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How to Get There
After Maggie Mackellar's acclaimed When It Rains , her second memoir traces with her characteristic candor and perception her move to Tasmania, for love, and the struggles and joys of settling there. In 2011, Maggie Mackellar moved from her family’s farm in Central West New South Wales to the east coast of Tasmania with her children and assorted menagerie to live with a farmer. Her story takes as its epigraph a quote from Roger "Through every small opening in life, through the tiniest most restricted nerve ends, through rips and tears and tatters, life pours." In the book, she explores learning to love again after living through grief, and the complexities of doing this in a community with which she is unfamiliar, with two young children. She reflects on love after grief, juggling being a mother and negotiating a burgeoning relationship, the rhythms of country life, displacement, and the writing life. This is a book for anyone who has imagined taking a risk, for anyone who has moved to a new place and struggled with feelings of homesickness and displacement. It is a story about making a life in a remarkable setting—the east coast of Tasmania, on a sheep farm in a stone house built by convicts in 1828.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
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94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 9, 2018
Finished: 09.06.2018
Genre: memoir
Rating: B
Concluson: Ch 9 Salt:
I thought I was healed and strong enough to fall in love again.
But I'm not. Falling in love has stripped the facade of control.
#Insightful
Review
Genre: memoir
Rating: B
Concluson: Ch 9 Salt:
I thought I was healed and strong enough to fall in love again.
But I'm not. Falling in love has stripped the facade of control.
#Insightful
Review
July 11, 2017
This book I found far more enjoyable than her first. It is very easy reading - if it was the author's aim to create 'something lasting' then I believe she has probably achieved that.
April 17, 2021
I can’t wait to read Maggie’s second memoir.
May 22, 2023
Maggie’s journey south & her discombobulated year is told so naturally and the descriptions will remain with me long after putting down this recollection.
March 11, 2015
cover:
After Maggie Mackellar's acclaimed When It Rains, her second memoir traces with her characteristic candour and perception her move to Tasmania, for love, and the struggles and joys of settling there. In 2011 Maggie Mackellar moved from her family's farm in Central West New South Wales to the east coast of Tasmania with her children and assorted menagerie to live with a farmer. Her story takes as its epigraph a quote from Roger McDonald: 'Through every small opening in life, through the tiniest most restricted nerve ends, through rips and tears and tatters, life pours.'
In the book she explores learning to love again after living through grief, and the complexities of doing this in a community with which she is unfamiliar, with two young children. She reflects on love after grief, juggling being a mother and negotiating a burgeoning relationship, the rhythms of country life, displacement and the writing life. This is a book for anyone who has imagined taking a risk, for anyone who has moved to a new place and struggled with feelings of homesickness and displacement. It is a story about making a life in a remarkable setting - the east coast of Tasmania, on a sheep farm in a stone house built by convicts in 1828.
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I haven't read MacKellar's earlier memoir 'When It Rains', but I didn't need to. I loved her story of new love, later in life, & the joys & tribulations involved in moving family & household, children, & many pets, from NSW to Tasmania to be with the new man. A mammoth undertaking both physically & emotionally. MacKellar writes clearly & simply of the ups & downs, & particularly about her sometimes crippling homesickness. Not knowing anything about MacKellar beforehand, I went into this blind, & enjoyed the reading immensely. Rated 7/10.
After Maggie Mackellar's acclaimed When It Rains, her second memoir traces with her characteristic candour and perception her move to Tasmania, for love, and the struggles and joys of settling there. In 2011 Maggie Mackellar moved from her family's farm in Central West New South Wales to the east coast of Tasmania with her children and assorted menagerie to live with a farmer. Her story takes as its epigraph a quote from Roger McDonald: 'Through every small opening in life, through the tiniest most restricted nerve ends, through rips and tears and tatters, life pours.'
In the book she explores learning to love again after living through grief, and the complexities of doing this in a community with which she is unfamiliar, with two young children. She reflects on love after grief, juggling being a mother and negotiating a burgeoning relationship, the rhythms of country life, displacement and the writing life. This is a book for anyone who has imagined taking a risk, for anyone who has moved to a new place and struggled with feelings of homesickness and displacement. It is a story about making a life in a remarkable setting - the east coast of Tasmania, on a sheep farm in a stone house built by convicts in 1828.
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I haven't read MacKellar's earlier memoir 'When It Rains', but I didn't need to. I loved her story of new love, later in life, & the joys & tribulations involved in moving family & household, children, & many pets, from NSW to Tasmania to be with the new man. A mammoth undertaking both physically & emotionally. MacKellar writes clearly & simply of the ups & downs, & particularly about her sometimes crippling homesickness. Not knowing anything about MacKellar beforehand, I went into this blind, & enjoyed the reading immensely. Rated 7/10.
December 6, 2017
Raw and honest. Loved the author's exploration of the imperfections of life. Enjoyed the style of description, interspersed with text exploring particular emotional moments. Connection with country, the land and animals pervades the narrative. For me personally I could relate to much regarding the time of life, complexities and challenges. Recommended!
August 5, 2015
A second chance at love later in life, sets Maggie MacKellar, author of her memoir, How to Get There, on a dramatic move from central NSW to country Tasmania. Maggie’s deeply personal memoir details her new love with a sheep farmer. It goes into explaining the intricacies of making the physical move from state to state, down to transporting pets and her two children.
