The Road Back

by Di Morrissey

From the mountains to the valleys, from big cities to tiny towns, to the outback and our islands, Di Morrissey knows this country. She's been there.

In The Road Back, Di weaves a tale of reconnection and starting over.

Journalist Chris Baxter is at a crossroads. Returning with his teenage daughter to his mother's house in the beautiful township of Neverend, Chris hopes to pick up the pieces after his life takes an unexpected turn.

Sometimes taking the road back is the start of a journey forward.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Di Morrissey (born 18 March 1943 in Wingham, New South Wales) is one of Australia's most popular female novelists. She grew up in the remote surrounds of Pittwater, north of Sydney, Australia.

Growing up she counted famous Australian actor Chips Rafferty as a close mentor and friend who helped provide for her and her mother after the death of her father as a child, sending them overseas to California to live with family.

In her later years, Di went on to become a journalist on London's Fleet Street, and worked for CBS in Honolulu, where she lived with her husband who was in the foreign service, and even had a small role in the series Hawaii Five-0, a guest role in season three, episode seven, 1970 starring as 'Alicia Anderson'.

After moving back to Australia, Di published her first book 'Heart of the Dreaming' which instantly became a bestseller. Since then Di has published another 17 bestsellers, her latest being 'The Silent Country'.

Reviews

[Esil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit more than 3 stars. The Road Back is like a comforting cup of tea -- sweet, full of likeable recognizable characters, predictable, and with an irreproachable moral code -- but I found it a tad dull. Set in Australia, it focuses on single father Chris who gives up his career as a foreign correspondent to raise his 14 year old daughter in Neverend, Australia, where he grew up and his mother still lives. Adjustment is difficult, but turns out fine. Chris' career is initially on the rocks, but turns around nicely. Chris' daughter starts out as a difficult teenager, but ends up thriving. Chris initially has no love life, but things improve in that direction too. There are lots of lovely helpful friends. There's one really bad guy, but he gets what's coming. Get the picture? What makes this "a bit more than 3 stars"? It's set in Australia, and I have a soft spot for novels set in Australia. There's a lengthy flashback to a few months in Chris' mother's youth when she lived in Indonesia that was really interesting. And I wasn't just being snide when I said that Morrissey presents an irreproachable moral code -- I do really appreciate the perspective she brings to what teenagers need, the importance of a father's engagement with his daughter, the respect men have for strong women, how relationships are more important than wealth and fancy careers, and the importance of friendship. But these values don't necessarily make for the most scintillating reading. But if you're in the mood for a soothing cup of tea, this might do the trick. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly think this book might take the cake for most boring book I’ve EVER read. At one point I actually thought that it would bore me to death, THAT’S how bad it was. I don’t know how or why I managed to finish it, I must be a glutton for punishment. I always try to find at least one redeeming quality in a book I didn’t particularly enjoy but this one just had nothing. Big, fat nothing!

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Di Morrissey novel and it was a huge disappointment.

I didn't come to it expecting a literary masterpiece, I was just expecting a light, entertaining chick-lit novel that will make time pass quickly.

While the plot wasn't terrible, the first half of the novel was extremely drawn out. And I blame that on the writing. There was a lot of dialogue; much of it was redundant and absurd. I can't believe I'm saying this, but there was so much effusiveness, it drove me nuts. Morrissey does a lot of- too much- telling and not enough showing. Honestly, the writing is bad.

Cutting 80-100 pages would have made The Road Back more bearable.

But as it stood, reading it was drudgery.

I've received this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. thanks to the publishers, St Martin's Press, for the opportunity to read and review."

2-2.5 stars

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just another easy, gentle Sunday afternoon read from Di – nothing page turning sadly, but still ok to see what happens. I enjoyed the characters and really liked Chris the single dad who pretty much gave up his career to spend some time with his teenage daughter. An ok read about family and home. Be prepared for a lot of dialogue, page after page! Close to a 3 stars, so will give it a 3....just....

[Karen O'Brien-Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book from Di Morrissey, so I know I’m in for a good read and again I’m not disappointed. This is a gentle story about place and people.

Where is home? How far can you leave your home behind before you find your way back?

Chris Baxter has a life many of us would envy; he is an investigative journalist with the happy knack of getting people to tell him their life stories. His contract working in the US is finished and a prime posting leading the Bangkok office of Trinity Press is his for the asking.

Chris is divorced but has maintained contact, albeit long distance, with his daughter. Nonetheless, he is somewhat bemused by the teenage girl/woman who comes to stay with him for a few days. He agreed to pay for her private school and academically her results are good; but should her whole life rotate around designer labels and privilege?

However, there is more happening in his daughter’s life. Her Mum has remarried and she desperately wants to live with Dad, hates her new brothers and her mother’s new husband. Feeling it is important not to let his daughter down, Chris turns down the Bangkok posting and asks for a Sydney based job.

But life has a way of throwing us curve balls, and Chris finds himself starting over again in his family home in the beautiful town of Neverend.
This is an interesting novel about modern family life; about the way our relationships with our parents and our children change over time. Her fans know how much Di Morrissey loves Australia and Neverend is so well-drawn you feel you know exactly the town described.

There is a segment of the book which piqued my interest and left me wanting to know more about the political upheavals of the late sixties in Indonesia. This part of The Road Back is told through the eyes of Chris Baxter’s mother and others who were in Indonesia as volunteer doctors, nurses, engineers, et al in a programme similar to the American Peace Corps. This part of the novel was inspired by a visit Di Morrissey made to the mysterious Lake Toba in Sumatra.

“At a time when the world is facing perilous political upheavals with tragic consequences, the ideal of a safe and secure family home in a peaceful and picturesque valley will resonate with readers,” says the publishers note.

I totally agree with their statement, but this is not a one-dimensional look at life in a country town. Neverend is central to the novel, it is home, but the scope of the novel is wide.

Fans of Di Morrissey will love The Road Back; if you have never read one of her novels, this may be the one to make you a fan. Another great read for the coming holiday season or to give as a gift.

This review is published on Starts at Sixty http://bit.ly/128Ncgt.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Road Back by Di Morrissey one of Australia's most favourite storytellers. "Sometimes taking The Road Back is the start of a journey forward". Is it ever too late to change your life?
Sometimes you have to take the road back to find your way forward.
In the Road Back, Di weaves a tale of reconnection and starting over. Journalist, Chris Baxter is at a crossroad deciding which direction his life should take. Returning with his teenage daughter to his mother's house in the beautiful township of Neverend.
Chris hopes to pick up the pieces after his life takes an unexpected turn.
This new novel, The Road Back by Di Morrissey takes us on a journey through many places all over Australia including Sydney to Northern NSW and the town of Neverend nestled in a beautiful river valley to stories of Indonesia.
Every January now I read the latest new Di Morrissey novel which always proves to be great holiday reading at Christmas/New Year or anytime.
A great Christmas present which can be read all year round.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second Di Morrissey book I've read. I enjoyed it, and I liked the main character Chris. I was glad he decided to change the direction of his life, but I didn't really understand why he did it. I loved the familiar Australian setting and seeing the teenage daughter mature throughout the novel.

I listened to the audiobook edition and loved the narrator. He spoke clearly and breathed life into the characters.

[QueenInTheNorth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zwischendurch war es ein bisschen kitschig und Manches fügte sich gar zu gut, aber es war flüssig zu lesen und ich stelle einmal mehr fest: Australien ist faszinierend. Gute Unterhaltung, gerade in einer solchen Situation wie der aktuellen.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Another good read by a great Australian author

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit slow and I found the writing style a bit boring as nothing much happened.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish this one....very dull.

[Lois Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was give this book as a gift, but was drawn in by the rather bold tag line on the cover describing Di Morrissey as "Australia's Favourite Storyteller". Really? How had I missed that?

Now, to be fair, I'm not her target market, but within a chapter I was given hope that I too could be a writer - after all, if Morrissey can get away with her cringeworthy dialogue and complete lack of plot, why can't I?

The reality is, though, that there is no way I would ever be able to create the fantasy world that she creates. And that's essentially what this book is - in the same way that Tolkien creates a medieval fantasy world populated by creatures of varying heights, and Stephen King populates our dreams with nightmarish situations, so too does Morrissey create a fantasy.

It is an upper-middle class (potentially bogan, but I'm already being unkind) fantasy world where the huge dilemma of the novel is how to afford your flat in Neutral Bay and your Greek restaurant lunches while being between jobs as a journalist.

The solution: you and your daughter move in with your Mum up in the perfect (non-existent) NSW country town only 15 minutes from the beaches of Coffs Harbour and lovely rainforest walks. (Only don't get lost.)

It's a fantasy world where everyone is interested in overseas affairs (especially Indonesia, which features in a major back story) but all the characters are white Anglos with not an ethnic character to be seen.

However, lest you suspect that this is a novel about wealthy upper-middle-class people, a couple of Definitely Upper Class characters are thrown in just to remind us that there a couple of percent of Australians out there that are more well off than the "normal" Aussies in Morrissey's story.

Okay, I'm being much more cynical than I need to because, really, if readers are allowed to enter into other fictional realms, such as those of King and Tolkien mentioned above, why not Morrissey, if that is your thing?

Anyway, rant over, I'm putting on the kettle. Does anyone want a cuppa?

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a clever book. I liked the characters, flaws and all. I enjoyed the challenges of a single dad with a teenage daughter who is also living with his mother! Quite a scenario. It was also good to go back into Susan's background and realise that her earlier years were quite adventurous.

[Louise Griffiths · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a HUGE Di Morrisey fan, but sadly this book was not up to her usual standard of work. I usually come away from her books having learned about Australian history and the history of another country, but this was just a normal, slightly drawn out novel....pity!

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read most of Di Morrissey's books and find her storytelling easy to read. This is not one of my favourites though. It is a simple enough story but just seemed to take a long time to go nowhere. The plot was a bit thin and very predictable.

[Kim Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve readand listen to this author before. This book is a contemporary story, told from a male point of view. It’s was a very long and slow story. As my public library has many Morrissey audiobooks I’ll listen to more from this author.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved David Tredinnick's narration.

[Birgit · Rating 1 out of 5]

One hour, one minute and 58 seconds into this book and I was literally dying of boredom. It started off ok with whatever his name is came back from an overseas assignment (he’s a foreign correspondent) and he’s hoping to go to Bangkok on his next assignment.

He reconnects with his 14 year old daughter, Megan I think her name is. He’s divorced, ex wife is married and I think she has twin boys with her new husband. They are about to move to Perth from Sydney for the new husbands work and Megan has a melt down (that part is believable).

Anyway still can’t remember his name is offered Bangkok but gives it up to stay in Sydney so his daughter doesn’t have to move to Perth with her horrible step brothers.

He decides to spend the Christmas holidays with his mum who lives in “Neverend”, pretty sure that’s a fictional town. I did check. That’s where it lost me. Everybody was so nice and his 14year old teenage daughter was so sweet (do sweet 14 year old girls even exist, maybe infrequently).

I was toying up with continuing to listen to this book and possibly dying of boredom waiting for something to happen or ditching it. Decided to ditch it, the “niceness” got to me.

This won’t be added on to my reading challenge.

I’ve also been following the narrator of this book as I really like his voice but the more you listen to him the more you recognise his different voices.

[Wendy Sice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Road Back focuses on foreign correspondent, Chris Baxter, who is faced with the decision of taking his next posting in Bangkok or staying in Sydney with his teenage daughter, who desperately does not want to leave her friends to live with her mum, stepdad and stepbrothers in Perth, WA. While considering his plight, Chris and his daughter go to the small town of Neverend, near Coffs Harbour, to stay with his mother. She tells the story of her time in the late 60s in Indonesia with five other people, four who have gone on to become well-known and wealthy men. Chris writes an article about them for the local newspaper, and then considers writing a book, but then he finds himself in some dangerous situations and wonders who it is that does not want the book written. This is one of those stories that starts out with a seemingly aimless plot, but you grow to care for the characters. It is also gives an understanding of the writer’s life and how to find topics for books that will lure the publisher and reader. That part is quite inspiring! This book is one for die-hard Morrissey fans, though. Tears of the Moon is still her most exciting story.

[Paul McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book. Aren’t most of the books by this author.
Chris is a foreign correspondent for an Australian newspaper returning home after being in the United States for 3 years. His 14 year old daughter is butting heads with her mom who is Chris’s ex wife. She wants to now live with Chris in Sydney since her mom and new husband are moving to Perth. Chris agrees but then loses his job and decides a visit to his moms house in Neverend is a good choice for he and his daughter.
The is some world history about the uprising and coup that took place in Indonesia in 1965 and life in Indonesia afterwards when Chris’s mom worked there.
And how that then ties into the present and Chris’s work situation.
This authors books are enjoyable.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hadn't read any of Di Morrissey's books before but was after a light read while recovering from being unwell. I didn't find the book particularly engaging. A lot of the dialogue felt unnatural, especially that of Chris, the main character/single father. And this is so minor but needs to be said, who under the age of 60 uses the phrase "rang off" to describe disconnecting from a phone call? This was used repeatedly throughout the book and to me was just a further indication of a writer who wasn't up to speed with the interests and vocabulary of younger characters, and therefore, younger readers.

[Alison Ivey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard to get into, very slow and repetitive, passages of tedious historical narrative about Indonesia, and above all dull and predictable. I expected much more fluency from such an experienced writer, and more engaging characters. The awful writing is ironic in a book about a writer celebrated for his journalism
A story of redemption of a selfish father and daughter who learn about themselves and the joys of the countryside with the guidance of a wise and wonderful mother/grandmother who can do amazing things and has a secret past that becomes very significant. There aren’t too many cliches missed out here.

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star read. I really like Di Morrissey's novels. They are full of Australia and well written to boot. This one tells the story of Chris, a foreign correspondent who loses his job, takes over custody of his teenage daughter and returns home to live with his Mum, in the country. Starting to write a book about his Mum's experiences in Indonesia, Chris & his family are threatened by a powerful man. Chris and his daughter find a new beginning in their new life, full of ups & downs. A good read.

[Bruce Wadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Morrissey indulgence and what a delight. To be personal, I could picture much of the area because I grew up very close to Bellingen and have always loved that town and area immensely. The storyline, as always, intriguing, complex at times, and I found the myriad of emotions touched were delightful and typical of a ‘normal’ family. The cleverness of resisting the book title till almost the close of the book was the full stop, the completion of an enticing adventure. Much enjoyed!

[Kat Ashworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warm story of a contemporary Aussie man/family in realistic east coast Australian environment. Easy read as with all Di Morrissey novels. Enjoyed a personal parallel, as I’m about to move home to small country town in south east Queensland.

Can’t help but feeling it a little lacking however may my perspective may be influenced by mediocre reviews I read before reading. Or perhaps it’s my familiarity with the types of characters and landscape that I found less intriguing. Perhaps a great read for a non Australian, interested in gaining insight. Good easy read that’s not too consuming.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was brought this by a friend for Christmas and although not my usual type of book thought I would give it a go and I am pleased i did. A really uplifting heartwarming story with characters you feel like you know and want to get behind along with some to dislike, and some plot twists and turns. If i had to say anything bad I would just say that the intro was quite long and took a while to get into the main aspect of the story although it was good background. I will certainly be on the lookout for more Di Morrissey books.

[Renée Dahlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads like a collection of short stories centered around a hapless journalist who drives a courier van and attempts to write a novel. It was really not my kind of thing at all, although some of the short stories were interesting. The mystery arc was obvious, and only the lyrical writing made it worth trudging to the end.

POV is almost all male, and he's quite irritating in his blindness to the world, and inability to sort out his life.

Not for me.

[Jacqueline Bawtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this before and though I've lived a very different life to the main protagonist the whole going away and coming back again theme was incredibly relatable. Also the changes in different industries in the fourth industrial revolution and finding where you now fit professionally amidst personal needs and priorities was an interesting thread. Also found interesting the touch points with 20th Century Indonesian events. An easy read or listen.

[Sue Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed after 7 years of study. This was a nice easy read, set in a fictitious quiet small riverside town in northern NSW, as Chris, his teenage daughter and mother adapt to changes in lifestyle and face some family challenges together.
Reading it in one sitting on a lazy afternoon, I felt like I got to know the characters, and although it finishes at a good spot, I wanted it to go longer.