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The Rarest Thing
It’s 1966, and a mountain pygmy possum – a species that scientists considered to be long-extinct – is discovered in the Victorian High Country and transported to Melbourne where newspapers dub it ‘the world’s rarest creature’.
Thirty-year-old Dr Katharine Wynter is a palaeontologist who’s more comfortable with ancient bones than live human beings, particularly men - an exotic species of which she has little personal experience, apart from a predatory professor who has made her working life hell.
Having studied the tiny possum in fossil form, Katharine is curious to see it in the flesh, but her much anticipated visit is disrupted by the presence of wildlife photographer, Scott King, taking pictures for an international magazine.
Before long, Katharine finds herself thrown together with Scott on a quest to locate the miniature marsupials in their habitat - the rugged Australian Alps. Along the way, the timid scientist discovers a side to her character she never knew existed, while the dashing photographer abandons his bravado and confronts memories he's hidden for decades.
As for the elusive possums, the cute little creatures lead their pursuers on a merry chase...
Thirty-year-old Dr Katharine Wynter is a palaeontologist who’s more comfortable with ancient bones than live human beings, particularly men - an exotic species of which she has little personal experience, apart from a predatory professor who has made her working life hell.
Having studied the tiny possum in fossil form, Katharine is curious to see it in the flesh, but her much anticipated visit is disrupted by the presence of wildlife photographer, Scott King, taking pictures for an international magazine.
Before long, Katharine finds herself thrown together with Scott on a quest to locate the miniature marsupials in their habitat - the rugged Australian Alps. Along the way, the timid scientist discovers a side to her character she never knew existed, while the dashing photographer abandons his bravado and confronts memories he's hidden for decades.
As for the elusive possums, the cute little creatures lead their pursuers on a merry chase...
- GenresRomance
272 pages, ebook
Published November 15, 2016
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Deborah O'Brien
15 books13 followersDeborah O’Brien is an Australian writer, visual artist and teacher. She is the author of four novels for Penguin Random House: the bestselling 'Mr Chen’s Emporium', its sequels, 'The Jade Widow' and 'A Place of Her Own', plus 'The Trivia Man'.
Her latest novel, 'The Rarest Thing' is set in the Victorian High Country in 1966 and is published by Lomandra Press. The signed gift edition print book is available from www.lomandrapress.com.au and the ebook from Kobo.
Together with her family and two dogs, Deborah divides her time between a house in Sydney and a country cottage on the outskirts of a heritage-listed Gold Rush town, overlooking a creek frequented by platypuses. It is her dream to own a small herd of alpacas.
http://www.deborahobrien.com.au
Her latest novel, 'The Rarest Thing' is set in the Victorian High Country in 1966 and is published by Lomandra Press. The signed gift edition print book is available from www.lomandrapress.com.au and the ebook from Kobo.
Together with her family and two dogs, Deborah divides her time between a house in Sydney and a country cottage on the outskirts of a heritage-listed Gold Rush town, overlooking a creek frequented by platypuses. It is her dream to own a small herd of alpacas.
http://www.deborahobrien.com.au
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 26, 2016
My View:
For this review I will try something a little different – I will start with the cover and work through the elements of the book I enjoyed - and I did enjoy this read.
To begin with I was approached by the author Deborah O’Brien to see if I was interested in receiving a copy of her latest book and perhaps reviewing it on my blog. This began a series of communications where I was introduced to the lovely Deborah, her new project and the mountain pygmy possum. As a book reviewer and blogger there is nothing more pleasurable than establishing a working relationship with an author. Relationship established I will now commence my review.
“Looking along the Blue Rag Range towards Mt Hotham, the inside front and back covers: Wildflowers at Blue Rag Trig with Mt Feathertop in the background.” This is the special gift edition paperback with a 360 gsm cover (which won’t curl), coloured endpapers and other non-standard features. (It is also be available as an eBook), though you won’t get the same depth of vision with an eBook copy. This cover is stunning and allows the reader to imagine themselves into the setting of the book, Victorian High Country.
The next page - the author states this book is inspired by a true event – “the discovery of a creature thought to be long extinct. It was such a big event at the time that the Guinness Book of Records featured the mountain pygmy possum as ‘the rarest animal on Earth’ in its 1967 edition.” (Author’s correspondence). And prefaces the prologue with this quote by Oscar Wilde: “To live is the rarest thing in this world. Most people exist, that is all.” I was primed to read this book, to immerse myself in the isolated natural settings and all things 1960’s.
And what followed was totally unexpected. The prologue, set in Sydney 1941 details a rich and loving relationship between a father and his young daughter (the protagonist, Kathy, as a child). Here the father plants the seed that the daughter can be anything she likes, even a palaeontologist (and don’t forget this is 1941 – such ambitions for a woman were unheard of). I loved the relationships described in this opening – there is love, laughter, respect and mutual admiration and support. Further, the elements of family, conservation and feminism are subtly woven into the prologue and are to become important themes in the narrative.
For me the overarching theme in this narrative is one of the feminists’ struggle for equal opportunities in education, the workplace and …life and relationships in 1960’s and beyond. O’Brien exposes some heartbreaking criminal behaviour in this novel (no spoilers here)…sadly behaviours like this have not been eliminated in our so called enlightened age. (See Zoë Morrison’s Music and Freedom for more on this theme).
So despite the sumptuous cover, the elegant introduction and the heart-warming scenes of family in the early pages, this narrative has a dark core that will surprise you. There are plenty of meaty issues within these pages to affect the discerning reader and a number of twists and some references to an unreliable narrator that will keep you on your toes.
This is a surprising read; at times it reads almost as a journal, private and personal. Yet the narrative is larger than just the personal, this multilayered drama is peppered with pop culture references, history, conservation, social issues, isolated beautiful settings and is written with a feminist bent. This is a story that will fully engage you, surprise you and at the same time shock you as family secrets are revealed.
A most enjoyable read. Thank you Deborah O'Brien - it has been a pleasure to discover your writing.
For this review I will try something a little different – I will start with the cover and work through the elements of the book I enjoyed - and I did enjoy this read.
To begin with I was approached by the author Deborah O’Brien to see if I was interested in receiving a copy of her latest book and perhaps reviewing it on my blog. This began a series of communications where I was introduced to the lovely Deborah, her new project and the mountain pygmy possum. As a book reviewer and blogger there is nothing more pleasurable than establishing a working relationship with an author. Relationship established I will now commence my review.
“Looking along the Blue Rag Range towards Mt Hotham, the inside front and back covers: Wildflowers at Blue Rag Trig with Mt Feathertop in the background.” This is the special gift edition paperback with a 360 gsm cover (which won’t curl), coloured endpapers and other non-standard features. (It is also be available as an eBook), though you won’t get the same depth of vision with an eBook copy. This cover is stunning and allows the reader to imagine themselves into the setting of the book, Victorian High Country.
The next page - the author states this book is inspired by a true event – “the discovery of a creature thought to be long extinct. It was such a big event at the time that the Guinness Book of Records featured the mountain pygmy possum as ‘the rarest animal on Earth’ in its 1967 edition.” (Author’s correspondence). And prefaces the prologue with this quote by Oscar Wilde: “To live is the rarest thing in this world. Most people exist, that is all.” I was primed to read this book, to immerse myself in the isolated natural settings and all things 1960’s.
And what followed was totally unexpected. The prologue, set in Sydney 1941 details a rich and loving relationship between a father and his young daughter (the protagonist, Kathy, as a child). Here the father plants the seed that the daughter can be anything she likes, even a palaeontologist (and don’t forget this is 1941 – such ambitions for a woman were unheard of). I loved the relationships described in this opening – there is love, laughter, respect and mutual admiration and support. Further, the elements of family, conservation and feminism are subtly woven into the prologue and are to become important themes in the narrative.
For me the overarching theme in this narrative is one of the feminists’ struggle for equal opportunities in education, the workplace and …life and relationships in 1960’s and beyond. O’Brien exposes some heartbreaking criminal behaviour in this novel (no spoilers here)…sadly behaviours like this have not been eliminated in our so called enlightened age. (See Zoë Morrison’s Music and Freedom for more on this theme).
So despite the sumptuous cover, the elegant introduction and the heart-warming scenes of family in the early pages, this narrative has a dark core that will surprise you. There are plenty of meaty issues within these pages to affect the discerning reader and a number of twists and some references to an unreliable narrator that will keep you on your toes.
This is a surprising read; at times it reads almost as a journal, private and personal. Yet the narrative is larger than just the personal, this multilayered drama is peppered with pop culture references, history, conservation, social issues, isolated beautiful settings and is written with a feminist bent. This is a story that will fully engage you, surprise you and at the same time shock you as family secrets are revealed.
A most enjoyable read. Thank you Deborah O'Brien - it has been a pleasure to discover your writing.
June 25, 2017
The Rarest Thing, is a mountain pygmy possum, considered extinct but discovered in the High C0untry of Victoria. Deborah O’Brien has written a lovely story centred around this discovery. The standout cover, the settings, the characters and the storytelling all drew me in. There is so much to like about this book. Highly recommended.
October 12, 2016
A cute little snaggletooth possum is the catalyst for an expedition through the mountains, a journey of self-discovery and a blossoming romance.
The character's and story felt so real that I had to check the author's note at the end to find out which bits were truth and which were fiction. I enjoyed spending time with the timid heroine and seeing her grow. She was someone I could imagine being friends with. I loved the Aussie setting, a glimpse into life in Victoria in the 60s.
I reviewed a complimentary copy.
The character's and story felt so real that I had to check the author's note at the end to find out which bits were truth and which were fiction. I enjoyed spending time with the timid heroine and seeing her grow. She was someone I could imagine being friends with. I loved the Aussie setting, a glimpse into life in Victoria in the 60s.
I reviewed a complimentary copy.
November 29, 2017
Such a lovely gentle story with growth and empowerment for both main characters. Virtually read in one sitting.
September 18, 2016
Got my hands on a review copy and was transported 50 years into the past on an adventure into the Victorian High Country. I was equally intrigued by all three journeys of the main characters: Scott King, Katharine Wynter and the pygmy possum.
A great read that captures something seldom felt in this age of iPhones and Google: a sense of discovery.
A great read that captures something seldom felt in this age of iPhones and Google: a sense of discovery.
November 22, 2016
What a great book right from the outside cover inside cover to the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it brought back lots of memories of times gone by. The little possum really set the stage for romance intrigue and adventure a thoroughly good read.
October 31, 2016
The discovery of the rare, considered extinct, mountain pygmy possum in the picturesque region of Victoria’s High Country, is the focus of Deborah O’Brien’s new book, The Rarest Thing.
The Rarest Thing features main female protagonist Katharine Wynter. Katharine is a woman ahead of her time. A deeply intelligent, talented and passionate thirty year old, palaeontologist Katharine finds herself in the Victoria High Country region, searching for the mountain pygmy possum in the flesh. Her trip to the snowy region allows for growth to both her career and personal life, as she connects with wildlife photographer Scott King during the expedition. As the elusive marsupial gives it searchers a run for their money, Katharine and Scott are forced to confront their private thoughts and fears in the rugged Australian Alps.
Every now and then a book comes across your way that is so very special, you want to grasp onto it and not let go. I felt this way about The Rarest Thing by Deborah O’Brien. I feel very fortunate to have been provided with the opportunity to read and review this gentle gem of a novel. Deborah O’Brien is author who is familiar to me, I have read and respected her work for some years. When I was approached to review this book, I felt honoured.
What makes The Rarest Thing a standout book is number of factors. Firstly, the breathtaking cover, on the front, back and inside, which is the perfect metaphor for what is in store for the reader location wise. The setting descriptions blew me away, the prose is refined. The writing is so descriptive that the High Country of Victoria, to the University city based setting, leapt off the pages of this book and landed straight in my mind. The Rarest Thing also offers a strong sense of place. Although I did not personally experience the 1960’s, I felt I was there mind, body and soul, with Katharine through O’Brien’s skilled style of storytelling. I also felt emotionally drawn to the passages involving Katharine’s Father. He plays an important figure in her journey from a timid girl to a powerful young woman, paving the way for female academics at the time. I wept as O’Brien described the return home and harrowing transformation Katharine’s Father makes, from being a handsome soldier, to a broken prisoner of war. It was simply unforgettable. O’Brien’s ability to evoke a deep sense of place to her readers, extends through all aspects of her narrative. The book explores political activism in 1960’s Australia, the litany of social issues prevalent at this time, the emerging anti Vietnam War movements and the rise of feminism. Popular culture of the time also makes its presence known in The Rarest Thing. Music, popular movies and cult figures of the time are mentioned briefly, all adding to the overall reading experience.
The focus on the mountain pygmy possum, a marsupial I did not know existed until I came across this book, was enlightening. Katherine and Scott’s quest to find the creature in the flesh is addictive and for me kept the pages turning. O’Brien’s narrative unfolds at the perfect pace, peeling off layer after layer, revealing secrets and story twists. At the heart of this book is a heartwarming romance and a drama that plays out, examining some pertinent issues, such as conservation and equal opportunity.
It is with great joy that I took an adventure with the characters in this book, to discover the hidden history of a marsupial threatened to the point of extinction. The Rarest Thing is a passionately told, well researched novel and a story so beautifully woven that it deserves no less than a five star rating.
*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This review also appears on my blog: https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com/
The Rarest Thing features main female protagonist Katharine Wynter. Katharine is a woman ahead of her time. A deeply intelligent, talented and passionate thirty year old, palaeontologist Katharine finds herself in the Victoria High Country region, searching for the mountain pygmy possum in the flesh. Her trip to the snowy region allows for growth to both her career and personal life, as she connects with wildlife photographer Scott King during the expedition. As the elusive marsupial gives it searchers a run for their money, Katharine and Scott are forced to confront their private thoughts and fears in the rugged Australian Alps.
Every now and then a book comes across your way that is so very special, you want to grasp onto it and not let go. I felt this way about The Rarest Thing by Deborah O’Brien. I feel very fortunate to have been provided with the opportunity to read and review this gentle gem of a novel. Deborah O’Brien is author who is familiar to me, I have read and respected her work for some years. When I was approached to review this book, I felt honoured.
What makes The Rarest Thing a standout book is number of factors. Firstly, the breathtaking cover, on the front, back and inside, which is the perfect metaphor for what is in store for the reader location wise. The setting descriptions blew me away, the prose is refined. The writing is so descriptive that the High Country of Victoria, to the University city based setting, leapt off the pages of this book and landed straight in my mind. The Rarest Thing also offers a strong sense of place. Although I did not personally experience the 1960’s, I felt I was there mind, body and soul, with Katharine through O’Brien’s skilled style of storytelling. I also felt emotionally drawn to the passages involving Katharine’s Father. He plays an important figure in her journey from a timid girl to a powerful young woman, paving the way for female academics at the time. I wept as O’Brien described the return home and harrowing transformation Katharine’s Father makes, from being a handsome soldier, to a broken prisoner of war. It was simply unforgettable. O’Brien’s ability to evoke a deep sense of place to her readers, extends through all aspects of her narrative. The book explores political activism in 1960’s Australia, the litany of social issues prevalent at this time, the emerging anti Vietnam War movements and the rise of feminism. Popular culture of the time also makes its presence known in The Rarest Thing. Music, popular movies and cult figures of the time are mentioned briefly, all adding to the overall reading experience.
The focus on the mountain pygmy possum, a marsupial I did not know existed until I came across this book, was enlightening. Katherine and Scott’s quest to find the creature in the flesh is addictive and for me kept the pages turning. O’Brien’s narrative unfolds at the perfect pace, peeling off layer after layer, revealing secrets and story twists. At the heart of this book is a heartwarming romance and a drama that plays out, examining some pertinent issues, such as conservation and equal opportunity.
It is with great joy that I took an adventure with the characters in this book, to discover the hidden history of a marsupial threatened to the point of extinction. The Rarest Thing is a passionately told, well researched novel and a story so beautifully woven that it deserves no less than a five star rating.
*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This review also appears on my blog: https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com/
October 23, 2016
Sometimes beauties rich and rare are out of reach, sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. To see them all you need to do is focus.....
Palaeontology in 2016 conjures up images of Walking with Dinosaurs, Jurassic World and David Attenborough but in this 1966 setting the term has not been buffed by Hollywood to be readily recognised. Dr Katharine Wynter - Scaredy Kat to her two younger sisters - has found an academic niche in which to retreat for the past eight years, safe in the realm of extinct creatures. She prefers her solitary existence to the social whirl of her sisters and shrinks away from males, except perhaps her heroes on the silver screen.
Her father once fossicked for fossils, sparking Katharine’s childhood interest in unlocking the secrets of the past and launching her academic career in palaeontology. Katharine is self-effacing at home and at work, filled with doubt about her worth and forced into subjugation at the university. Her ‘ivory tower’ is ruled by the old boys’ club of wealth, privilege and patriarchy. She is a rarity, and well aware of the precarious position of women who secure academic roles. Her outstanding research on the long extinct snaggle-tooth possum, Burramys, has resulted in employment but not brought the sense of security she craves.
Katharine has a lively imagination, with her interior world much more glamorous than her fibro home in Belmore would suggest. She sometimes thinks of herself as Ella Cinders, helpless and dirty at the mercy of her stepmother, waiting for Prince Charming to arrive.
Life in the turbulent times of the Vietnam War and ‘All the Way with LBJ’ is passing her by. Around her, university students are responding to calls for a better world and ignite activism to achieve it. On campus and at home Katharine quells sparks of unrest falling all around her although the times they are indeed a ‘changing. She is determined to remain inconspicuous, safe below the radar- until a photograph arrives of a tiny possum found inside the Melbourne University ski lodge at Mount Hotham. Burramys is extant, not extinct, and Katharine is ecstatic!
As Katharine embarks on a scientific quest to investigate the unlikely existence of an ‘extinct’ possum in the rugged High Country of Victoria, she also begins her own journey of self-discovery. The hidden beauty of the Burramys is revealed through a combination of patience and risk taking and parallels the emergence of Katharine from her chrysalis.
Scott King is the professional wildlife photographer who captures images of the rescued Burramys and is in turn captivated by the quest to locate the tiny possum in the wild. From their first meeting Katherine regards him as too good to be true but agrees to join him on a scientific expedition to Mount Hotham. Scott has movie-star good looks and charm (Chris Hemsworth would be perfect in the screen version!), affects no airs or graces, and appears to be oblivious to the effect he has on girls. Katharine anticipates that she will be disappointed in the real Scott King but is unprepared for the aftermath of his return to the High Country town of his childhood.
Katharine’s imagination suggests that Scott’s glossy exterior harbours dark secrets within. Does he hide behind the camera lens and travel the world to outpace demons, or is he the genuine knight in shining armour Katharine never thought would enter her life? She fancifully compares their journey to that of Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn aboard the African Queen, but the reality is far from a Hollywood formula. Locating the elusive Burramys in the wild begins instead to take on aspects of a grail quest, with the ski lodge standing in for the Chapel Perilous and Scott as Percival. Katharine must put aside her pre-conceived ideas about Scott and focus on combining their complementary skills if the unlikely duo are to achieve their goal.
Inspired by an historical event, O’Brien has woven a fictional tale around the rediscovery of the Burramys which breathes life into what might have been another scientific curiosity. The story unfolds in Sydney, Melbourne, and the High Country of Victoria where each setting provides a sense of place, power or purpose for the characters of the novel.
The possum is the focus of the story, yet appears so rarely, acting as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life. In pursuit of the possum Katharine faces challenges she would rather retreat from, but begins to see herself through a different lens. Scott’s journey towards trust reveals layers of complexity which he has worked hard to conceal. The lyric beauty and devastating power of the High Country permeates the narrative and functions as an additional character bearing an abundance of nature’s gifts. Wild, wonderful, evocative and full of surprises the landscape is presented by O’Brien through a painter’s perceptive eye and photographer’s skilful use of light and focus.
O’Brien’s meticulous attention to detail through painstaking research adds to the authenticity and enjoyment of the experience of stepping back into the 1960s. Social commentary concerning the changes within Australian society in the decades after the Second World War is cleverly woven into the fabric of the narrative. Glimpses of the fashions, transport, politics and ephemera of the time are nostalgic yet a reminder of constant change amid constancy. Analogue television and AM radio shows, music on vinyls, hair curlers and Carnaby Street–style white boots propel the reader into a vibrant world on the edge of the Age of Aquarius.
The continuity of traditions privileging the establishment and patriarchy, the resultant imbalance of power and structural inequities of Australia in the 1960s provide the backdrop to Katharine’s world. Her academic exploitation is a powerful example of women being viewed at the time as lesser citizens, students, employees and researchers where an expectation of underachievement compared to males prevails. Katharine’s character is locked into this world. She lacks agency and exudes a sense of loss, of a future already laid down stratum by stratum. Until the Burramys appears on centre stage!
Skilful use of flashback casts light into the shadowy corners of Katharine's past, gradually assembling the scattered shards of memory into a quarry which she can look squarely in the eye and face on equal terms. Through this technique Katharine's past is gradually revealed and the reader challenged to solve the puzzle until all the pieces fall into place. Or do they?
The title of the book tantalises the reader – what is the rarest thing? The Burramys who acts as the catalyst for the story is indeed a rare creature, and may act as a different metaphor for each reader. O’Brien includes an aphorism by Oscar Wilde in the opening pages of the book:
‘To live is the rarest thing in the world.
Most people exist, that is all.’
The Rarest Thing intrigues, entertains and invites the reader to ponder where their own life journey may take them. Dive into this latest book from internationally acclaimed author Deborah O’Brien and join Dr Katharine Wynter and Scott King as they quest for hidden beauties, rich and rare.
Reviewed by Chris McGuigan from Kensington Review
https://kensingtonbookreview.wordpres...
The Rarest Thing
Deborah O'Brien
Palaeontology in 2016 conjures up images of Walking with Dinosaurs, Jurassic World and David Attenborough but in this 1966 setting the term has not been buffed by Hollywood to be readily recognised. Dr Katharine Wynter - Scaredy Kat to her two younger sisters - has found an academic niche in which to retreat for the past eight years, safe in the realm of extinct creatures. She prefers her solitary existence to the social whirl of her sisters and shrinks away from males, except perhaps her heroes on the silver screen.
Her father once fossicked for fossils, sparking Katharine’s childhood interest in unlocking the secrets of the past and launching her academic career in palaeontology. Katharine is self-effacing at home and at work, filled with doubt about her worth and forced into subjugation at the university. Her ‘ivory tower’ is ruled by the old boys’ club of wealth, privilege and patriarchy. She is a rarity, and well aware of the precarious position of women who secure academic roles. Her outstanding research on the long extinct snaggle-tooth possum, Burramys, has resulted in employment but not brought the sense of security she craves.
Katharine has a lively imagination, with her interior world much more glamorous than her fibro home in Belmore would suggest. She sometimes thinks of herself as Ella Cinders, helpless and dirty at the mercy of her stepmother, waiting for Prince Charming to arrive.
Life in the turbulent times of the Vietnam War and ‘All the Way with LBJ’ is passing her by. Around her, university students are responding to calls for a better world and ignite activism to achieve it. On campus and at home Katharine quells sparks of unrest falling all around her although the times they are indeed a ‘changing. She is determined to remain inconspicuous, safe below the radar- until a photograph arrives of a tiny possum found inside the Melbourne University ski lodge at Mount Hotham. Burramys is extant, not extinct, and Katharine is ecstatic!
As Katharine embarks on a scientific quest to investigate the unlikely existence of an ‘extinct’ possum in the rugged High Country of Victoria, she also begins her own journey of self-discovery. The hidden beauty of the Burramys is revealed through a combination of patience and risk taking and parallels the emergence of Katharine from her chrysalis.
Scott King is the professional wildlife photographer who captures images of the rescued Burramys and is in turn captivated by the quest to locate the tiny possum in the wild. From their first meeting Katherine regards him as too good to be true but agrees to join him on a scientific expedition to Mount Hotham. Scott has movie-star good looks and charm (Chris Hemsworth would be perfect in the screen version!), affects no airs or graces, and appears to be oblivious to the effect he has on girls. Katharine anticipates that she will be disappointed in the real Scott King but is unprepared for the aftermath of his return to the High Country town of his childhood.
Katharine’s imagination suggests that Scott’s glossy exterior harbours dark secrets within. Does he hide behind the camera lens and travel the world to outpace demons, or is he the genuine knight in shining armour Katharine never thought would enter her life? She fancifully compares their journey to that of Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn aboard the African Queen, but the reality is far from a Hollywood formula. Locating the elusive Burramys in the wild begins instead to take on aspects of a grail quest, with the ski lodge standing in for the Chapel Perilous and Scott as Percival. Katharine must put aside her pre-conceived ideas about Scott and focus on combining their complementary skills if the unlikely duo are to achieve their goal.
Inspired by an historical event, O’Brien has woven a fictional tale around the rediscovery of the Burramys which breathes life into what might have been another scientific curiosity. The story unfolds in Sydney, Melbourne, and the High Country of Victoria where each setting provides a sense of place, power or purpose for the characters of the novel.
The possum is the focus of the story, yet appears so rarely, acting as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life. In pursuit of the possum Katharine faces challenges she would rather retreat from, but begins to see herself through a different lens. Scott’s journey towards trust reveals layers of complexity which he has worked hard to conceal. The lyric beauty and devastating power of the High Country permeates the narrative and functions as an additional character bearing an abundance of nature’s gifts. Wild, wonderful, evocative and full of surprises the landscape is presented by O’Brien through a painter’s perceptive eye and photographer’s skilful use of light and focus.
O’Brien’s meticulous attention to detail through painstaking research adds to the authenticity and enjoyment of the experience of stepping back into the 1960s. Social commentary concerning the changes within Australian society in the decades after the Second World War is cleverly woven into the fabric of the narrative. Glimpses of the fashions, transport, politics and ephemera of the time are nostalgic yet a reminder of constant change amid constancy. Analogue television and AM radio shows, music on vinyls, hair curlers and Carnaby Street–style white boots propel the reader into a vibrant world on the edge of the Age of Aquarius.
The continuity of traditions privileging the establishment and patriarchy, the resultant imbalance of power and structural inequities of Australia in the 1960s provide the backdrop to Katharine’s world. Her academic exploitation is a powerful example of women being viewed at the time as lesser citizens, students, employees and researchers where an expectation of underachievement compared to males prevails. Katharine’s character is locked into this world. She lacks agency and exudes a sense of loss, of a future already laid down stratum by stratum. Until the Burramys appears on centre stage!
Skilful use of flashback casts light into the shadowy corners of Katharine's past, gradually assembling the scattered shards of memory into a quarry which she can look squarely in the eye and face on equal terms. Through this technique Katharine's past is gradually revealed and the reader challenged to solve the puzzle until all the pieces fall into place. Or do they?
The title of the book tantalises the reader – what is the rarest thing? The Burramys who acts as the catalyst for the story is indeed a rare creature, and may act as a different metaphor for each reader. O’Brien includes an aphorism by Oscar Wilde in the opening pages of the book:
‘To live is the rarest thing in the world.
Most people exist, that is all.’
The Rarest Thing intrigues, entertains and invites the reader to ponder where their own life journey may take them. Dive into this latest book from internationally acclaimed author Deborah O’Brien and join Dr Katharine Wynter and Scott King as they quest for hidden beauties, rich and rare.
Reviewed by Chris McGuigan from Kensington Review
https://kensingtonbookreview.wordpres...
The Rarest Thing
Deborah O'Brien
October 22, 2016
A month ago an author I'd never heard of sent me an advanced reader copy of her new novel, The Rarest Thing.
The first thing that struck me was the exquisite cover photograph depicting the breathtakingly beautiful Victorian alps in the area around Mount Hotham and Mount Feathertop. This cover is a clue to the story within, a story which I found utterly fascinating.
Meticulously researched and with fine attention to detail, this is not only the story of a tiny endangered possum which makes its home in these ruggedly beautiful mountains. It is also a gentle story of two enormously talented people, each facing their own challenges in life, and each able to complete the other and help them face those challenges.
There are so many things that I found to like about The Rarest Thing - the setting in a part of the world that I regard as God's own country, the people who populate the story, each of them very real to me, the issues raised, the quirky little sketches scattered here and there within the book, and the writing itself. This story has been a real pleasure to read and I look forward to investigating more from author Deborah O'Brien.
The first thing that struck me was the exquisite cover photograph depicting the breathtakingly beautiful Victorian alps in the area around Mount Hotham and Mount Feathertop. This cover is a clue to the story within, a story which I found utterly fascinating.
Meticulously researched and with fine attention to detail, this is not only the story of a tiny endangered possum which makes its home in these ruggedly beautiful mountains. It is also a gentle story of two enormously talented people, each facing their own challenges in life, and each able to complete the other and help them face those challenges.
There are so many things that I found to like about The Rarest Thing - the setting in a part of the world that I regard as God's own country, the people who populate the story, each of them very real to me, the issues raised, the quirky little sketches scattered here and there within the book, and the writing itself. This story has been a real pleasure to read and I look forward to investigating more from author Deborah O'Brien.
October 4, 2016
You will almost certainly judge this book by its cover - and you'll be right!
'The Rarest Thing' is a beautifully crafted book, exquisitely designed, and such a pleasure to read. The cover pics are truly apposite, and transport the reader into the heart of the action, Victoria's sublime High Country.
And if a superb dining experience at a restaurant is enhanced by perfect table settings, refined ambience and mannerly service, so a good read is enriched by fine papers, delighting fonts and layout, and enchanting artwork.
And the story - initially seemingly artless, the tale of a tiny marsupial long presumed extinct - soon reveals a subtle, surprising amplitude. Both main characters, the diffident young academic Katharine Wynter, and the instantly attractive wildlife photographer, Scott King, have private torments and conflicted pasts. Deborah O'Brien's prose is pure and spare as the montane landscape her protagonists traverse in their journey to find evidence of the waif-like creature. The author discloses the complexities of their relationship with the beguiling story-telling we have come to expect from the creator of 'Mr Chen's Emporium', 'The Jade Widow' et al.
Should you cherish a richly detailed narrative, a stage well set, then you will rejoice in the accuracy of the 1960's setting of this novel. The twinsets, the manly brogues, the music, the long distance trunk calls, even the public transport arrangements are all faultlessly rendered. My heart revisited the fervour of a first years ardent activism as the anti-Vietnam marches paraded through the city streets and I read the virulent graffiti splashed over the concrete walls of the University's underpass.
And it's not all trekking about the mountains in Land Rovers either. Katharine is afflicted with a brace of scantily clad, long-legged sisters who are frankly and vociferously mortified by their older sibling's palaeontological career. Charlotte and Jean sparkle with light humour in the domestic background as Katharine adroitly sidesteps the love tangles and critical wardrobe determinations that dominate her sister's days.
A confidently written Australian novel that's deeper than you might imagine......
October 10, 2016
“The Rarest Thing” is set in Australia during the late 1960’s, an era of simpler but uneasy times, having said that, this book is timeless as it delves into issues that are always relevant.
Who doesn’t love a romantic story set against the Victorian High Country.
Nestled between the cover photos of those stunning mountain ranges, we find ourselves waiting for meek and mild Paleontologist Katherine to blossom, to discover herself, whilst searching for the cute, elusive and thought to be extinct, Broom’s Pygmy Possum.
Katherine's unsure of what she’s got herself into after meeting dashing wildlife photographer Scott. His personality sweeps her along on this journey of discovery but he has demons of his own to overcome.
The cute pygmy possum are not side characters, but elusive, and pop up just when you think their demise is a sure thing. An analogy for the relationships in the story perhaps?
The Rarest Thing is a great read, infused with real events with a glimpse of life styles of the late 60’s to enrich the story.
From Sydney to Melbourne and the rugged High Country, this book is about finding love when least expected, finding courage after becoming brave enough to test your limits. Our past shapes who we are but don’t determine where life’s journey is going to take you.
Is the rarest thing an elusive creature, a stunning landscape or true love?
Who doesn’t love a romantic story set against the Victorian High Country.
Nestled between the cover photos of those stunning mountain ranges, we find ourselves waiting for meek and mild Paleontologist Katherine to blossom, to discover herself, whilst searching for the cute, elusive and thought to be extinct, Broom’s Pygmy Possum.
Katherine's unsure of what she’s got herself into after meeting dashing wildlife photographer Scott. His personality sweeps her along on this journey of discovery but he has demons of his own to overcome.
The cute pygmy possum are not side characters, but elusive, and pop up just when you think their demise is a sure thing. An analogy for the relationships in the story perhaps?
The Rarest Thing is a great read, infused with real events with a glimpse of life styles of the late 60’s to enrich the story.
From Sydney to Melbourne and the rugged High Country, this book is about finding love when least expected, finding courage after becoming brave enough to test your limits. Our past shapes who we are but don’t determine where life’s journey is going to take you.
Is the rarest thing an elusive creature, a stunning landscape or true love?
October 2, 2016
I so enjoyed reading my review copy of The Rarest Thing, I could not put it down loved the characters and how the story unfolded plus the fact that the story had the real component regarding the search for the rare possum. The trip back in my memories to the 60's when I was a teenager and the places I had been was a joy to read. A great read.
November 2, 2016
Deborah O’Brien is an Australian author best known to date, for novels such as 'Mr Chen’s Emporium' and 'The Trivia Man'. Deborah’s latest release 'The Rarest Thing', published through her own imprint Lomandra Press, is an intriguing story about vulnerability, self-discovery, and love.
The story, set in 1966, revolves around thirty-year-old Dr. Katharine Wynter a shy, but curious paleontologist who is excited by the recent discovery of a rare mountain pygmy possum in the Victorian High Country – a species thought to be long extinct. Katharine embarks on a trip to visit the possum in its natural habitat, although reluctantly, as she is accompanying Scott King, an international wildlife photographer. A man she is intimidated by, but also strangely intrigued by at the same time. The journey sets them both on a path to self-discovery to find the rarest things – both in the bush and within themselves.
'The Rarest Thing' isn’t usually a book I would pick up* out of curiosity, but it being set in the Victorian High Country, a setting I’m quite familiar with, and the fact it was penned by Deborah, that I found myself interested to see what the story entailed. And I’m glad I did.
Deborah has a wonderful way with characters. She is able to draw her characters with perfect visuals that provide the reader not only with physical attributes but detailed characteristics of their persona, that creates a bond between reader and character. It doesn’t take long for you to be drawn into Katharine’s story, where you are curious to find out her secrets, and hope dearly for her future. I found myself really rooting for Katharine to make peace with herself and find the strength that you could tell was inside her, if only she had the courage to look.
The other thing with this novel is of course the setting. You can tell Deborah has a passion for for the high country, and has spent time there. Her descriptions covered all five-senses and if you closed your eyes you could envisage Katharine and Scott hiking through the scenic landscape.
I also loved Deborah’s ability to tie in the story of the little pygmy possum with the themes of trust, courage, and personal relationships that are at the heart of this book.
Deborah has pulled together not only an intriguing and interesting story, but a story that is full of life and heart. A story that will wrap around you and make you smile. A story that will stick with you long after reading the final words.
*I did receive a review copy of this book from the author, but all opinions are my own.*
The story, set in 1966, revolves around thirty-year-old Dr. Katharine Wynter a shy, but curious paleontologist who is excited by the recent discovery of a rare mountain pygmy possum in the Victorian High Country – a species thought to be long extinct. Katharine embarks on a trip to visit the possum in its natural habitat, although reluctantly, as she is accompanying Scott King, an international wildlife photographer. A man she is intimidated by, but also strangely intrigued by at the same time. The journey sets them both on a path to self-discovery to find the rarest things – both in the bush and within themselves.
'The Rarest Thing' isn’t usually a book I would pick up* out of curiosity, but it being set in the Victorian High Country, a setting I’m quite familiar with, and the fact it was penned by Deborah, that I found myself interested to see what the story entailed. And I’m glad I did.
Deborah has a wonderful way with characters. She is able to draw her characters with perfect visuals that provide the reader not only with physical attributes but detailed characteristics of their persona, that creates a bond between reader and character. It doesn’t take long for you to be drawn into Katharine’s story, where you are curious to find out her secrets, and hope dearly for her future. I found myself really rooting for Katharine to make peace with herself and find the strength that you could tell was inside her, if only she had the courage to look.
The other thing with this novel is of course the setting. You can tell Deborah has a passion for for the high country, and has spent time there. Her descriptions covered all five-senses and if you closed your eyes you could envisage Katharine and Scott hiking through the scenic landscape.
I also loved Deborah’s ability to tie in the story of the little pygmy possum with the themes of trust, courage, and personal relationships that are at the heart of this book.
Deborah has pulled together not only an intriguing and interesting story, but a story that is full of life and heart. A story that will wrap around you and make you smile. A story that will stick with you long after reading the final words.
*I did receive a review copy of this book from the author, but all opinions are my own.*
November 5, 2016
I very rarely read romance of any kind, and especially not the new craze that is rural romance. However, when Deborah approached me about her latest novel, I was intrigued enough to give it a shot on the strength of another novel of hers I’d read in the past which allowed for romance in a historical setting with a real sense of pathos and authenticity. Deborah is an author who doesn’t take the easy story-telling route and I knew that any romance story she told would be complex with fully fleshed out characters. I wasn’t wrong.
The two protagonists of The Rarest Thing, Katherine and Scott, both have dark ghosts that haunt their chances at relationships despite their appealing natures. Katherine may be an intelligent and relatively successful academic (given her status as woman in a university in the 1960s) but she faces the derision and the exploitation that some women faced in positions of previously male dominated roles. Scott is handsome, creative and therefore in no shortage of opportunities Katherine imagines, but then, he has his own terrible family secrets.
possum
The novel is prefaced by a quote from Oscar Wilde: To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. Though ostensibly about an expedition to find a pygmy possum, really this story is about coming to terms with who one is as a person and remembering to make the most of every moment. Both Katherine and Scott start The Rarest Thing living part-lives, either because of fear or because of repressed emotions and doubts. In the end, as they find possums, each other, and finally true love, the two realize they can move beyond automaton existence and truly live.
The Rarest Thing is a beautiful, truly Australian romance between two people who have complex and rounded pasts. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Australian nature, history, a positive message and a dash of mature, adult romance.
The Rarest Thing: 4/5 inky stars
The two protagonists of The Rarest Thing, Katherine and Scott, both have dark ghosts that haunt their chances at relationships despite their appealing natures. Katherine may be an intelligent and relatively successful academic (given her status as woman in a university in the 1960s) but she faces the derision and the exploitation that some women faced in positions of previously male dominated roles. Scott is handsome, creative and therefore in no shortage of opportunities Katherine imagines, but then, he has his own terrible family secrets.
possum
The novel is prefaced by a quote from Oscar Wilde: To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. Though ostensibly about an expedition to find a pygmy possum, really this story is about coming to terms with who one is as a person and remembering to make the most of every moment. Both Katherine and Scott start The Rarest Thing living part-lives, either because of fear or because of repressed emotions and doubts. In the end, as they find possums, each other, and finally true love, the two realize they can move beyond automaton existence and truly live.
The Rarest Thing is a beautiful, truly Australian romance between two people who have complex and rounded pasts. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Australian nature, history, a positive message and a dash of mature, adult romance.
The Rarest Thing: 4/5 inky stars
October 31, 2016
Katharine Wynter is a highly educated paleontologist; a smart, beautiful, young woman with her career and future ahead of her when something dark happens to shake her confidence. George is a mountain pygmy possum, considered to be long extinct and only recorded in fossilised form. The rarest animal in the world in 1966 is found running about at a Ski Lodge in the Victorian High Country and is transported to Melbourne and put into captivity to be studied. Katharine gets an equally rare opportunity to meet and be photographed with the little possum, by world renowned wildlife photographer, Scott King. When these three creatures meet, there sparks a chain of events that will change Katharine’s world forever.
Deborah O’ Brien delivers a novel with immense heart with The Rarest Thing. Katharine Wynter is so well developed as a character you feel that by the end of the book that you have made a friend. The 1960’s setting is incredibly detailed, and you can read in my Q&A with O’Brien below just how difficult writing historical fiction can be. The story of the real life ‘George’ is intertwined beautifully with fictional characters to create a story about love, hate, family, control, empathy, and self-discovery. A tale which warms the heart, but gives you enough twists and turns along the way to keep the pages turning.
The book itself is something very different and will make a great gift. The inside covers and the quirky little illustrations dotted throughout the book are a real treat.
The Rarest Thing is sure to be a popular hit from O’Brien, Australian author of one of my favourite books of 2015, The Trivia Man.
Deborah O’ Brien delivers a novel with immense heart with The Rarest Thing. Katharine Wynter is so well developed as a character you feel that by the end of the book that you have made a friend. The 1960’s setting is incredibly detailed, and you can read in my Q&A with O’Brien below just how difficult writing historical fiction can be. The story of the real life ‘George’ is intertwined beautifully with fictional characters to create a story about love, hate, family, control, empathy, and self-discovery. A tale which warms the heart, but gives you enough twists and turns along the way to keep the pages turning.
The book itself is something very different and will make a great gift. The inside covers and the quirky little illustrations dotted throughout the book are a real treat.
The Rarest Thing is sure to be a popular hit from O’Brien, Australian author of one of my favourite books of 2015, The Trivia Man.
October 23, 2016
Every so often you stumble upon a book that is quite different to what you expect. The title of Deborah O’Brien’s latest book caught my attention, and I picked it up, eager to read, after having enjoyed The Trivia Man so much.
The Rarest Thing rates up there with one of my favourite reads for the year. It is delightfully different and refreshing in many ways. The settings in the rugged Australian Alps and on the campus of Sydney University when women were still perhaps regarded as inferior to their male counterparts were depicted so well, I felt as though I was there with the characters. The depiction of the time period—the sixties—resonated with me as the songs and the news headlines, and the magazine articles of the day were seamlessly woven into the story.
The development of Dr Katharine Wynter from a timid young girl into a confident woman is sensitively handled in the context of a ‘difficult’ circumstance with her university professor. The story touches on taboo issues, with both Katharine and Scott, and whilst their relationship is a gentle romance, the darker issues explored within the quest for the miniature marsupial reveal the true source of Katharine’s strength.
An uplifting story summed up beautifully by the Oscar Wilde quote in the book: ‘To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
An outstanding book. This one goes on my ‘to keep’ shelf.
The Rarest Thing rates up there with one of my favourite reads for the year. It is delightfully different and refreshing in many ways. The settings in the rugged Australian Alps and on the campus of Sydney University when women were still perhaps regarded as inferior to their male counterparts were depicted so well, I felt as though I was there with the characters. The depiction of the time period—the sixties—resonated with me as the songs and the news headlines, and the magazine articles of the day were seamlessly woven into the story.
The development of Dr Katharine Wynter from a timid young girl into a confident woman is sensitively handled in the context of a ‘difficult’ circumstance with her university professor. The story touches on taboo issues, with both Katharine and Scott, and whilst their relationship is a gentle romance, the darker issues explored within the quest for the miniature marsupial reveal the true source of Katharine’s strength.
An uplifting story summed up beautifully by the Oscar Wilde quote in the book: ‘To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
An outstanding book. This one goes on my ‘to keep’ shelf.
September 25, 2016
(Advance Copy) Once again Deborah O'Brien has created characters so real and endearing that their presence lingers long after you have finished the book. I could hardly put this book down which has many layers of interest and an important conservation message. Inspired by a real event, the discovery of the thought to be extinct Mountain Pygmy Possum, an inspiring story of transformation has been tenderly crafted. Not only is the tiny possum brought to life but so is the majestic High Country of Victoria which is a beautiful setting for the novel and the exquisite cover photography as well as charming line drawings make this book an absolute treat.
October 20, 2016
Much like the elusive mountain pygmy possum, this book is a rarity - a great read!
Deborah O'Brien has created unforgettable characters in Katharine and Scott, and her latest novel will effortlessly transport you to Australia in the 1960s.
The Rarest Thing will quickly find a place in your heart.
Deborah O'Brien has created unforgettable characters in Katharine and Scott, and her latest novel will effortlessly transport you to Australia in the 1960s.
The Rarest Thing will quickly find a place in your heart.
April 1, 2017
Set against the backdrop of Australia in the 1960’s is this beautiful story of an expedition to discover another Burramys or pygmy possum in the wild. Thought to be extinct, the discovery of a live creature creates waves within the scientific community, and begins a journey that will change the lives of two lonely people.
Nature photographer, Scott King, is an unusual hero. He appears to have it all; a glamorous career that sees him travelling around the world photographing both wild animals and pristine wilderness. But there is a darkness in his past and a vulnerable man beneath the charming face most of the world knows. I won’t spoil the story by revealing why he is an unusual hero; suffice to say he has found ways to adapt and handle his issues.
Doctor of Paleontology, Katharine Wynter is a painfully shy academic, more at home with fossils than other humans. She has achieved academic honours in a field taken by few women in the world, let alone Sydney. Intelligent and caring, she hides her light from most people. What turned her from a happy, loving child into the frightened young woman who creeps around the Badham building becomes the challenge she must overcome. And Scott King is the man to help her find her inner strength.
Together, they search for the Burramys possum in Victoria’s High Country, and survive a severe storm, which is the beginning of life changes for Katharine, or Doc, as Scott calls her.
The writing is lyrical, the story, inspiring, and the characters, two ordinary people who are so much stronger together. Loved it!
Nature photographer, Scott King, is an unusual hero. He appears to have it all; a glamorous career that sees him travelling around the world photographing both wild animals and pristine wilderness. But there is a darkness in his past and a vulnerable man beneath the charming face most of the world knows. I won’t spoil the story by revealing why he is an unusual hero; suffice to say he has found ways to adapt and handle his issues.
Doctor of Paleontology, Katharine Wynter is a painfully shy academic, more at home with fossils than other humans. She has achieved academic honours in a field taken by few women in the world, let alone Sydney. Intelligent and caring, she hides her light from most people. What turned her from a happy, loving child into the frightened young woman who creeps around the Badham building becomes the challenge she must overcome. And Scott King is the man to help her find her inner strength.
Together, they search for the Burramys possum in Victoria’s High Country, and survive a severe storm, which is the beginning of life changes for Katharine, or Doc, as Scott calls her.
The writing is lyrical, the story, inspiring, and the characters, two ordinary people who are so much stronger together. Loved it!
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