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The Valley
A murder in the remote bush in 1916 sparks a chain of events that will haunt a family for generations. Hidden in the refuge of a secret valley, their tiny community lives unknown to the world. When, a century later, Broome schoolboy Dancer falls foul of the local bikie gang, he and his father head up the Gibb River Road. Here, in a maze of rugged ranges and remote communities, Dancer begins to unravel the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of Milly Rider, the mother he never knew. But the valley hides its secrets well. As Dancer learns the ways of his mother’s country, he uncovers a precious inheritance – one not even those closest to Milly expected to find.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
1155 people want to read
About the author
Steve Hawke
12 books13 followersSteve Hawke grew up in Melbourne, then lived in the Kimberley for many years, before settling in the Perth hills. His first adult novel, The Valley, was published in 2018. Out of Time is his second novel. He has also written the stage play Jandamarra (2008 and 2011), the libretto for the dramatic cantata Jandamarra: Sing For The Country (2014 and 2019) and the children’s novel Barefoot Kids (2007). His non-fiction writing includes Noonkanbah: Whose Land, Whose Law (1989), the biography Polly Farmer (1994) and A Town Is Born: The Fitzroy Crossing Story (2013).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! It is set in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia and beautifully describes the harshness and isolation of the area.
The book follows 4 generations of the Walker/Rider family from 1916 to the present day, taking the reader from the coastal town of Broome to the huge outback cattle stations. We meet Billy, a teenager who goes bush to find his older brother, Des, just to have Des murdered soon after he finds him. Billy finds himself on the run with a young aboriginal girl Bessie, who takes him to her family's secret enclave in a hidden valley. The story winds through to Billy and Bessie's sons Bob and Two Bob, who find themselves employed on a nearby station, where Two Bob's daughter Milly falls in love with Andy, a young man from Broome. We learn of Milly's disappearance and Andy's anguish at his lovers loss. We eventually find our way to their son Dancer, a teenage boy struggling to find himself in the hard town of Broome, with many questions about his mother that his father Andy seems unwilling, or unable, to answer.
Steve Hawke shows a real understanding of the Aboriginal communities and a love of the lifestyle, giving us an authentic view of the lives of the workers on the stations, and the problems they face, both physically and mentally.
I found this book slightly confusing at first, with several time jumps in the first few chapters, but as you get to know the characters the story unfolds into a beautifully woven tale that brings the country, and it's characters, to life. This is not a book for those that like a lot of fast paced, mindless action. It is a slow burner, and you gradually become aware that you're hooked!
This book is a beautifully told tale, it makes the landscape and people come alive. It brings to the fore the plight of the native people in a harsh part of the world. I would recommend this book to all who love family sagas and the beauty of outback Australia.
My thanks to NetGalley and Fremantle Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows 4 generations of the Walker/Rider family from 1916 to the present day, taking the reader from the coastal town of Broome to the huge outback cattle stations. We meet Billy, a teenager who goes bush to find his older brother, Des, just to have Des murdered soon after he finds him. Billy finds himself on the run with a young aboriginal girl Bessie, who takes him to her family's secret enclave in a hidden valley. The story winds through to Billy and Bessie's sons Bob and Two Bob, who find themselves employed on a nearby station, where Two Bob's daughter Milly falls in love with Andy, a young man from Broome. We learn of Milly's disappearance and Andy's anguish at his lovers loss. We eventually find our way to their son Dancer, a teenage boy struggling to find himself in the hard town of Broome, with many questions about his mother that his father Andy seems unwilling, or unable, to answer.
Steve Hawke shows a real understanding of the Aboriginal communities and a love of the lifestyle, giving us an authentic view of the lives of the workers on the stations, and the problems they face, both physically and mentally.
I found this book slightly confusing at first, with several time jumps in the first few chapters, but as you get to know the characters the story unfolds into a beautifully woven tale that brings the country, and it's characters, to life. This is not a book for those that like a lot of fast paced, mindless action. It is a slow burner, and you gradually become aware that you're hooked!
This book is a beautifully told tale, it makes the landscape and people come alive. It brings to the fore the plight of the native people in a harsh part of the world. I would recommend this book to all who love family sagas and the beauty of outback Australia.
My thanks to NetGalley and Fremantle Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2018
'Us Walkers've got secrets an' lies in our blood. I'm not sayin' that's a good thing or a bad thing, it's just how we are. We keep things close...
'You're the last one... The last one, an' the first one not caught up in the secrets an' lies...At least not till now.'
The Valley is a multi generation epic seeded in blood spilled and seeped into an unforgiving land and then shrouded in secrecy.