I have not read Maggie’s previous memoir set 10 years prior to her latest memoir. MacKellar’s previous memoir When it Rains, explored her life in the aftermath of grief following the unexpected death of her husband to suicide, closely followed by her Mother to cancer. I felt that it was not necessary to read When it Rains to appreciate How to Get There.
What I enjoyed the most from this book was the setting, I loved being transported to one of Australia’s best locales - country Tasmania. Mackellar certainly succeeds in bringing to life the beauty of this part of the world. Mackellar makes the mundane, day to day life occurrences such as gardening, tending to her pets and caring for her children seems interesting to the reader with her engaging style of writing.
Overall, this was a very readable memoir and I would recommend it if you enjoy tales about rural life. I would also suggest this would be a great read for those who have experienced or would like a sea change. Those who have dealt with loss/grief or taken a second chance in love will find a connection to Mackellar’s words.
I have not read Maggie’s previous memoir set 10 years prior to her latest memoir. MacKellar’s previous memoir When it Rains, explored her life in the aftermath of grief following the unexpected death of her husband to suicide, closely followed by her Mother to cancer. I felt that it was not necessary to read When it Rains to appreciate How to Get There.
What I enjoyed the most from this book was the setting, I loved being transported to one of Australia’s best locales - country Tasmania. Mackellar certainly succeeds in bringing to life the beauty of this part of the world. Mackellar makes the mundane, day to day life occurrences such as gardening, tending to her pets and caring for her children seems interesting to the reader with her engaging style of writing.
Overall, this was a very readable memoir and I would recommend it if you enjoy tales about rural life. I would also suggest this would be a great read for those who have experienced or would like a sea change. Those who have dealt with loss/grief or taken a second chance in love will find a connection to Mackellar’s words.
December 9, 2014
Maggie Mackellar opens her heart to the reader and lays bare her thoughts and feelings as she shifts into a new phase of life. This time with a new partner, far from central NSW, in deepest darkest Tasmania. She flits from straightforward narrative, to strea m of consciousness forays into her psyche, intermingled with snippets of convict history. The mishmash reflects her confused state of mind. Fundamentally, she needs to let go and allow herself to be happy, not abandoning her previous life, but building on to its strong foundation. She finds this more difficult than she had imagined and there's a fair bit of repetitve interior daialogue, have I done the right thing, am I happy, should I be happy etc etc. occasionally this reader wanted to say, enough! Get stuck in and make it work. All the ingredients are there, you can make this work if you try.
The passage that sticks in my mind is the description of the kitchen renovation, peeling back the layers to uncover the stark beauty of the original stone and wood underneath. I could have read more about the history of the area and parallels between her life and that of the female convicts. I felt there was more to mine from that source.
All in all a good summer read, but only 3 stars.
The passage that sticks in my mind is the description of the kitchen renovation, peeling back the layers to uncover the stark beauty of the original stone and wood underneath. I could have read more about the history of the area and parallels between her life and that of the female convicts. I felt there was more to mine from that source.
All in all a good summer read, but only 3 stars.
July 1, 2015
This memoir is the story of a second chance at love and a new relationship after the loss of her first husband, being single for 10 years in country NSW and then her mother also dies. Never boring, but reflective and honest and she tells the story of plunging into the relationship that involves moving her family, their pets, horses and guinea pig to an old but beautiful farm north of Hobart and near the wonderful east coast overlooking Wine Glass Bay inTasmania. Her partner is most understanding yet they do have fights. She also needs to write as her novel is due at the publishers; she does get her novel there\r eventually, but two years late. And ends up also writing this memoir.
December 3, 2014
A thoughtful and insightful story of finding a new love and transplanting family, horses, dogs, etc to Tasmania, a far cry from Central NSW.
There are times when I wished she thought a little less and got on with it, and "What more can she want!", but her loss of confidence and her self doubt are something she has apparently has to work through. Her children are courageous and accepting, but there are moments when they all miss the friendships and family back on the mainland. I like the little passages where she describes the more intimate side of their relationship, their fights included.
There are times when I wished she thought a little less and got on with it, and "What more can she want!", but her loss of confidence and her self doubt are something she has apparently has to work through. Her children are courageous and accepting, but there are moments when they all miss the friendships and family back on the mainland. I like the little passages where she describes the more intimate side of their relationship, their fights included.
March 15, 2023
The second of Maggie Mackellar's memoirs, this one depicting her life-changing decision to leave the hard-won sense of belonging and security after great loss and start anew in a new State, with a new man and all the challenges that entailed.
Insightful and perceptive, it's also a lovely meditation on the writing life. A life she struggles to sustain in the face of burgeoning demands on her time and sense of self. Love this quote ... "I wonder at the madness of this writing life, which forces me to sit with failure and imperfection ..."
Insightful and perceptive, it's also a lovely meditation on the writing life. A life she struggles to sustain in the face of burgeoning demands on her time and sense of self. Love this quote ... "I wonder at the madness of this writing life, which forces me to sit with failure and imperfection ..."
December 22, 2014
Maggie gives a readers a great reminder of what to hold precious. As she battles with dramatic changes in her life she focuses on the minutae of the day - inspecting her garden, talking to the horses, fishing with her kids. Country life is never glamourised and the reality is always at the forefront. I enjoyed finding out "what maggie did next".
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews