just to point out why I appreciated Nicole Alexander’s authentic voice.
“Beyond the manicured vegetation and the iron-roofed outbuildings, an irregular tree line marked where the river flowed through the property. And still their land stretched on. Into distant paddocks she’d never been to. Across a country marked by fire and drought, rootless drovers and torrential rain, war-made swagmen and blacks on walkabout. This was a big land.”
This is sheep country, it’s hot, and shearing is about to take place when Eleanor comes home. Her little half-brother, Robbie is a tearaway 11-year-old, full of beans, mischief and half-understood information from the news about Reds Under the Bed.
He’s convinced the Commies are coming, so he’s set up a lookout with provisions in a tree along the river, far from home. He’s suspicious of everyone, jumpy, and armed with his .22 rifle. And it’s hot. Not a healthy combination, and it does have repercussions.
There is a fair bit of current affairs with people arguing about Menzies, Korea, unions, prejudice, and politics. There’s also the politics of the woolshed when shearing starts, and the various levels of power sort themselves out: owner, overseer, wool-classer, shearers, shed-hands, shearer’s cook – and more.
The description of shearing activities seems to flow naturally—a good introduction for readers unfamiliar with the subject, without being an awkward information dump. I did find much of the dialogue about current affairs a bit too explanatory for my taste.
It’s a big household, with a cook, a governess, visitors, and lots of food. And it’s HOT! Oh . . . did I mention that already? :)
You haven’t lived until you’ve cooked on a wood stove in the Aussie summer heat. Alexander captures the atmosphere beautifully. And there’s language that readers new to Aussie rural life will enjoy.
I loved reading this great old expression (new to me, I admit), used by Rex, the old gardener who’s been there for 40 years:
“’Damn would-to-Godders . . . I remember getting on the train with your father, Eleanor, when we enlisted in ’16 and the local member standing there.’ Rex lifted his hands as if he grasped the lapels of a coat, tilted his chin. ‘Would-to-God I’d be going with you if I could, boys. Would-to-God’.”
We might have to resurrect that, I think.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. I can see how Nicole Alexander has carved out her place in Aussie storytelling.
December 28, 2016
River Run takes place in the early 1950's. Leaving behind a ruined love affair in Sydney, Eleanor Webber returns to her family's property, River Run in Western New South Wales. Aussie author Nicole Alexander takes us on a wondrous journey of what life is life on the land and we discover what one family goes through on a daily basis on a shearing property.
There is so much to say about this magnificent story, but all I'd really like to say is how much I truly enjoyed reading this book. A beautifully written tale that will leave you wanting more. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
There is so much to say about this magnificent story, but all I'd really like to say is how much I truly enjoyed reading this book. A beautifully written tale that will leave you wanting more. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
August 20, 2016
January 1951 and Eleanor Webber’s arrival at the railway station after the long journey from Sydney had her struck anew by the intense heat – but that was home after all. The vast sheep station in country New South Wales had been in her family for generations – River Run currently housed her mother and step-father, along with her step-brother Robbie. Her big sister Lesley was living in Sydney at a nunnery; her fragile state meant she hadn’t been back to River Run in some time.
The gardener who had been at River Run for as long as Eleanor could remember chatted as he drove Eleanor back to the property – rickety, hot and dusty; nothing had changed – but when Rex informed Eleanor that her unexpected arrival would also coincide with guests arriving for the weekend, Margaret and Keith Winslow plus shearing would start the following Monday, Eleanor wondered if she’d done the wrong thing in her spur-of-the-moment decision.
But it was eleven year old Robbie who would create problems on a monumental scale. Bored and continually up to mischief, the arrival of the shearers played into his hands. His childish worry of imminent attack on the property had him stocking his treehouse with supplies; the rifle his father had given him was always by his side. With his faithful cattle dog Bluey a constant companion, Robbie was determined to save River Run from the communist invasion.
What would happen when Robbie spied a stranger on horseback heading toward the river? And what was causing the tensions and hostility both in the big house and the shearers’ quarters? Was Eleanor’s presence creating problems or was there more to the situation? Danger was looming…
River Run by Aussie author Nicole Alexander is another riveting and tension filled historical mystery which had me glued to the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s last book, Wild Lands and this one definitely hasn’t disappointed. The characters are well written – among others, I enjoyed Eleanor; and Robbie was a spoiled brat! River Run is extremely readable, and one I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House AU for this digital copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
The gardener who had been at River Run for as long as Eleanor could remember chatted as he drove Eleanor back to the property – rickety, hot and dusty; nothing had changed – but when Rex informed Eleanor that her unexpected arrival would also coincide with guests arriving for the weekend, Margaret and Keith Winslow plus shearing would start the following Monday, Eleanor wondered if she’d done the wrong thing in her spur-of-the-moment decision.
But it was eleven year old Robbie who would create problems on a monumental scale. Bored and continually up to mischief, the arrival of the shearers played into his hands. His childish worry of imminent attack on the property had him stocking his treehouse with supplies; the rifle his father had given him was always by his side. With his faithful cattle dog Bluey a constant companion, Robbie was determined to save River Run from the communist invasion.
What would happen when Robbie spied a stranger on horseback heading toward the river? And what was causing the tensions and hostility both in the big house and the shearers’ quarters? Was Eleanor’s presence creating problems or was there more to the situation? Danger was looming…
River Run by Aussie author Nicole Alexander is another riveting and tension filled historical mystery which had me glued to the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s last book, Wild Lands and this one definitely hasn’t disappointed. The characters are well written – among others, I enjoyed Eleanor; and Robbie was a spoiled brat! River Run is extremely readable, and one I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House AU for this digital copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
September 20, 2016
The year is 1951 in post war Australia, and Eleanor Webber has been away from her family home on a huge sheep station in Western New South Wales for a year now.
She has been living a carefree life sharing a flat in Sydney with two of her best friends, and enjoying a lifestyle which is far removed from the one she was brought up to back home.
Eleanor is shattered when her love affair with a handsome Italian lothario comes to a sudden end after she discovers his ultimate betrayal, he has stolen the book she wrote and claimed it as his own, having a publisher sign him up as the author.
She flees to her family home in the country to find solace and healing for her broken heart, her pain being twofold because she can't share it with her family who wouldn't understand.
Eleanor's parents have never condoned her love of writing and so she kept secret from them the fact that she had published articles. Also they would be mortified to learn of her relationship with an Italian man, not to mention her bohemian lifestyle in the city.
So it is with an aching heart that she returns home for a couple of weeks to recover, though she soon discovers that things back home are not all that they are made out to be either.
It appears that the complicated relationship between her mother and step father is also on a rocky slope, her 11 year old half brother is running amok and her eldest sister seems content to spend the rest of her days cloistered in a convent after suffering a breakdown.
As the days go by Eleanor's problems are forced into the background as existing family issues escalate and a series of unfortunate events begin to unfold with potentially serious consequences, subjecting the family to an awkward, unwanted scrutiny and threatening the status quo.
A family saga that will keep you guessing, this book is packed with unfolding action that doesn't let up until the end.
4★s
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
August 30, 2017
See review here for Kindle edition:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 5, 2016
First the cover sucked me in. Then the author's name. I love Nicole's books. Her stories (most of them) have all been quintessentially Australian in terms of plot and setting and River Run is another beauty. I admit some of the characters (actions/motivations) tripped my switch, but evoking reader reactions like that is the sign of great storytelling (in my book!). Texture... is the word I think of. The tapestry Nicole has woven in River Run has a lot of texture.
April 24, 2017
I really wanted to love this but it was a bit of a struggle. Great descriptions of life on a sheep station in the 50s.
October 7, 2016
An amazing Australian author who just keeps delivering fantastic reads, Nicole Alexander is a must read author and time after time you can count on her books being enthralling and rewarding for the reader. River Run in set in the early 1950’s on a sheep property in rural NSW and Nicole can take you easily to a time and place where you feel the heat and smell the freshly shorn sheep. The characters were identifiable, the backdrop of drought, storms and the moving on after loss and war with lots of family complications and only set over the period of a week keeps the pages turning until the book is finished! They would be a great family to re-visit again in the future for sure. Highly recommend!
September 4, 2018
Eleanor returns home to River Run from Sydney, after a romance gone wrong. She's no sooner home when everything that can happen, happens. She has an eleven year old brother who thinks he's going to protect River Run from the communists and makes it his business to set up a camp in a tree with a rifle and his gorgeous pup. Eleanor's sister has been tucked away in a convent recuperating from a mental breakdown. Eleanor's mother remarried her late-husband's brother, but that was a mistake. Amazing descriptions of life on a sheep station during shearing time, plus the dreadfulness of a storm that practically annihilates everything in its path. Of course, there's a hero in the picture.....he's a perfect hero! Love this book!
August 27, 2016
Book Blurb…
You won’t be able to put down this rural drama from the bestselling author of The Bark Cutters and Wild Lands. River Run is set in January 1951, and after a year away Eleanor Webber has returned home to River Run, her family's sprawling sheep property in western New South Wales. Fleeing a failed love affair back in Sydney, she hopes for some time and space to heal. But with shearing of over 25,000 sheep about to commence, and the infamous and moneyed Margaret Winslow and her husband Keith staying in the main house as her mother's guests, that dream is quickly dashed. More worryingly, her half-brother Robbie is increasingly running wild, playing tricks on his governess, antagonising the jackeroos and obsessing about a communist invasion. Though only eleven, Robbie has appointed himself guardian of the property and, in his tree house by the river, he readies for an imminent attack. Armed with a gun. Then, with a storm looming and tensions rising in the shearing shed, a mysterious stranger appears on the horizon. And in one disastrous moment young Robbie entangles Eleanor in a situation that will have serious repercussions for every member of the Webber family . . .
My thoughts…
As with every Nicole Alexander book (I’ve read them all), River Run will be your best friend through to the end. Life and chores will not matter until the very last page is read--and then some while you continue thinking about how the characters move on (and after you’ve read the very personal author’s note).
It is once again a treat to become a part of the rural setting. Nicole does this so authentically that you are there for every event that takes place. I loved the characters as they each get into trouble and then back out again. I especially wanted to give Robbie a good talking to and I found myself wanting to give Eleanor a good push in a certain direction. (No more to be said on that for now.)
I loved the narrative around the shearing shed and the characters involved there. Each of them so unique, as I imagine they would have been on properties like River Run, in those earlier days.
Thanks to Nicole Alexander for another great read. You are the heart of Australian storytelling.
You won’t be able to put down this rural drama from the bestselling author of The Bark Cutters and Wild Lands. River Run is set in January 1951, and after a year away Eleanor Webber has returned home to River Run, her family's sprawling sheep property in western New South Wales. Fleeing a failed love affair back in Sydney, she hopes for some time and space to heal. But with shearing of over 25,000 sheep about to commence, and the infamous and moneyed Margaret Winslow and her husband Keith staying in the main house as her mother's guests, that dream is quickly dashed. More worryingly, her half-brother Robbie is increasingly running wild, playing tricks on his governess, antagonising the jackeroos and obsessing about a communist invasion. Though only eleven, Robbie has appointed himself guardian of the property and, in his tree house by the river, he readies for an imminent attack. Armed with a gun. Then, with a storm looming and tensions rising in the shearing shed, a mysterious stranger appears on the horizon. And in one disastrous moment young Robbie entangles Eleanor in a situation that will have serious repercussions for every member of the Webber family . . .
My thoughts…
As with every Nicole Alexander book (I’ve read them all), River Run will be your best friend through to the end. Life and chores will not matter until the very last page is read--and then some while you continue thinking about how the characters move on (and after you’ve read the very personal author’s note).
It is once again a treat to become a part of the rural setting. Nicole does this so authentically that you are there for every event that takes place. I loved the characters as they each get into trouble and then back out again. I especially wanted to give Robbie a good talking to and I found myself wanting to give Eleanor a good push in a certain direction. (No more to be said on that for now.)
I loved the narrative around the shearing shed and the characters involved there. Each of them so unique, as I imagine they would have been on properties like River Run, in those earlier days.
Thanks to Nicole Alexander for another great read. You are the heart of Australian storytelling.
August 30, 2016
Set in the early 1950's this book unfurled as an old Australian movie in my head...and I loved it.
Eleanor has come home to River Run after disastrous relationship, with an Italian who has double crossed her. Her 11 year old half brother Robbie as the run of the station and his actions are causing concern for his parents, like terrorising the governess (many have pasted through due to his actions). Now he thinks that the communists are coming to attack the station, lucky he's secreted some stocks in his tree hideaway to help protect the property.
Set over one week when shearing is about to start, visitors are at the station and now a stranger is in the midst due to Robbie's actions. What will it lead to and what do the Warrigal Winds mean for them all?
In a time of progression, European migrants and the threat of a communist invasion, this is a look at a conservative family living in the Australian bush.
This book was so easy to read and I was swept up in the movie in my head. I could picture every one of the characters and while I got so angry at Robbie and his behaviour at times, I could also imagine how he just did is own thing because no one really cared. His parents were so wrapped up in their own world and keeping up appearances. I really enjoyed Eleanor's character and how she was trying to push against what was expected of her. In fact I'd love to see more of the characters of River Run.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a couple to read and review
Eleanor has come home to River Run after disastrous relationship, with an Italian who has double crossed her. Her 11 year old half brother Robbie as the run of the station and his actions are causing concern for his parents, like terrorising the governess (many have pasted through due to his actions). Now he thinks that the communists are coming to attack the station, lucky he's secreted some stocks in his tree hideaway to help protect the property.
Set over one week when shearing is about to start, visitors are at the station and now a stranger is in the midst due to Robbie's actions. What will it lead to and what do the Warrigal Winds mean for them all?
In a time of progression, European migrants and the threat of a communist invasion, this is a look at a conservative family living in the Australian bush.
This book was so easy to read and I was swept up in the movie in my head. I could picture every one of the characters and while I got so angry at Robbie and his behaviour at times, I could also imagine how he just did is own thing because no one really cared. His parents were so wrapped up in their own world and keeping up appearances. I really enjoyed Eleanor's character and how she was trying to push against what was expected of her. In fact I'd love to see more of the characters of River Run.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a couple to read and review
August 23, 2016
Great Australian drama set on a family's Sheep Run in the middle of the Australian Outback.
We follow the Webber family through the normal trials and tribulations of sheep shearing time with a couple of extra added dramas. A daughter returning home, a son involved in a questionable shooting, a stranger on the property and 'Warrigal Winds' sweeping through. What does all of this mean for the family? Will they hold it together?
There is intrigue. There is a little bit of romance. There is hate. There is suspicion. Most of all, there is love. This is everything you need in an Australian saga. Nicole Alexander has tempted us once more with her latest book in River Run
We follow the Webber family through the normal trials and tribulations of sheep shearing time with a couple of extra added dramas. A daughter returning home, a son involved in a questionable shooting, a stranger on the property and 'Warrigal Winds' sweeping through. What does all of this mean for the family? Will they hold it together?
There is intrigue. There is a little bit of romance. There is hate. There is suspicion. Most of all, there is love. This is everything you need in an Australian saga. Nicole Alexander has tempted us once more with her latest book in River Run
October 11, 2016
I really enjoyed River Run by Nicole Alexander. This really is the heart of Australian storytelling. It was very interesting hearing about the sheep station and property at River Run set in western New South Wales, the treehouse by the river, red dust-storms, kangaroos, jackaroos. This is the heart of rural drama and history in the 1950's.
This is the first time I've ever read a Nicole Alexander novel and I've started with her latest and newest release River Run, the heart of the country and rural Australia.
An Australian novel not to be missed.
This is the first time I've ever read a Nicole Alexander novel and I've started with her latest and newest release River Run, the heart of the country and rural Australia.
An Australian novel not to be missed.
August 28, 2016
Once again Alexander reminds us of how she is cementing herself at the heart of Australian literature with characters and a narrative that will take you back to one exceptional week in the 1950s.
Full review at:
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
Full review at:
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
October 2, 2017
I absolutely loved this book although the start was a little slow whilst we slowly were introduced to the characters and River Run. Nicole tells it as it is.....I felt like I was on that Station amongst the heat, the shearers and right down to the kitchen and how the Cook always had a cup of tea at the ready when needed or a glass of water at the right time and even something medicinal when needed! Another brilliant read by Nicole Alexander!
October 22, 2020
Set in the 1950's,Eleanor returns to the family property and becomes immersed in the dramas surrounding her half-brother, the shearers and an unknown injured guest.
August 26, 2017
Highly engaging and chock-full of drama. :) Full review to follow. :)
January 28, 2017
Although the events of this 422 page novel take place in only one week, the plot certainly does not drag.
In 1951, Eleanor returns home from Sydney to her family's vast sheep station in remote western NSW after a failed affair and betrayal. The River Run property was founded by her grandfather, but is now run by her strong willed mother, Georgia. Georgia's first husband (Eleanor's father) has died and she is now married to his brother. Eleanor and Colin share a dislike for each other, which causes tensions.
Events unfold amid the backdrop of a drought fuelled by a hot dry summer - mustering and shearing of 20,000 sheep, shearers' rebelling about conditions, sheep thieving, a tragic "accident" involving Eleanor's 11 year old half brother, Robbie, Robbie's "escape", and a wild windstorm.
As well as family, other major characters include, loyal gardener Rex, longtime housekeeper Mrs Howell, overseer Mr Goward, the mysterious stranger injured as a result of Robbie's accident, the Greek nurse employed to look after him, Eleanor's older sister Lesley who returns home after her own personal tragedies, and two wealthy house guests Margaret and Keith Winslow. The relationships between these characters has a vital role as to how the plot develops.
The heat as described by Alexander is palpable, as indoors the only relief comes from wobbly fans run by generators which can break down. The descriptions of the kitchen, food storage, and cooking methods were realistic and made me recall holidays at a cattle station near Moree in the mid 1950s.
An enjoyable read.
In 1951, Eleanor returns home from Sydney to her family's vast sheep station in remote western NSW after a failed affair and betrayal. The River Run property was founded by her grandfather, but is now run by her strong willed mother, Georgia. Georgia's first husband (Eleanor's father) has died and she is now married to his brother. Eleanor and Colin share a dislike for each other, which causes tensions.
Events unfold amid the backdrop of a drought fuelled by a hot dry summer - mustering and shearing of 20,000 sheep, shearers' rebelling about conditions, sheep thieving, a tragic "accident" involving Eleanor's 11 year old half brother, Robbie, Robbie's "escape", and a wild windstorm.
As well as family, other major characters include, loyal gardener Rex, longtime housekeeper Mrs Howell, overseer Mr Goward, the mysterious stranger injured as a result of Robbie's accident, the Greek nurse employed to look after him, Eleanor's older sister Lesley who returns home after her own personal tragedies, and two wealthy house guests Margaret and Keith Winslow. The relationships between these characters has a vital role as to how the plot develops.
The heat as described by Alexander is palpable, as indoors the only relief comes from wobbly fans run by generators which can break down. The descriptions of the kitchen, food storage, and cooking methods were realistic and made me recall holidays at a cattle station near Moree in the mid 1950s.
An enjoyable read.
November 26, 2016
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
When Eleanor returns to the family sheep property, River Run, to recover from a failed love affair she doesn't expect the drama and action that ensue when her young half brother shoots a stranger. Set in post World War 2 the novel explores some serious themes such as the ongoing impact of war and the role of women in the pastoral industry. These themes give the novel more weight than the cover might suggest. The strength of Alexander's writing is the affection she brings to her depiction of outback Australia and the people who live there. She neatly avoids the conventional cliches often associated with books set in rural Australia. The story was a little slow to get started but once it gets going it will keep you turning the pages until the end.