Set predominately in Western Australia's Kimberley region, They Valley tells a powerful story of family, love, loss, and what it means to find yourself.
For Two Bob Walker, the son of a white man and Aboriginal woman his land and family are everything, but secrets have haunted him for a generation or more.
When his son in-law Andy and Grandson Dancer find there way back to him from the big smoke, the ghosts in the closet unearth a painful past.
Distinctly Australian, The Valley is part family drama, part crime and all journey and discovery, full of unique characters and an underlying tension that tightens and tightens until a story from Two Bob releases it all.
Note. I recommended reading The Valley in paperback to easily access the frequently-flipped to Family Tree, which was useful in the early and middle stages of the book.
'You're the last one... The last one, an' the first one not caught up in the secrets an' lies...At least not till now.'
The Valley is a multi generation epic seeded in blood spilled and seeped into an unforgiving land and then shrouded in secrecy.
Set predominately in Western Australia's Kimberley region, They Valley tells a powerful story of family, love, loss, and what it means to find yourself.
For Two Bob Walker, the son of a white man and Aboriginal woman his land and family are everything, but secrets have haunted him for a generation or more.
When his son in-law Andy and Grandson Dancer find there way back to him from the big smoke, the ghosts in the closet unearth a painful past.
Distinctly Australian, The Valley is part family drama, part crime and all journey and discovery, full of unique characters and an underlying tension that tightens and tightens until a story from Two Bob releases it all.
Note. I recommended reading The Valley in paperback to easily access the frequently-flipped to Family Tree, which was useful in the early and middle stages of the book.
dnf
September 25, 2018
DNF @50%
I am calling it a day on this one. It isn't a bad book, but it just isn't holding my interest. The back and forth time jumps, along with the fact that every character seems to have two or three different names has, unfortunately, made this book extremely confusing to read and a struggle to stay engaged in.
February 6, 2021
This book is truly authentic. It might not be for everyone - it's not your typical fast-paced murder mystery with a reveal and a happy ending - but it's worth the read if you're a fan of new places and dense descriptions of the place and feel for it.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
July 11, 2019
When I saw that The Valley was historical fiction set in The Kimberley (that arrestingly gorgeous north-western corner of Australia, a barely-populated area three times the size of England), that fact alone was enough for me to pick it up.
Actually it’s a bit of a furphy to call this historical fiction. My mistake - once I know I’m going to read something, I’ll avoid all blurbs and reviews. It’s more of a family saga, and while it kicks off in 1916, most of the action takes place closer to the present day. The book follows an Aboriginal family over four generations, but Hawke keeps the story lean by focusing on just one (male) family member from each generation. The book helpfully contains both a family tree and a glossary of colloquialisms and indigenous (mostly Bunuba) words, but I personally didn’t need to refer to either, as all was adequately explained within the story.
The first section introduces each of the key men in turn; the middle part gives us the last Will and Testament (and confession) of the eldest patriarch; while the final act unites the remaining family members on a cross-country journey on horseback.
On reflection, I realised that the structure reminded me a little of the one used in Richard Powers’ The Overstory, another book in which separate stories and timelines eventually converge. But whereas Powers allowed himself 500 pages to develop this structure, Hawke has attempted the same in just 250 pages, and with less space it does at times feel a little jumbled. And while I understand the focus on paternal relationships, there were some fascinating female characters (particularly the pioneering land-rights activist, Marj) whose stories we largely miss out on.
Even so, this feels like a much more epic story than the page count implies. By the end, long-held secrets are revealed, grief exhumed, connection to country deepened. Manly feelings are expressed in the taciturn way of men. Steve Hawke’s affection for and extensive knowledge of The Kimberley and its people is obvious on every page of The Valley, and its exploration of families and grief is sensitive, understated and moving. A big-hearted story, well told.
Actually it’s a bit of a furphy to call this historical fiction. My mistake - once I know I’m going to read something, I’ll avoid all blurbs and reviews. It’s more of a family saga, and while it kicks off in 1916, most of the action takes place closer to the present day. The book follows an Aboriginal family over four generations, but Hawke keeps the story lean by focusing on just one (male) family member from each generation. The book helpfully contains both a family tree and a glossary of colloquialisms and indigenous (mostly Bunuba) words, but I personally didn’t need to refer to either, as all was adequately explained within the story.
The first section introduces each of the key men in turn; the middle part gives us the last Will and Testament (and confession) of the eldest patriarch; while the final act unites the remaining family members on a cross-country journey on horseback.
On reflection, I realised that the structure reminded me a little of the one used in Richard Powers’ The Overstory, another book in which separate stories and timelines eventually converge. But whereas Powers allowed himself 500 pages to develop this structure, Hawke has attempted the same in just 250 pages, and with less space it does at times feel a little jumbled. And while I understand the focus on paternal relationships, there were some fascinating female characters (particularly the pioneering land-rights activist, Marj) whose stories we largely miss out on.
Even so, this feels like a much more epic story than the page count implies. By the end, long-held secrets are revealed, grief exhumed, connection to country deepened. Manly feelings are expressed in the taciturn way of men. Steve Hawke’s affection for and extensive knowledge of The Kimberley and its people is obvious on every page of The Valley, and its exploration of families and grief is sensitive, understated and moving. A big-hearted story, well told.
October 13, 2018
A story spanning 4 generations and many secrets, it was slow and steady, unfolding to let us in on those secrets each generation has held onto, that have poisoned in part the way they live.
It was slightly confusing to start with, there were three generations storylines each taking a turn and each person had two or more names depending on who gave them the name, but once I got to know the characters and where they fit in I was easily able to follow.
Steve Hawke has obviously spent a lot of time with indigenous people and done a lot of research to have such an apparent understanding of the things the people in the story deal with and how they deal with them.
I enjoyed the telling of this family, though there were sad parts, the ending left me hopeful for the following generations.
Thanks to NetGalley and Fremantle Press for a copy in return for an honest review.
It was slightly confusing to start with, there were three generations storylines each taking a turn and each person had two or more names depending on who gave them the name, but once I got to know the characters and where they fit in I was easily able to follow.
Steve Hawke has obviously spent a lot of time with indigenous people and done a lot of research to have such an apparent understanding of the things the people in the story deal with and how they deal with them.
I enjoyed the telling of this family, though there were sad parts, the ending left me hopeful for the following generations.
Thanks to NetGalley and Fremantle Press for a copy in return for an honest review.
September 19, 2018
Review to come!
October 2, 2019
I bought The Valley on a whim, lured partly by a cover promising a masterfully told epic of the Kimberley and partly because Hawke was an Australian author who'd fallen under my radar.
Though the novel tells the story of successive generations (and includes a family tree), it's a misnomer to call it a family saga. It's structured in a more imaginative way, travelling backwards and forwards across a century that began at a time when the Kimberley was a lawless place and still operated by its own rules in the middle of the 20th century:
You can tell from that excerpt that Two Bob doesn't want to draw any attention to his journey back to his father Billy Noakes' refuge in a secret valley. Billy and Bessie fled there in 1916 after a murder, and they've never left. While their sons Bob (a.k.a Janga and Hamlet) and Two Bob (a.k.a Wajarri and Othello) left as adolescents to make their way in the wider world, their daughter Sarah is too spooked ever to leave. Billy and Bessie don't even see their grandchild Milly until Two Bob's wife Marj is in hospital with diabetes, so Two Bob grasps the opportunity to take her to the valley. Even Marj doesn't know of its existence.
Decades later Milly's adolescent son Dancer falls foul of a bikie gang, and needs to scarper from Broome. At the same time, his uncle's funeral brings an ageing Two Bob into town after years with no contact. He needs help back at Highlands Station, which is in danger of going under. As Dancer sets off with his father Andy to Highlands station in the back of beyond, he feels uneasy because he has so many unanswered questions about his family, especially the disappearance of his mother when he was only a year old. But the outback begins to work its magic:
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/10/02/t...
Though the novel tells the story of successive generations (and includes a family tree), it's a misnomer to call it a family saga. It's structured in a more imaginative way, travelling backwards and forwards across a century that began at a time when the Kimberley was a lawless place and still operated by its own rules in the middle of the 20th century:
Two Bob's annual pilgrimage always started with a visit to Bertie Ahmad's camp in Derby. Bertie had closed down his trading post that catered to the drovers and prospectors and other battlers of an era that had all but disappeared. But the shopfront had only ever been a part of his business. He was a go-to man for the bushmen of the Kimberley hinterland with goods of dubious provenance—a station manager doing a little business on the side, or a countryman who had mysteriously come into possession of some item of value.
Billy was no longer up to the trek through the Leopolds to Halls Creek, but still managed to coax a little gold from his secret reef. Bertie, in retirement on his block behind the meatworks, was happy to receive a visitor like Two Bob, and exchange a stack of grubby notes for some gold flakes. Money in hand, Two Bob would head up to Elders at a quiet time the next day, load up with stores then head back up the Gibb River Road. (p.96)
You can tell from that excerpt that Two Bob doesn't want to draw any attention to his journey back to his father Billy Noakes' refuge in a secret valley. Billy and Bessie fled there in 1916 after a murder, and they've never left. While their sons Bob (a.k.a Janga and Hamlet) and Two Bob (a.k.a Wajarri and Othello) left as adolescents to make their way in the wider world, their daughter Sarah is too spooked ever to leave. Billy and Bessie don't even see their grandchild Milly until Two Bob's wife Marj is in hospital with diabetes, so Two Bob grasps the opportunity to take her to the valley. Even Marj doesn't know of its existence.
Decades later Milly's adolescent son Dancer falls foul of a bikie gang, and needs to scarper from Broome. At the same time, his uncle's funeral brings an ageing Two Bob into town after years with no contact. He needs help back at Highlands Station, which is in danger of going under. As Dancer sets off with his father Andy to Highlands station in the back of beyond, he feels uneasy because he has so many unanswered questions about his family, especially the disappearance of his mother when he was only a year old. But the outback begins to work its magic:
There's something about the sensation of rolling like a road train down this thin strip of bitumen that helps him deal with the unease that he feels.
The bush is changing. There are more boabs on either side of the road. Then they float down a gentle descent and plough along the road's furrow through what seems a limitless, almost treeless plain dotted with a city of dun-brown anthills. There is a faint shimmer of the ranges ahead. It's a landscape too old and wondrous to concern itself with his problems. (p71)
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/10/02/t...
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April 29, 2020This review was first published on the Underground Writer's website: http://underground-writers.org/review...
I have never quite read a mystery novel like Hawke’s before. What stood out to me was not the setting of the Kimberley, or that it is a multigenerational book, or that is was a slow-paced mystery unfolding over generations; what stood out to me was the language. Even if you are not a fan of mysteries, the language alone should be a reason to pick up this book.
The Valley is a haunting intergenerational tale starting in 1916 when 16-year-old Billy Noakes, an Indigenous Australian, commits a murder in the bush. With Bessie, Billy’s wife-to-be, Billy hides in “the valley” a secret refuge of the last Aboriginal warrior from the Jandamarra wars. The timeline crosses over four generations and jumps back-and-forth to fill in the mystery that surrounds Billy’s family. In the early 2000s, Dancer—a schoolboy from Broome—is haunted by the disappearance of his mother, Milly. Dancer embarks on a quest into the valley to discover the mysteries surrounding his family’s past.
If that little blurb didn’t get your attention, maybe listening to the author read from passages of his book will. When The Valley was published, I was invited to interview Steve Hawke for Fremantle Press. I was tongue-tied listening to him read. Hawke’s slow, deep drawl detailing the beauty of the Kimberley transported me to the sun-soaked land. After listening to Hawke read extracts, I went home and re-read The Valley in a completely different way. Contrary to reading most mystery novels, I slowed down my pace and let myself sink into the magical drawl of Hawke’s language.
The time jumps and numerous characters can make the plot difficult to follow but never fear! Inside the front cover, Hawke includes a family tree which makes it much easier to follow the characters across the timelines. Sometimes you just need to let yourself fall into the pages and trust yourself to catch up. That’s one of the things about mystery books: you need to allow yourself to be mystified.
I wish I could discuss my favourite part of the story: the ending. Hopefully saying that it was one of the most beautiful endings I have read in a long time does not give away anything, but pique readers’ interest enough to pick it up … The imagery of the quiet Kimberley bush left a haunting resonance that perfectly rounds out the narrative.
I have never quite read a mystery novel like Hawke’s before. What stood out to me was not the setting of the Kimberley, or that it is a multigenerational book, or that is was a slow-paced mystery unfolding over generations; what stood out to me was the language. Even if you are not a fan of mysteries, the language alone should be a reason to pick up this book.
The Valley is a haunting intergenerational tale starting in 1916 when 16-year-old Billy Noakes, an Indigenous Australian, commits a murder in the bush. With Bessie, Billy’s wife-to-be, Billy hides in “the valley” a secret refuge of the last Aboriginal warrior from the Jandamarra wars. The timeline crosses over four generations and jumps back-and-forth to fill in the mystery that surrounds Billy’s family. In the early 2000s, Dancer—a schoolboy from Broome—is haunted by the disappearance of his mother, Milly. Dancer embarks on a quest into the valley to discover the mysteries surrounding his family’s past.
If that little blurb didn’t get your attention, maybe listening to the author read from passages of his book will. When The Valley was published, I was invited to interview Steve Hawke for Fremantle Press. I was tongue-tied listening to him read. Hawke’s slow, deep drawl detailing the beauty of the Kimberley transported me to the sun-soaked land. After listening to Hawke read extracts, I went home and re-read The Valley in a completely different way. Contrary to reading most mystery novels, I slowed down my pace and let myself sink into the magical drawl of Hawke’s language.
The time jumps and numerous characters can make the plot difficult to follow but never fear! Inside the front cover, Hawke includes a family tree which makes it much easier to follow the characters across the timelines. Sometimes you just need to let yourself fall into the pages and trust yourself to catch up. That’s one of the things about mystery books: you need to allow yourself to be mystified.
I wish I could discuss my favourite part of the story: the ending. Hopefully saying that it was one of the most beautiful endings I have read in a long time does not give away anything, but pique readers’ interest enough to pick it up … The imagery of the quiet Kimberley bush left a haunting resonance that perfectly rounds out the narrative.
January 10, 2019
An unexpected little gem! Picked it up at the library as a quick read. The byline, ‘an epic tale from the Kimberley’ caught my eye and this beautiful multi generational tale of an indigenous family caught my heart! Thank goodness for the family tree at the start. The many characters have many names and the story travels forwards and backwards in time so it can get a touch confusing but it’s worth every backwards page turn. This Aussie author’s first novel for adults is a ripper!
February 13, 2021
This was a difficult read but well worth the effort. I have never used a family tree to keep track of a story as much as I did for this one and the jumping between time frames was confusing a lot of the time. The way it all comes together at the end is emotional and rewarding.
August 28, 2022
Great indigenous family story. A slow burn that rewards sticking with it and I found it better when I stopped reading in short bursts. The complex genealogy was a bit hard to keep up with at first but loved it by the end
December 17, 2018
A compelling read that needs your attention, especially as most of the characters have two or three names which get used on a revolving basis.
December 8, 2018
Calling The Valley a family saga understates the nuance and complexity of this sophisticated novel. Hawke chronicles the lives of a hidden indigenous community in the Kimberly (Western Australia) with tenderness and heart, not shying away from violence, racism or drug abuse, but treating all characters with compassion.
This isn’t the kind of novel you can skim quickly. Each character has, according to local traditions and life experiences, several different names, making the family tree at the front an essential resource. Likewise the plot has interwoven storylines across history, requiring an engaged, attentive reader. That’s not to say it’s a tough read – Hawke’s writing is eloquent and I finished it in a couple of sittings – only that it’s worth investing the time to read mindfully.
I found the story deeply moving, and couldn’t help but cry at a particularly poignant moment; a testament to Hawke’s brilliant portrayal of character. He builds layers of identity through the family tree, playing with themes of duality, identity and belonging through different personalities. He expertly teases out key relationships too, and is especially adept at capturing the hesitant, deep and at times painful bonds between the men of the family (especially Dancer and Andy, and Andy and Two Bob).
Hawke has spent significant time in the region and it shows – his descriptions beautifully evoke the raw experience of being on country, and the relationship between people and land. Some of the most wonderful scenes are of people connecting to country, either through physical travel or ceremony.
The Valley is a moving, intimate portrait of family, land and the ties that bind.
Recommended if you liked: Jasper Jones
I received a copy of The Valley from Fremantle Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This isn’t the kind of novel you can skim quickly. Each character has, according to local traditions and life experiences, several different names, making the family tree at the front an essential resource. Likewise the plot has interwoven storylines across history, requiring an engaged, attentive reader. That’s not to say it’s a tough read – Hawke’s writing is eloquent and I finished it in a couple of sittings – only that it’s worth investing the time to read mindfully.
I found the story deeply moving, and couldn’t help but cry at a particularly poignant moment; a testament to Hawke’s brilliant portrayal of character. He builds layers of identity through the family tree, playing with themes of duality, identity and belonging through different personalities. He expertly teases out key relationships too, and is especially adept at capturing the hesitant, deep and at times painful bonds between the men of the family (especially Dancer and Andy, and Andy and Two Bob).
Hawke has spent significant time in the region and it shows – his descriptions beautifully evoke the raw experience of being on country, and the relationship between people and land. Some of the most wonderful scenes are of people connecting to country, either through physical travel or ceremony.
The Valley is a moving, intimate portrait of family, land and the ties that bind.
Recommended if you liked: Jasper Jones
I received a copy of The Valley from Fremantle Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2018
This is a multi-generational saga of a family from Western Australia . It starts in 1916 and continues until present day.
The beginning of the book starts with one of the main characters Billy , new to Australia and trying to make a living in the Outback. being involved in a crime and is soon on the run from the law. His life is influenced from that point on and his family pays dearly for it . The book spans generations and follows their lives and secrets . They each lead very different lives but all keep a secret they are bound to.
The descriptions of the Australian Outback is amazing. The images are so clear and captivating. The culture of native Australians is a part of the book that I especially enjoyed . The dancing ,the languages , the food and customs were so fascinating . Since I have never visited Australia I welcomed the way the author took me there with his writing . This , by the way prompted me to go online and do some research on the treatment of the native people of Australia , so eye opening and heartbreaking . The glossary was very helpful with native words and customs.
This is not a fast paced book and the beginning was a little hard to follow because of the culture being introduced but soon it slowly reeled me in and i was hooked.
I would recommend the book anyone who is interested in family dramas and Australia.
****This eArc was proved by Netgalley for an honest review.****
The beginning of the book starts with one of the main characters Billy , new to Australia and trying to make a living in the Outback. being involved in a crime and is soon on the run from the law. His life is influenced from that point on and his family pays dearly for it . The book spans generations and follows their lives and secrets . They each lead very different lives but all keep a secret they are bound to.
The descriptions of the Australian Outback is amazing. The images are so clear and captivating. The culture of native Australians is a part of the book that I especially enjoyed . The dancing ,the languages , the food and customs were so fascinating . Since I have never visited Australia I welcomed the way the author took me there with his writing . This , by the way prompted me to go online and do some research on the treatment of the native people of Australia , so eye opening and heartbreaking . The glossary was very helpful with native words and customs.
This is not a fast paced book and the beginning was a little hard to follow because of the culture being introduced but soon it slowly reeled me in and i was hooked.
I would recommend the book anyone who is interested in family dramas and Australia.
****This eArc was proved by Netgalley for an honest review.****
November 12, 2018
Thankyou to NetGalley, Fremantle Press and the author, Steve Hawke, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Valley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I thought the story was beautifully written told over multiple generations. The characters were engaging and the whole plot, intriguing. 3.5 stars.
I thought the story was beautifully written told over multiple generations. The characters were engaging and the whole plot, intriguing. 3.5 stars.
September 26, 2018
I love that this story is spread over a long period of time, a century to be precise and that one event follows a generation, years down the line. It's not your fast paced murder mystery and if you are not one who loves a slow unraveling then you might be frustrated with this book. The writing is crisp and the description of Australia over time, quite intriguing.
I requested to read this book off Netgalley and received an eARC, thank you for the copy, it's been quite the read.
I requested to read this book off Netgalley and received an eARC, thank you for the copy, it's been quite the read.
August 26, 2018
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Interesting novel set in Australia. The novel begins in the early 1900s and follows a family for more than a century. It unravels the mysteries in their lineage.
Interesting novel set in Australia. The novel begins in the early 1900s and follows a family for more than a century. It unravels the mysteries in their lineage.
July 1, 2019
The Valley: a Kimberley tale written well and with a good heart
**This review was first published in National Indigenous Times on March 7, 2019**
https://nit.com.au/the-valley-a-kimbe...
A storyworm, like an earworm, can be a dangerous thing. It’s something you can’t get out of your head. It sticks there. Fattens there. And sometimes—if you’re lucky—it grows into a book.
Steve Hawke’s storyworm gnawed up years of his brain-space, eventually becoming the full-length novel The Valley.
Set in the Kimberley, this riveting, multi-generational tale evokes people and country with clarity.
We can taste the bacon and egg burgers at Willare Roadhouse on the way to Fitzroy Crossing, can feel the saltwater country receding and the river country rising, can see the murky green of those late-season waterholes along the river.
It’s a remarkable achievement, in that there’s only one main whitefella in the book, Billy Noakes. The rest of the cast are countrymen and women.
Was Hawke, as a whitefella himself, concerned about writing in an area specifically related to Aboriginal lives and experience?
In short, after spending over 40-years living and working in Derby and Fitzroy Crossing, the answer is ‘no’.
He said the important thing is understanding which mode you’re working in.
“You need to understand whether you’re in your own creative world, or if you’re working with a story that belongs to the mob.”
“I wasn’t writing The Valley for the mob, though it is important to me that the Indigenous people who read the book enjoy it. But this is my work of fiction, my own creation, and my responsibility,” Hawke said.
“One of the things I like about the book, is that it takes the remote Indigenous world on its own terms. The book sits inside that world. It’s not about reconciliation. It’s not about white and black. It’s not something political, something bigger than it is. It’s just about these people’s lives.”
“The Valley’s been written with a good heart and it evokes that world in a positive way. It’s important, writing with good intent, and whether you do it well or not.”
Hawke’s also worked on stories that do belong unequivocally to the mob, such as the 2013 Magabala Books’ publication A Town is Born: The Fitzroy Crossing Story and on Jandamarra, a play based on the famous Bunaba hero of the same name.
