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Ganglands
Kelly is seventeen. She's a scholarship girl, her dad drinks too much and her mum lives in another city. Her house isn't renovated like those of her friends. But Kelly has one thing her friends are envious of – Phil. Rich, devoted, handsome Phil. And it looks like their future together is all mapped out.
Then, on a hot afternoon in a dingy little pizza shop, Kelly meets Con. He's unlike anyone she's ever known before. It's a dramatic meeting, a chance encounter that changes everything . . .
A passionate and uncompromising story of love, conflict and choices, from the author of Chain of Hearts and the highly acclaimed Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get a Life.
Then, on a hot afternoon in a dingy little pizza shop, Kelly meets Con. He's unlike anyone she's ever known before. It's a dramatic meeting, a chance encounter that changes everything . . .
A passionate and uncompromising story of love, conflict and choices, from the author of Chain of Hearts and the highly acclaimed Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get a Life.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Maureen McCarthy
33 books104 followersMaureen McCarthy, the ninth of ten children, was born in 1953 in country Victoria. She has worked as a teacher in Victorian secondary schools and has written scripts for television and educational films. Her film credits include 'Skipping Class', he award-winning documentary, 'Eating Your Heart Out', and the SBS mini-series, 'In Between', which was later adapted inot four novels by Maureen. Her latest works includes the novels Ganglands and Cross My Heart, which was published in 1993 and short-listed for the NSW Premier's Prize in that year. An Australian author and scriptwriter, her novels concern the lives of emerging adults, from ages sixteen to early twenties. McCarthy has three sons and lives in Melbourne.
Maureen dedicated her story in the collection 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories' to the memory of her much-loved nephew, Justin Haire, who died tragically in October 1993, aged 21 years.
Maureen dedicated her story in the collection 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories' to the memory of her much-loved nephew, Justin Haire, who died tragically in October 1993, aged 21 years.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 9, 2009
Living in Melbourne suburbia is a seventeen year old girl, Kelly, unsure of who she is and who she wants to be. Dating a rich boyfriend (Phil) who doesn't understand the reality of situations and sees the world only from his perspective whilst falling in love with a Greek boy (Con) whose world revolves around his family and his families business and in turn is falling in love with Kelly, we learn the fundamentals of what is the most important thing in a persons life.
Although the storyline itself is weak, the underlying messages and back stories of the characters lives make this book come to a sometimes cliched, yet truthful life of what it means to belong, love and be loved.
Although the storyline itself is weak, the underlying messages and back stories of the characters lives make this book come to a sometimes cliched, yet truthful life of what it means to belong, love and be loved.
April 8, 2018
It was amazing
May 19, 2022
Darker than I expected but also more cliche than I expected - if that’s possible.
November 25, 2023
This book hasn’t aged too well with some of the language used, and it is very melodramatic; perfect for teenagers! I prob would’ve loved it when I was younger, the angst of first love amidst social constraints etc. I do love Maureen McCarthy’s style, very easy to read & this book moved along at a cracking pace.
July 6, 2015
wow!
This was almost a 5 star book, I officially give this 4.5
I saw a few reviews from people that said that they read this book as part of their high school curriculum. I only wish my school had!
Maureen McCarthy captured what I would call 'male teen angst' really well in this novel.
This story is about a girl who has just finished at high school and is preparing to throw a birthday party / end of exam party. It isn't something that she normally would do as she is ashamed/not proud of the house she lives in - when she compares it to her well off friends.
Kelly has a 'magical' moment when meeting the son, 'Con', of the local Pizza shop owner while placing an order to be delivered to her party later that evening.
The story could almost be compared to Romeo & Juliet, in the fact that these two star crossed lovers are restricted by ethnic background, family and friends. The intensity of their moment and almost declaration of love is very similar to R&Js story.
The story reaches a Climax at the party and not giving too much away it combines a love story & an eye for an eye revenge story. The angst from boys aged from 17+ can be felt within this book, hormones that make attitudes change with a sentence someone might say can change a persons reaction to a situation.
