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Songs That Sound Like Blood
Roxy May Redding’s got music in her soul and songs in her blood. She lives in a hot dusty town and is dreaming big. She survives run-ins with the mean girls at high school, sings in her dad’s band and babysits for her wayward aunt. But Roxy wants a new start. When she gets the chance to study music in the big city, she takes it. Roxy’s new life, her new friends and her music collide in a way she could never have imagined. Being a poor student sucks... navigating her way through the pressure of a national music competition has knobs on it... singing for her dinner is soul destroying... but nothing prepares Roxy for her biggest challenge. Her crush on Ana, the local music journo, forces her to steer her way through a complex maze of emotions alien to this small town girl. Family and friends watch closely as Roxy takes a confronting journey to find out who the hell she is.
275 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Jared Thomas
25 books14 followersJared Thomas was born in Port Augusta in 1976. Both his parents have Aboriginal heritage, and he identifies as Nukunu due to being raised on Nukunu land and with Nukunu culture. He has published many books and his writing explores the power of belonging and culture. In 2015 his novel Calypso Summer joined the 2015 International Youth Library White Raven list of books that deserve worldwide attention because of their universal themes and exceptional artistic and literary style. His recent releases include Songs That Sound Like Blood and the Game Day series written with NBA player Patty Mills.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
dnf
April 7, 2018Not bad but I wasn't into the writing unfortunately.
July 2, 2017
An inspirational own voices read about an Aboriginal girl discovering her identity, her place, where she fits and also her sexuality.
Roxy has a powerful voice and musical talent, and she achieves so much as she studies music, plays at gigs and then gets chosen to be a contestant on a musical talent TV show. One thing is stable throughout her successes - she is surrounded by supportive friends and family.
I loved how she felt close to her Aboriginal culture and her heritage. In the book, there is racism, marginalisation and also the violent stereotype, but it's dealt with in such an intelligent way.
In the book, Roxy also discovers that she's a lesbian and she likes girls. It was interesting seeing the discussion around the marginalisation she experiences being a black girl who also identifies as a lesbian. I loved the relationship and gradual acceptance of who she was from the people in her life.
While I enjoyed the story as a whole, I did find it lacked emotional depth when it came to what Roxy was experiencing. This means I didn't like really connect to her character as well as I hoped.
Songs that sound like blood is an important and inspirational own voices read, showing how you can overcome prejudice and become an inspiration to others.
Roxy has a powerful voice and musical talent, and she achieves so much as she studies music, plays at gigs and then gets chosen to be a contestant on a musical talent TV show. One thing is stable throughout her successes - she is surrounded by supportive friends and family.
I loved how she felt close to her Aboriginal culture and her heritage. In the book, there is racism, marginalisation and also the violent stereotype, but it's dealt with in such an intelligent way.
In the book, Roxy also discovers that she's a lesbian and she likes girls. It was interesting seeing the discussion around the marginalisation she experiences being a black girl who also identifies as a lesbian. I loved the relationship and gradual acceptance of who she was from the people in her life.
While I enjoyed the story as a whole, I did find it lacked emotional depth when it came to what Roxy was experiencing. This means I didn't like really connect to her character as well as I hoped.
Songs that sound like blood is an important and inspirational own voices read, showing how you can overcome prejudice and become an inspiration to others.
September 28, 2018
It was refreshing to read a book in which the MC didn't have to go 'off the rails' to work through her identity issues.
Roxie is an amazing talent, and a terrific friend and daughter. I loved her story.
Roxie is an amazing talent, and a terrific friend and daughter. I loved her story.
August 27, 2017
Trigger warnings: racism, homophobia, alcohol abuse.
Back in 2015, I read Jared Thomas' first book (Calypso Summer) and enjoyed it but thought it needed another 50 or so pages to really flesh out the story. Still, I enjoyed it enough that when I heard about this one, it was on my radar.
It took me a long time to get around to reading it, but I'm glad I finally did. It's the story of Roxy, an Aboriginal girl from Port Augusta, who gets accepted to study Aboriginal Music at university in Adelaide. She struggles with being away from home, with university, with her studies, with her dad being in a new relationship, with the way that people at home react to her leaving town. But most of all, she struggles with the fact that she's fallen in love. With a girl.
There's a LOT going on in this book, to be honest. And the love interest (who, I should mention, is Maori!) doesn't show up until at least half way through the story. It feels a little disjointed at times because there are so many threads to the story, but ultimately they all pull together with Roxy trying to save the music program from budget cuts.
It examines the struggles Aboriginal teens have being away from home, the difficulties they have with things like research skills and information literacy, and how LGBTQIA+ people are treated within Indigenous communities (something that's also strongly addressed in Witi Ihimaera's astonishing The Uncle's Secret).
I loved Roxy as a character. I loved her dad and her relationship with her family and with her home. I loved the supporting characters. Could things have been tightened up so that it didn't meander as much? Sure. But at the same time, it just WORKS. And best of all, it's Own Voices. (Jared Thomas, like Roxy, is from Port Augusta and is Nukunu)
Back in 2015, I read Jared Thomas' first book (Calypso Summer) and enjoyed it but thought it needed another 50 or so pages to really flesh out the story. Still, I enjoyed it enough that when I heard about this one, it was on my radar.
It took me a long time to get around to reading it, but I'm glad I finally did. It's the story of Roxy, an Aboriginal girl from Port Augusta, who gets accepted to study Aboriginal Music at university in Adelaide. She struggles with being away from home, with university, with her studies, with her dad being in a new relationship, with the way that people at home react to her leaving town. But most of all, she struggles with the fact that she's fallen in love. With a girl.
There's a LOT going on in this book, to be honest. And the love interest (who, I should mention, is Maori!) doesn't show up until at least half way through the story. It feels a little disjointed at times because there are so many threads to the story, but ultimately they all pull together with Roxy trying to save the music program from budget cuts.
It examines the struggles Aboriginal teens have being away from home, the difficulties they have with things like research skills and information literacy, and how LGBTQIA+ people are treated within Indigenous communities (something that's also strongly addressed in Witi Ihimaera's astonishing The Uncle's Secret).
I loved Roxy as a character. I loved her dad and her relationship with her family and with her home. I loved the supporting characters. Could things have been tightened up so that it didn't meander as much? Sure. But at the same time, it just WORKS. And best of all, it's Own Voices. (Jared Thomas, like Roxy, is from Port Augusta and is Nukunu)
December 30, 2018
I love this tale of first love, music and the racism in Australian history. Well paced and enjoyable. Very suitable for use in the secondary classroom.
March 5, 2017
Was it just a day or two ago that I expressed a yearning for books that tackle the issues of our time? Songs That Sound Like Blood is the story of Roxy from Port Augusta in South Australia, who is at the sharp end of this contraction in opportunities for young people. The blurb tells only half the story:
The book is marketed as an insight into LGBTI young people coming to terms with same-sex relationships, and it is terrific from that angle. Written from Roxy’s first-person perspective, the reader sees her doubts and uncertainties about the relationship itself, and about how to break the news to her family and community. Ana’s parents Jordan and Naomi, and her sister Em are fine with Ana’s sexuality but Roxy is right to be not so sure about the reception she’ll get. She gets counselling about how to handle it, but it doesn’t stop her forthright Aunty Linny from getting a tongue-lashing from Nanna:
I loved the moment when Aunty Linny demands to know how Roxy can have children, and Dad’s new girlfriend Angie retorts with ‘Oh, that is so bloody backward’ !
I also liked the way the book inverts the usual success story. Roxy finds the future she wants but her BFF Helen doesn’t because she doesn’t take the initiative like the indigenous young woman does. Helen loses her virginity in a disappointing way – too drunk to remember whether she used protection or not, with a bloke who barely acknowledges her the next day – whereas for Roxy it’s a magical moment in her life.
But there is more to this novel than coming out as gay....
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/03/05/s...
Roxy May Redding’s got music in her soul and songs in her blood. She lives in a small, hot, dusty town and she’s dreaming big. When she gets the chance to study music in the big city, she takes it. In Roxy’s new life, her friends and her music collide in ways she could never have imagined. Being a poor student sucks… singing for her dinner is soul destroying… but nothing prepares Roxy for her biggest challenge. Her crush on Ana, the local music journo, forces Roxy to steer through emotions alien to this small-town girl. Family and friends watch closely as Roxy takes a confronting journey to find out who she is.
The book is marketed as an insight into LGBTI young people coming to terms with same-sex relationships, and it is terrific from that angle. Written from Roxy’s first-person perspective, the reader sees her doubts and uncertainties about the relationship itself, and about how to break the news to her family and community. Ana’s parents Jordan and Naomi, and her sister Em are fine with Ana’s sexuality but Roxy is right to be not so sure about the reception she’ll get. She gets counselling about how to handle it, but it doesn’t stop her forthright Aunty Linny from getting a tongue-lashing from Nanna:
Nanna looked at me like she was going to blow a fuse. ‘ Now listen here, Linny. You know the thing I hate more than anything? It’s people with no business being judge-bloody-mental. And you know how people are in this town. They’re all ra-ra-ra and who are they to judge? Her voice was almost breaking she was so angry. ‘And you know where that judgement got our people? It got your old people in missions, your great-grandmother charged with murder when her first child died in childbirth, and thank god someone had better judgement or we wouldn’t be here.’ Nanna calmed down a bit and then asked, ‘Who are we to judge, Linny?’ Nanna started crying and then she said, ‘She’s my Roxy and I love her just the same.’ (p.222)
I loved the moment when Aunty Linny demands to know how Roxy can have children, and Dad’s new girlfriend Angie retorts with ‘Oh, that is so bloody backward’ !
I also liked the way the book inverts the usual success story. Roxy finds the future she wants but her BFF Helen doesn’t because she doesn’t take the initiative like the indigenous young woman does. Helen loses her virginity in a disappointing way – too drunk to remember whether she used protection or not, with a bloke who barely acknowledges her the next day – whereas for Roxy it’s a magical moment in her life.
But there is more to this novel than coming out as gay....
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/03/05/s...
February 22, 2023
I ended up really enjoying this read! I expected it to be a new adult romance, but it was actually more of a slice-of-life contemporary, which I preferred. The book is very much a coming-of-age story, essentially following Roxy during her first year of uni. The story really captures the first year experience: striking out on your own, finding a new place to call home, figuring out who you are and what you want, and more. I loved the uni setting and the descriptions of what Roxy was doing in the Department of Aboriginal Music, and also her interactions with her fellow students, teachers, and mentors.
As aforementioned, the plot is styled like a slice-of-life, with many of the subplots coming together at the end. This gave the book a chance to explore multiple themes, mostly around Roxy’s indigenous and lesbian identities. I loved Roxy’s drive to bring Aboriginal music to the forefront. I also appreciated the subplot about the university’s budget cuts, how it showed that white people claim we are decolonising, when we are actually forcing assimilation and taking away safe spaces from indigenous people. On the topic of colonisation, I thought this quote was particularly poignant:
“The reality was that in front of me was a view of England: England dropped in the bush, England pressing down on Kaurna country.”
Regarding the queerness theme, I loved that Roxy was so immediately self-accepting. Her story depicts the reality of coming out again and again, and never knowing how people might react. It also shows the tension between Roxy’s indigenous and lesbian identities, in that her race means the country is a safer place for her, but then her queerness means the city is. On top of these core topics, the book also touches on: how relationships can be complicated when it comes to forgiveness; alcoholism and its impact on those around you; and parental abandonment.
It was not the book’s focus, but the romance was very sweet. I loved how supportive Roxy and Ana were of one another, and appreciated the small details of physical affection that Thomas included. It truly painted a picture of a loving relationship. I was also relieved to see there was no third-act breakup! Nothing but communication here, folks.
Music was central to the story which was fantastic. Reading about Soul Band and the televised music competition was so cool, but mostly I just appreciated seeing Roxy’s passion for music shine through. I wish I had kept a list of all the songs she mentioned so I could listen to them now!
My major criticism of this book is that the prose needed to be fleshed out more; it was quite bare in places. I wanted more description and internal monologuing, and I felt that some events weren’t given enough weight. In the end I only docked one star because of this, because I really enjoyed the book, loved the ending, and would recommend this to others looking for a slice-of-life, contemporary new adult coming-of-age story.
Rep: Aboriginal Australian lesbian MC (NB: lesbian is not used to directly describe her, only the word gay, although lesbian is used three times in a positive context, one of which is in a discussion of Roxy’s identity and she does not deny the term as a descriptor; d**e is used as a slur against the MC once, and the word occurs three more times as the MC is reflecting on the incident), Māori sapphic LI, almost all SCs are Indigenous Australian
As aforementioned, the plot is styled like a slice-of-life, with many of the subplots coming together at the end. This gave the book a chance to explore multiple themes, mostly around Roxy’s indigenous and lesbian identities. I loved Roxy’s drive to bring Aboriginal music to the forefront. I also appreciated the subplot about the university’s budget cuts, how it showed that white people claim we are decolonising, when we are actually forcing assimilation and taking away safe spaces from indigenous people. On the topic of colonisation, I thought this quote was particularly poignant:
“The reality was that in front of me was a view of England: England dropped in the bush, England pressing down on Kaurna country.”
Regarding the queerness theme, I loved that Roxy was so immediately self-accepting. Her story depicts the reality of coming out again and again, and never knowing how people might react. It also shows the tension between Roxy’s indigenous and lesbian identities, in that her race means the country is a safer place for her, but then her queerness means the city is. On top of these core topics, the book also touches on: how relationships can be complicated when it comes to forgiveness; alcoholism and its impact on those around you; and parental abandonment.
It was not the book’s focus, but the romance was very sweet. I loved how supportive Roxy and Ana were of one another, and appreciated the small details of physical affection that Thomas included. It truly painted a picture of a loving relationship. I was also relieved to see there was no third-act breakup! Nothing but communication here, folks.
Music was central to the story which was fantastic. Reading about Soul Band and the televised music competition was so cool, but mostly I just appreciated seeing Roxy’s passion for music shine through. I wish I had kept a list of all the songs she mentioned so I could listen to them now!
My major criticism of this book is that the prose needed to be fleshed out more; it was quite bare in places. I wanted more description and internal monologuing, and I felt that some events weren’t given enough weight. In the end I only docked one star because of this, because I really enjoyed the book, loved the ending, and would recommend this to others looking for a slice-of-life, contemporary new adult coming-of-age story.
Rep: Aboriginal Australian lesbian MC (NB: lesbian is not used to directly describe her, only the word gay, although lesbian is used three times in a positive context, one of which is in a discussion of Roxy’s identity and she does not deny the term as a descriptor; d**e is used as a slur against the MC once, and the word occurs three more times as the MC is reflecting on the incident), Māori sapphic LI, almost all SCs are Indigenous Australian
December 15, 2016
Read and reviewed for Books + Publishing, First Quarter 2016, 4.5 stars
August 11, 2017
A thoroughly lovely and thoughtfully-written YA which explores issues of queer and Indigenous identity in a really accessible way. Would highly recommend for inclusion on the Australian high school syllabus. It was particularly refreshing to have a city and rural South Australian setting- a nice change from the over-representation of Melbourne and Sydney in Australian lit!
February 1, 2018
This story brought back memories of my first year of university. I’d recommend this to new adults who are seeking coming of age stories that edge beyond the young adult years. Cont'd on blog: https://paperwanderer.wordpress.com/2...
postponed-reading
March 7, 2020Up to p.176
I'll get back to this.
I'll get back to this.
February 8, 2019
Songs that sound like blood is a beautiful coming of age tale about a young aboriginal girl coming out and discovering herself. This story is filled with courage, love and music. It is a heartfelt yarn that I highly recommend you read.
This wonderful story features a same-sex-attracted aboriginal protagonist – Roxy. We follow Roxy as she finishes up high school in her small town and heads to the big smoke (Adelaide) to study music and follow her dreams of making it as a singer.
Throughout the pages of this book there are fantastic examples of loving and supportive relationships, which I found delightful and heart warming.
This story also serves to highlight some of the many issues affecting Indigenous Australians. The writing is so good and the issues so intertwined and connected to the character Roxy’s life that you never feel like the author is trying to educate you, you just feel as if you are Roxy and you are living her truth with her.
Music plays a big part in Roxy life, so obviously it plays a big role in this story. I love music that you feel deep down in your soul and this book was full of it, with the likes of Bob Marley, Courtney Barnett, Yothu Yindi, Midnight Oil, The Pixies, Frank Yamma, Kev Carmondy, Paul Kelly, Coloured Stones, Warumpi Band, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave and Johnny Cash’s names gracing the pages.
Here is a link to an apple music playlist I made of the songs performed in the book > https://itunes.apple.com/au/playlist/...
This wonderful story features a same-sex-attracted aboriginal protagonist – Roxy. We follow Roxy as she finishes up high school in her small town and heads to the big smoke (Adelaide) to study music and follow her dreams of making it as a singer.
Throughout the pages of this book there are fantastic examples of loving and supportive relationships, which I found delightful and heart warming.
This story also serves to highlight some of the many issues affecting Indigenous Australians. The writing is so good and the issues so intertwined and connected to the character Roxy’s life that you never feel like the author is trying to educate you, you just feel as if you are Roxy and you are living her truth with her.
Music plays a big part in Roxy life, so obviously it plays a big role in this story. I love music that you feel deep down in your soul and this book was full of it, with the likes of Bob Marley, Courtney Barnett, Yothu Yindi, Midnight Oil, The Pixies, Frank Yamma, Kev Carmondy, Paul Kelly, Coloured Stones, Warumpi Band, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave and Johnny Cash’s names gracing the pages.
Here is a link to an apple music playlist I made of the songs performed in the book > https://itunes.apple.com/au/playlist/...
July 29, 2020
I loved this book! It pulls together a first generation collage student narrative, an indigenous narrative, a coming out narrative, and positions them all within the context of the Australian aboriginal experience. I loved all of the odes to aboriginal bands and music and found myself looking up the songs as I went along. I loved the protagonist but I also felt myself drawn to the other well rounded and nuanced characters like that of the protagonist's father who was a landscaper, gardener, and loved to grow food within his garden. This book was beautifully written and I found myself crying multiple times throughout reading it, not necessarily because it was sad (though there were some elements that were sad), but more so because of the beautiful representations of community and standing up for what you believe in.
I was concerned about the lesbian narrative being written by a man, however I found it to be thoughtfully and intentionally done in a way that really paid tribute to the characters.
This book is hard to get your hands on from the United States, but if you go to the publisher's website you can order it directly from them. You won't be disappointed!
I was concerned about the lesbian narrative being written by a man, however I found it to be thoughtfully and intentionally done in a way that really paid tribute to the characters.
This book is hard to get your hands on from the United States, but if you go to the publisher's website you can order it directly from them. You won't be disappointed!
June 21, 2018
Personally, I find it difficult to find books that I enjoy. I was given this book and could not put it down. I love the style of writing and how inspiring the story is. I definitely recommend this to everyone.
March 21, 2022
I loved that the story is set in Adelaide.
The relationship between Roxy and her dad is beautiful and I enjoyed the way that they both grew and developed their new identities as young adult and parent of adult, through the story.
The relationship between Roxy and her dad is beautiful and I enjoyed the way that they both grew and developed their new identities as young adult and parent of adult, through the story.
September 6, 2017
This is a great read. It perhaps skips along too quickly, but it's an enjoyable read especially for music fans. Would love to read more Indigenous LGBTQI YA!
October 7, 2017
Terrible.
March 19, 2018
This may be the most authentically Australian book I have ever read.
May 6, 2018
This book was wonderful and all of the messages in it are so important. Longer review to follow.
April 22, 2020
Despite some editorial errors (PJ Harvey is not a bloke) I did enjoy this book. Would definitely read more by this author.
April 25, 2020
A beautifully written young adult coming of age novel with an Indigenous voice. Well deserving of its CBCA award.
Read
May 2, 2021Trigger & Content Warnings:
Racism
Homomisia
Alcohol abuse
Racism
Homomisia
Alcohol abuse
July 1, 2021
I read this book for university and overall I did enjoy it, the main character was quite likeable and her motivation was clear with inspiring ambition. I always enjoy a feel-good book with easily resolved tension, however, this book sort of felt like it was trying to be something else, only reluctantly falling into this category.
Some storylines seemed to drop off abruptly and there were no consequences for people who treated the main character badly, but there also wasn't a redemption, just a half-explained apology which I didn't enjoy.
I did love the representation that this book brings which is always important and is good to see.
Some storylines seemed to drop off abruptly and there were no consequences for people who treated the main character badly, but there also wasn't a redemption, just a half-explained apology which I didn't enjoy.
I did love the representation that this book brings which is always important and is good to see.
October 11, 2024
'Songs That Sound Like Blood' is one of less than a handful of Australian university novels that feature an indigenous voice, let along an indigenous protagonist.
In this coming-of-age story, Roxy is a talented musician in a small South Australian town. When she moves to the city for university, she meets other indigenous musicians who all want to see indigenous music and indigenous musicians make it big in the mainstream music industry. They're all working hard to find cheap rentals, learn to cook, find casual jobs and gigs, all the while completing their assignments, learning to write academically, and practice their craft.
Somewhat stereotypically, upon meeting a beautiful, self-possessed music journalist, Roxy learns that she's lesbian which is frowned upon in her small town, even in her indigenous family. She has to work through the sensitive conversations surrounding coming out and how to create space for her family to accept her.
The novel is almost too pacy because it skims over much of the emotional drama that would help us to care deeply about the characters and their trials. For instance, I felt the '"Starbright" competition had greater potential to discuss systemic racism in the Australian music and reality TV industries. It also could've caused Roxy to make a tough choice between her uni performance and stardom, but the choice was quickly made for her and the story moved on. I guess this tends to be characteristic of non-romance YA novels, which presumably prefer action over depth to appeal to younger readers.
The language of 'mob', 'yarn', and 'deadly' was quite alienating for me as a non-indigenous reader, but that's easily forgivable given the necessity of indigenous voices in Australian university fiction.
I wish the campus and the city were described in greater detail to give the city, Roxy's new home, the same level of depth as the connection she and her father feel toward Country in their home town. The novel could've taken place in any Australian city because Adelaide wasn't described in any meaningful way (unlike Diane Hester's 'Mark of Guilt', for example).
'Songs That Sound Like Blood' touches on systemic racism, police injustice toward indigenous youth, alcoholism in indigenous communities, broken marriages, student poverty, sexual identity, university budget cuts, and the importance of families supporting each other, It's a decent novel for sparking conversations among indigenous and non-indigenous readers alike.
Thanks to indigenous author, Melanie Saward @littleredwrites, for this recommendation.
In this coming-of-age story, Roxy is a talented musician in a small South Australian town. When she moves to the city for university, she meets other indigenous musicians who all want to see indigenous music and indigenous musicians make it big in the mainstream music industry. They're all working hard to find cheap rentals, learn to cook, find casual jobs and gigs, all the while completing their assignments, learning to write academically, and practice their craft.
Somewhat stereotypically, upon meeting a beautiful, self-possessed music journalist, Roxy learns that she's lesbian which is frowned upon in her small town, even in her indigenous family. She has to work through the sensitive conversations surrounding coming out and how to create space for her family to accept her.
The novel is almost too pacy because it skims over much of the emotional drama that would help us to care deeply about the characters and their trials. For instance, I felt the '"Starbright" competition had greater potential to discuss systemic racism in the Australian music and reality TV industries. It also could've caused Roxy to make a tough choice between her uni performance and stardom, but the choice was quickly made for her and the story moved on. I guess this tends to be characteristic of non-romance YA novels, which presumably prefer action over depth to appeal to younger readers.
The language of 'mob', 'yarn', and 'deadly' was quite alienating for me as a non-indigenous reader, but that's easily forgivable given the necessity of indigenous voices in Australian university fiction.
I wish the campus and the city were described in greater detail to give the city, Roxy's new home, the same level of depth as the connection she and her father feel toward Country in their home town. The novel could've taken place in any Australian city because Adelaide wasn't described in any meaningful way (unlike Diane Hester's 'Mark of Guilt', for example).
'Songs That Sound Like Blood' touches on systemic racism, police injustice toward indigenous youth, alcoholism in indigenous communities, broken marriages, student poverty, sexual identity, university budget cuts, and the importance of families supporting each other, It's a decent novel for sparking conversations among indigenous and non-indigenous readers alike.
Thanks to indigenous author, Melanie Saward @littleredwrites, for this recommendation.
August 24, 2016
There was nothing actually wrong with this novel theme wise. I felt it dealt with the beauties and harsh realities of aboriginal culture well.
What I didn't like, was the fact that the writing style tried to hard, dropping big names in all the time and I'm sorry but if your going to name a character Lorna Jane when it's a reasonably famous brand name, your going to lose me. In 1 page her name was written about 11 times and she really was of no importance. But it was still quite annoyingly reparative.
Secondly, I felt that dealing with finding out she is gay is not handled realistically and almost written in a way that was really easy to wrap up whenever the author chose to do it, and to be honest apart from that everything Roxy does seems to be "amazing" in everyone's eyes.
There was not a lot that was "interesting" about this book and by the time we get to them potentially shutting down the aboriginal music program and getting them to do the bachelor of music like every other student I actually didn't care, I kind of felt like "yeah so you should, it should be the same qualification for everyone!" Because I didn't have any connection to this character that apart from being gay, everything else was going great for her. So she had to change to a mainstream program, that's the only bad thing that's happened to you in this book!!!!!
Disappointed with this one.......wasn't feeling it.
What I didn't like, was the fact that the writing style tried to hard, dropping big names in all the time and I'm sorry but if your going to name a character Lorna Jane when it's a reasonably famous brand name, your going to lose me. In 1 page her name was written about 11 times and she really was of no importance. But it was still quite annoyingly reparative.
Secondly, I felt that dealing with finding out she is gay is not handled realistically and almost written in a way that was really easy to wrap up whenever the author chose to do it, and to be honest apart from that everything Roxy does seems to be "amazing" in everyone's eyes.
There was not a lot that was "interesting" about this book and by the time we get to them potentially shutting down the aboriginal music program and getting them to do the bachelor of music like every other student I actually didn't care, I kind of felt like "yeah so you should, it should be the same qualification for everyone!" Because I didn't have any connection to this character that apart from being gay, everything else was going great for her. So she had to change to a mainstream program, that's the only bad thing that's happened to you in this book!!!!!
Disappointed with this one.......wasn't feeling it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2016
Lovely story + characters, but there were too many typos.
February 12, 2017
A warm read that combines the fears of starting uni with the excitement of pursuing dreams, navigating the world with an intersectional identity, country life and city life, love, family, activism, and a LOT of music.
August 5, 2020
Roxy has music in her blood and her soul, but she won't make it very far in her small town. She moves to Adelaide to attend university and starts to figure out who she is and what her place in the world might be.
A lot of YA titles are about The Big Goal, with fantastic and dramatic journeys to get there. It's so nice to find a book that is instead grounded in reality, especially one where the character is allowed to grow at a rate that younger readers would be familiar with. Roxy is very relatable. And this isn't just a story - it's a roadmap, with advice for readers who may not hear it elsewhere.
A lot of YA titles are about The Big Goal, with fantastic and dramatic journeys to get there. It's so nice to find a book that is instead grounded in reality, especially one where the character is allowed to grow at a rate that younger readers would be familiar with. Roxy is very relatable. And this isn't just a story - it's a roadmap, with advice for readers who may not hear it elsewhere.
August 19, 2016
Jared Thomas has nailed it with this book. I found that I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. It does everything a great book should, I laughed, I cried, I felt the joy, pain and frustrations of the characters. Jared writes from the perspective of a young, gay Aboriginal woman negotiating big changes in her life with such authenticity and passion, it is truly remarkable. I highly recommend this book to all readers from young adult upwards. You will not be disappointed!
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June 23, 2018Review originally published on Underground Writers at http://underground-writers.org/review...
Genre: New Adult Fiction
Themes: Coming of Age, Change, Coming Out, Racism
Favourite quote: “[Dad] always said that people are supposed to move, that it recharges and calms us down. He explained that our ancestors formed our country perfectly to give us everything we needed. Water and bush tucker were only in certain places so that we had to move, and that the emu and kangaroo move flat out so we have to chase them.”
Songs that sound like blood tells the story of Roxy May Redding, newly graduated from high school and desperate to ‘make it’ as a musician. But for Roxy to move from her small country town in Port Augusta to the big city of Adelaide, she’ll have to face her family and friends who think she’s too big for her boots, find the money to move and survive, and deal with being just another face in the crowd. Things aren’t made any easier when she begins to discover her sexuality and to top it all off, the music program she’s enrolled in is being called into review by the University.
Jared Thomas’ latest novel is a tale of bravery and transformation as Roxy struggles to figure out who she is and what she wants in a world that’s not shy about telling her what it wants from her. She must confront expectations surrounding her heritage, her future, and her ‘place’ from family and friends alike.
Whilst Roxy’s relationship with her father is strong and he is supportive of her ambitions, her relationship with her Aunty Linny, although loving, is somewhat more unpredictable and at times downright volatile. Thomas perfectly captures the nuances and conflicting emotions we all face when it comes to dealing with difficult family members. Roxy must learn how to navigate her family and love them despite their faults.
Likewise, Roxy’s relationship with her best friend Helen provides an interesting and alternative face to the persisting idea of ‘change’ presented throughout the novel. As someone who moved overseas for several years, it was interesting to note Roxy’s inability to recognise how much she had grown and changed, and likewise how other people reacted to this- even to the point of assuming she had fundamentally changed after only a few weeks of living away. The difficult dynamic surrounding shifting roles in both family and friendship circles, when a person outgrows the role they have played for any given length of time, was subtly and a cleverly weaved through the story.
Finally, Roxy also faces the ongoing pressures associated with her race and sexuality on a societal level. Ranging from slurs in the schoolyard to systematic inequality, Roxy is forced to become the person she wants to be in the face of political stigmatism. In a conversation with her student support officer Roxy declares, “I was paid out for being Aboriginal and that was bad enough. I didn’t even realise I was gay.” Roxy’s story is about the importance of being true to yourself, even when other people may not like it.
The intricate layers of Roxy’s life and the changes she faces are neatly wrapped up in short chapters that make for easy, bite-size reading. It’s the sort of book you can pick up during that ten-minute break- and you’ll be taking every ten-minute break you can get! There’s a lot of big and complex issues tackled here but in the hands of Jared Thomas, they are presented to you like canapes on a plate- ready for you to tackle one mouthful at a time.
Genre: New Adult Fiction
Themes: Coming of Age, Change, Coming Out, Racism
Favourite quote: “[Dad] always said that people are supposed to move, that it recharges and calms us down. He explained that our ancestors formed our country perfectly to give us everything we needed. Water and bush tucker were only in certain places so that we had to move, and that the emu and kangaroo move flat out so we have to chase them.”
Songs that sound like blood tells the story of Roxy May Redding, newly graduated from high school and desperate to ‘make it’ as a musician. But for Roxy to move from her small country town in Port Augusta to the big city of Adelaide, she’ll have to face her family and friends who think she’s too big for her boots, find the money to move and survive, and deal with being just another face in the crowd. Things aren’t made any easier when she begins to discover her sexuality and to top it all off, the music program she’s enrolled in is being called into review by the University.
Jared Thomas’ latest novel is a tale of bravery and transformation as Roxy struggles to figure out who she is and what she wants in a world that’s not shy about telling her what it wants from her. She must confront expectations surrounding her heritage, her future, and her ‘place’ from family and friends alike.
Whilst Roxy’s relationship with her father is strong and he is supportive of her ambitions, her relationship with her Aunty Linny, although loving, is somewhat more unpredictable and at times downright volatile. Thomas perfectly captures the nuances and conflicting emotions we all face when it comes to dealing with difficult family members. Roxy must learn how to navigate her family and love them despite their faults.
Likewise, Roxy’s relationship with her best friend Helen provides an interesting and alternative face to the persisting idea of ‘change’ presented throughout the novel. As someone who moved overseas for several years, it was interesting to note Roxy’s inability to recognise how much she had grown and changed, and likewise how other people reacted to this- even to the point of assuming she had fundamentally changed after only a few weeks of living away. The difficult dynamic surrounding shifting roles in both family and friendship circles, when a person outgrows the role they have played for any given length of time, was subtly and a cleverly weaved through the story.
Finally, Roxy also faces the ongoing pressures associated with her race and sexuality on a societal level. Ranging from slurs in the schoolyard to systematic inequality, Roxy is forced to become the person she wants to be in the face of political stigmatism. In a conversation with her student support officer Roxy declares, “I was paid out for being Aboriginal and that was bad enough. I didn’t even realise I was gay.” Roxy’s story is about the importance of being true to yourself, even when other people may not like it.
The intricate layers of Roxy’s life and the changes she faces are neatly wrapped up in short chapters that make for easy, bite-size reading. It’s the sort of book you can pick up during that ten-minute break- and you’ll be taking every ten-minute break you can get! There’s a lot of big and complex issues tackled here but in the hands of Jared Thomas, they are presented to you like canapes on a plate- ready for you to tackle one mouthful at a time.
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