“Jandamarra—it’s not my story, I don’t own that story. But there’s been a strong collaboration over the years,” Hawke said.
And they’ve been significant years: Hawke wrote the very first newsletter for the Kimberley Land Council, was on the frontline at the famous Noonkanbah dispute, has worked for many years with Bunaba Cultural Enterprises, and can read in the Bunaba language.
Now based in the Perth Hills, he misses the Fitzroy River and misses hanging out with the mob.
“It’s a really unusual place, Fitzroy Crossing, because it’s unquestionably an Aboriginal town … I knew I’d keep going back. It’s where I live in my head.”
The Valley couldn’t have been written without this reverence for country. The story’s built upon those colossal cornerstones of humanity: love, longing, betrayal and grief—but it’s shaded a uniquely Kimberley hue. We read of run-down pastoral properties with rubbish herds, the pressures of flying to Perth for dialysis, the dredging of dark ancient secrets, and of delicious, blachan killer stews.
In her diaries, Miles Franklin offers a scathing critique of one of her contemporary’s use of dialogue. Referring to Christina Stead, she writes, ‘Her characters do not talk in the Australian idiom or rhythm. They are windbags of the stuff one gets in this kind of novel abroad—in translations from the Russian & German. A new and powerful writer but not necessarily Australian.’
No-one could level this critique at Hawke, with his ear for phrases like ‘more better’, or ‘Twelbinch been killim’. Hawke’s dialogue is dexterously constructed, true to the rhythms of the Kimberley and distinctly Australian.
“Representation of language on the page was important. We had to consider the use of apostrophes or no apostrophes. Getting the grammar right was about accuracy, about capturing rhythm.”
His characters are also quintessential Kimberley—particularly the old cowboy Two Bob.
“Two Bob is an amalgamation of all those old boys I knew—the ones with vast knowledge of cattle and country. I just love the Two Bobs of this world, they’re the greatest people going. It’s a world that very few Australian know anything about and it’s a pretty important part of our history in many ways. The Valleyis about paying homage to that world.”
Hawke acknowledged the role of the novelist, and indeed of the reader, in welcoming the unknown.
“If people didn’t step outside their own worlds, we’d be a lot poorer for it. The world of the arts is about crossing boundaries,” Hawke said.
It’s a good thing Hawke let this storyworm fatten up, for we’d also be a lot poorer for not feasting on it.
By Madelaine Dickie
**This review was first published in National Indigenous Times on March 7, 2019**
https://nit.com.au/the-valley-a-kimbe...
A storyworm, like an earworm, can be a dangerous thing. It’s something you can’t get out of your head. It sticks there. Fattens there. And sometimes—if you’re lucky—it grows into a book.
Steve Hawke’s storyworm gnawed up years of his brain-space, eventually becoming the full-length novel The Valley.
Set in the Kimberley, this riveting, multi-generational tale evokes people and country with clarity.
We can taste the bacon and egg burgers at Willare Roadhouse on the way to Fitzroy Crossing, can feel the saltwater country receding and the river country rising, can see the murky green of those late-season waterholes along the river.
It’s a remarkable achievement, in that there’s only one main whitefella in the book, Billy Noakes. The rest of the cast are countrymen and women.
Was Hawke, as a whitefella himself, concerned about writing in an area specifically related to Aboriginal lives and experience?
In short, after spending over 40-years living and working in Derby and Fitzroy Crossing, the answer is ‘no’.
He said the important thing is understanding which mode you’re working in.
“You need to understand whether you’re in your own creative world, or if you’re working with a story that belongs to the mob.”
“I wasn’t writing The Valley for the mob, though it is important to me that the Indigenous people who read the book enjoy it. But this is my work of fiction, my own creation, and my responsibility,” Hawke said.
“One of the things I like about the book, is that it takes the remote Indigenous world on its own terms. The book sits inside that world. It’s not about reconciliation. It’s not about white and black. It’s not something political, something bigger than it is. It’s just about these people’s lives.”
“The Valley’s been written with a good heart and it evokes that world in a positive way. It’s important, writing with good intent, and whether you do it well or not.”
Hawke’s also worked on stories that do belong unequivocally to the mob, such as the 2013 Magabala Books’ publication A Town is Born: The Fitzroy Crossing Story and on Jandamarra, a play based on the famous Bunaba hero of the same name.
“Jandamarra—it’s not my story, I don’t own that story. But there’s been a strong collaboration over the years,” Hawke said.