When Eleanor returns to the family sheep property, River Run, to recover from a failed love affair she doesn't expect the drama and action that ensue when her young half brother shoots a stranger. Set in post World War 2 the novel explores some serious themes such as the ongoing impact of war and the role of women in the pastoral industry. These themes give the novel more weight than the cover might suggest. The strength of Alexander's writing is the affection she brings to her depiction of outback Australia and the people who live there. She neatly avoids the conventional cliches often associated with books set in rural Australia. The story was a little slow to get started but once it gets going it will keep you turning the pages until the end.
October 10, 2016
I love Nicole's books. I did find this one to lack a little in substance compared to her previous novels.
However, what it lacked in the story line I found in the historical element of the novel.
I love books that cover the descriptive element of early Australia. This one is 1951 so not so early.
But the details of clothing, the rural elements and even the descriptions of household help and shearer's back then is interesting.
Not so much romance but it covers family that has dealth with wealth but also with loss.
Still a great read if not as good as others
However, what it lacked in the story line I found in the historical element of the novel.
I love books that cover the descriptive element of early Australia. This one is 1951 so not so early.
But the details of clothing, the rural elements and even the descriptions of household help and shearer's back then is interesting.
Not so much romance but it covers family that has dealth with wealth but also with loss.
Still a great read if not as good as others
September 26, 2017
I've put this book down many times as I wasn't ready & didn't want to spoil it. Geez I was glad I did. Well, well Nicole you never fail to impress!
Thank you for such a beautiful story & a place to get away from my troubles. Different but really, really enjoyable. Oh that cattle pup stole my heart too!!
A MUST read from one of my fav authors x
Thank you for such a beautiful story & a place to get away from my troubles. Different but really, really enjoyable. Oh that cattle pup stole my heart too!!
A MUST read from one of my fav authors x
September 30, 2016
I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. it was an easy read. This was the first time I have read any of her books and I will be on the lookout for her books in the future. The novel captured the essence of the Aussie outback very well.
November 18, 2016
This book started building slowly from the start and seemed to get more and more intriguing as I got into it. About two-thirds of the way in the pace picked up immensely and I just couldn't put it down. The ending was fabulous and I would recommend this book to anyone.
January 11, 2017
I really enjoyed the characters, including the main character of the land. The story flowed nicely, and I found myself reading a day at a time.
January 16, 2018
Recommended by my favourite librarian. I wouldn't normally choose Australian but enjoyed this
August 2, 2025
In the 1950s, Australia's wool industry experienced a major boom, with wool prices reaching unprecedented highs and becoming a cornerstone of the Australian economy. This period was so lucrative that it was said Australia was "riding on the sheep's back". The high prices, driven by strong international demand, led to a significant increase in the terms of trade for Australia, making the country wealthy on a per capita basis.The era also saw the establishment of institutions like the Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to support the industry and research. However, the good times were relatively short-lived, as the industry later faced challenges from the rise of synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester, which would eventually challenge wool's dominance.
In Australia during the 1950s, the "Red Scare" created a climate of suspicion and fear, impacting various aspects of Australian society, including politics, trade unions, and social organisations.The 1950s saw a widespread fear of communist infiltration and subversion, particularly in the wake of World War II and the emerging Cold War. This fear led to political and social tensions, with the government attempting to ban the Australian Communist Party and sparking debates about national security and individual liberties.
Women moved from the country to the city and then back to the country for a variety of interconnected reasons, often related to economic opportunities, social changes, and personal preferences. Initially, the allure of the city was primarily driven by economic factors, including greater education and job opportunities and higher wages, especially during periods of industrial expansion or wartime. However, the city also presented challenges, such as higher living costs, the anonymity of urban life, and the complexities of navigating a more competitive social landscape. This led some women to eventually return to the rural areas, seeking a quieter and more tranquil life, closer family ties, or more affordable living conditions.
In Australia during the 1950s, the "Red Scare" created a climate of suspicion and fear, impacting various aspects of Australian society, including politics, trade unions, and social organisations.The 1950s saw a widespread fear of communist infiltration and subversion, particularly in the wake of World War II and the emerging Cold War. This fear led to political and social tensions, with the government attempting to ban the Australian Communist Party and sparking debates about national security and individual liberties.
Women moved from the country to the city and then back to the country for a variety of interconnected reasons, often related to economic opportunities, social changes, and personal preferences. Initially, the allure of the city was primarily driven by economic factors, including greater education and job opportunities and higher wages, especially during periods of industrial expansion or wartime. However, the city also presented challenges, such as higher living costs, the anonymity of urban life, and the complexities of navigating a more competitive social landscape. This led some women to eventually return to the rural areas, seeking a quieter and more tranquil life, closer family ties, or more affordable living conditions.
August 5, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
It is January 1951, and after a year away Eleanor Webber has returned home to River Run, her family's sprawling sheep property in western New South Wales. Fleeing a failed love affair back in Sydney, she hopes for some time and space to heal. But with shearing of over 25,000 sheep about to commence, and the infamous and moneyed Margaret Winslow and her husband Keith staying in the main house as her mother's guests, that dream is quickly dashed.More worryingly, her half-brother Robbie is increasingly running wild, playing tricks on his governess, antagonising the jackeroos and obsessing about a communist invasion. Though only eleven, Robbie has appointed himself guardian of the property and, in his treehouse by the river, he readies for an imminent attack. Armed with a gun.Then, with a storm looming and tensions rising in the shearing shed, a mysterious stranger appears on the horizon. And in one disastrous moment young Robbie entangles Eleanor in a situation that will have serious repercussions for every member of the Webber family...
*4.5 stars*
Look, I am really going to keep this short.
Every so often there is a historical novel set in Australia that just hits every high point that I could ask for: great setting, historical accuracy with references to politics and prejudices, characters who I connect with from the very start, and a plot that makes me want to just keep turning the pages.
This is that book.
No more really needs to be said.
Get it. Read it. Love it!
Paul
ARH
It is January 1951, and after a year away Eleanor Webber has returned home to River Run, her family's sprawling sheep property in western New South Wales. Fleeing a failed love affair back in Sydney, she hopes for some time and space to heal. But with shearing of over 25,000 sheep about to commence, and the infamous and moneyed Margaret Winslow and her husband Keith staying in the main house as her mother's guests, that dream is quickly dashed.More worryingly, her half-brother Robbie is increasingly running wild, playing tricks on his governess, antagonising the jackeroos and obsessing about a communist invasion. Though only eleven, Robbie has appointed himself guardian of the property and, in his treehouse by the river, he readies for an imminent attack. Armed with a gun.Then, with a storm looming and tensions rising in the shearing shed, a mysterious stranger appears on the horizon. And in one disastrous moment young Robbie entangles Eleanor in a situation that will have serious repercussions for every member of the Webber family...
*4.5 stars*
Look, I am really going to keep this short.
Every so often there is a historical novel set in Australia that just hits every high point that I could ask for: great setting, historical accuracy with references to politics and prejudices, characters who I connect with from the very start, and a plot that makes me want to just keep turning the pages.
This is that book.
No more really needs to be said.
Get it. Read it. Love it!
Paul
ARH
January 10, 2017
This book was a real struggle for me. It took 3/4 of the book before I started to enjoy it. Usually when I read, I can visualise the story unfolding in my mind like a movie. This book was not like that for most of it and I wanted to stop reading so many times. I'm not one to quit so I pushed through. I've given it 3 stars because I did begin to enjoy the story at the end when it was more fast paced.
December 8, 2018
Really loved this book, my first read by this author.
Her descriptive writing of the land and River Run sheep station made me feel like I was physically there and not just reading about these places.
I loved the characters and Nicole really made each one come to life.
The plot was well written however I did find myself losing interest in some parts.
All in all it was a great book and I’ll definitely be picking up another Nicole Alexander novel again soon.
Her descriptive writing of the land and River Run sheep station made me feel like I was physically there and not just reading about these places.
I loved the characters and Nicole really made each one come to life.
The plot was well written however I did find myself losing interest in some parts.
All in all it was a great book and I’ll definitely be picking up another Nicole Alexander novel again soon.
November 10, 2016
I enjoyed this book a lot more than the previous one. fantastic description of shearing, which brought back a lot of memories.
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