It is well written and flows quite well, the story kept good pace and I felt there could have been a lot more added.
Kelly's estranged mother and brother, her fathers alcoholism and even her first sexual encounter are all really glossed over.
The novel is set in Melbourne, using real street names and places that made it really easy to identify with. Also these suburbs/streets were and sort of still are filled with the old European charm (and where my brother lived off the same stretch of road as Kelly, the main character, it is now 'hipster' ville with a very funky vibe).
But Lygon street has always been known for its Italian influence, cuisine and stores, the rest of the area has the old European feel. Melbourne is known for its good food & amazing coffee! If Con and his family ran the local fish and chip shop it would make more sense as there was a time where the 'Greeks' ran them as the Italians ran the Pizza & Pasta shops.
> I forgot to mention that as this book is quite old there are some dated references, such as putting a cassette into the player and how the teens communicated via the house telephone (not mobiles) and telephone etiquette - where it used to be rude to call the home phone after a certain time, eg.9pm!
This was almost a 5 star book, I officially give this 4.5
I saw a few reviews from people that said that they read this book as part of their high school curriculum. I only wish my school had!
Maureen McCarthy captured what I would call 'male teen angst' really well in this novel.
This story is about a girl who has just finished at high school and is preparing to throw a birthday party / end of exam party. It isn't something that she normally would do as she is ashamed/not proud of the house she lives in - when she compares it to her well off friends.
Kelly has a 'magical' moment when meeting the son, 'Con', of the local Pizza shop owner while placing an order to be delivered to her party later that evening.
The story could almost be compared to Romeo & Juliet, in the fact that these two star crossed lovers are restricted by ethnic background, family and friends. The intensity of their moment and almost declaration of love is very similar to R&Js story.
The story reaches a Climax at the party and not giving too much away it combines a love story & an eye for an eye revenge story. The angst from boys aged from 17+ can be felt within this book, hormones that make attitudes change with a sentence someone might say can change a persons reaction to a situation.
It is well written and flows quite well, the story kept good pace and I felt there could have been a lot more added.
Kelly's estranged mother and brother, her fathers alcoholism and even her first sexual encounter are all really glossed over.
The novel is set in Melbourne, using real street names and places that made it really easy to identify with. Also these suburbs/streets were and sort of still are filled with the old European charm (and where my brother lived off the same stretch of road as Kelly, the main character, it is now 'hipster' ville with a very funky vibe).
But Lygon street has always been known for its Italian influence, cuisine and stores, the rest of the area has the old European feel. Melbourne is known for its good food & amazing coffee! If Con and his family ran the local fish and chip shop it would make more sense as there was a time where the 'Greeks' ran them as the Italians ran the Pizza & Pasta shops.
> I forgot to mention that as this book is quite old there are some dated references, such as putting a cassette into the player and how the teens communicated via the house telephone (not mobiles) and telephone etiquette - where it used to be rude to call the home phone after a certain time, eg.9pm!
July 8, 2011
While the story was very challenging, I'd have to say that the overall message troubled me. It seemed to have the idea of what wasn't love right, that being a relationship born out of convenience and mutual attractiveness. But it didn't hit the nail on the head with what love actually is. It made romantic love seem like something that happens when you see someone and can't get them out of your head, even though you don't know much about them. If you get 'that feeling' then it's love. If that were true I would have been 'in love' with countless actors I've seen in movies over the years and Edward Cullen would have had a truck load of women who were genuinely 'in love' with each him. I don't like those kinds of messages hidden away in serious books. It makes it seem more real, which it's not.
Ganglands though was interesting and held my attention. Reasonably well written, though nothing to get excited about.
Ganglands though was interesting and held my attention. Reasonably well written, though nothing to get excited about.
March 28, 2016
loved this! Amazing fantastic. My new favourite book :-D
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews