The mountain

by Kate Llewellyn

167 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Kate Llewellyn is the author of nineteen books, including the bestselling The Waterlily: A Blue Mountains Journal and Playing With Water: A Story of a Garden. A distinguished Australian poet, she has published six books of poetry and is the co-editor of The Penguin Book of Australian Women Poets. Her travel books include Lilies, Feathers & Frangipani on the Cook Islands and New Zealand; Angels and Dark Madonnas on India and Italy; and Gorillas, Tea & Coffee: An African Sketchbook. Her books The Floral Mother & Other Essays, The Waterlily and Playing With Water have been made into talking books

She is one of Australia’s bestselling authors...

Reviews

[Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am convinced after reading The Mountain that all three of the Blue Mountains trilogy are more diary than novel. Llewellyn writes about how a review of Dear You accused her of being a liar. So it would be safer to present the books as fiction. As I've said before, I find them so moving and insightful that I want her experiences to be true. Wish I could ask her. She is an elusive presence on the Internet.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read almost all of Kate's prose books (except the 3 travel ones) and have loved them all... mainly for her honesty and her ability to embrace life and all that is thrown to her. This once again comes through in this book... her travel to northern Australia showing such a willingness to 'experience' all that she can and get past the 'tourist' facade, her vulnerability around her daughter and submerging the need to rush in and try and 'fix' problems for her and protect her. Realising that her need to be present but to let her daughter do things her own way and be herself in the world...its a difficult one for mothers seeing their children off into the world. Always love her descriptions of food and gardens and her insightful comments about people and books... these books are always good for my soul.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is in a 'journal' format not dissimilar to the wonderful book by the same author, Waterlily. These are entirely letters to the author's daughter. Though I had to push myself to complete the book I am almost sorry I did so as it was to me just more of the same with little meaning. Very disappointing after Waterlily.