And they’ve been significant years: Hawke wrote the very first newsletter for the Kimberley Land Council, was on the frontline at the famous Noonkanbah dispute, has worked for many years with Bunaba Cultural Enterprises, and can read in the Bunaba language.
Now based in the Perth Hills, he misses the Fitzroy River and misses hanging out with the mob.
“It’s a really unusual place, Fitzroy Crossing, because it’s unquestionably an Aboriginal town … I knew I’d keep going back. It’s where I live in my head.”
The Valley couldn’t have been written without this reverence for country. The story’s built upon those colossal cornerstones of humanity: love, longing, betrayal and grief—but it’s shaded a uniquely Kimberley hue. We read of run-down pastoral properties with rubbish herds, the pressures of flying to Perth for dialysis, the dredging of dark ancient secrets, and of delicious, blachan killer stews.
In her diaries, Miles Franklin offers a scathing critique of one of her contemporary’s use of dialogue. Referring to Christina Stead, she writes, ‘Her characters do not talk in the Australian idiom or rhythm. They are windbags of the stuff one gets in this kind of novel abroad—in translations from the Russian & German. A new and powerful writer but not necessarily Australian.’
No-one could level this critique at Hawke, with his ear for phrases like ‘more better’, or ‘Twelbinch been killim’. Hawke’s dialogue is dexterously constructed, true to the rhythms of the Kimberley and distinctly Australian.
“Representation of language on the page was important. We had to consider the use of apostrophes or no apostrophes. Getting the grammar right was about accuracy, about capturing rhythm.”
His characters are also quintessential Kimberley—particularly the old cowboy Two Bob.
“Two Bob is an amalgamation of all those old boys I knew—the ones with vast knowledge of cattle and country. I just love the Two Bobs of this world, they’re the greatest people going. It’s a world that very few Australian know anything about and it’s a pretty important part of our history in many ways. The Valleyis about paying homage to that world.”
Hawke acknowledged the role of the novelist, and indeed of the reader, in welcoming the unknown.
“If people didn’t step outside their own worlds, we’d be a lot poorer for it. The world of the arts is about crossing boundaries,” Hawke said.
It’s a good thing Hawke let this storyworm fatten up, for we’d also be a lot poorer for not feasting on it.
By Madelaine Dickie
October 4, 2020
I would have liked to have given this book a better rating. Unfortunately I feel it was severely hobbled by the multiple names attributed to the various characters made even more difficult to read within the many narrative temporal shifts back and forth. It annoyed me to have to return repeatedly to the family tree at the beginning of the book to work out which character I was following at any given moment.
Perhaps this was done as a nod to authenticity but as a reader it only served to frustrate the progress of the story. By midway through this book I was asking myself if I would persist and ever complete it.
Fortunately I did persist. By the second half of the book there were less temporal shifts and a more clearly defined narrative thread. The characters identities finally became clearer and the story was able to progress beautifully unhindered by worrying about who was who! What a shame this point wasn’t arrived at much earlier point in the book. I enjoyed very much reading this later part of the Valley. Characters and landscapes were evoked with a painterly detail. But I still felt cheated that I had struggled with the earlier part of this story.
Perhaps this was done as a nod to authenticity but as a reader it only served to frustrate the progress of the story. By midway through this book I was asking myself if I would persist and ever complete it.
Fortunately I did persist. By the second half of the book there were less temporal shifts and a more clearly defined narrative thread. The characters identities finally became clearer and the story was able to progress beautifully unhindered by worrying about who was who! What a shame this point wasn’t arrived at much earlier point in the book. I enjoyed very much reading this later part of the Valley. Characters and landscapes were evoked with a painterly detail. But I still felt cheated that I had struggled with the earlier part of this story.
December 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, though at times it was challenging to follow the many characters. Thank goodness for the family tree diagram at the beginning. Each character was authentic with their faults and strengths. The importance of Aboriginal culture and family was beautifully depicted. Descriptions of the locales brought the book alive.
A murder in the remote bush in 1916 sparks a chain of events that will haunt a family for generations. Hidden in the refuge of a secret valley, their tiny community lives unknown to the world. When, a century later, Broome schoolboy Dancer falls foul of the local bikie gang, he and his father head up the Gibb River Road. Here, in a maze of rugged ranges and remote communities, Dancer begins to unravel the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of Milly Rider, the mother he never knew. But the valley hides its secrets well. As Dancer learns the ways of his mother’s country, he uncovers a precious inheritance – one not even those closest to Milly expected to find.
A murder in the remote bush in 1916 sparks a chain of events that will haunt a family for generations. Hidden in the refuge of a secret valley, their tiny community lives unknown to the world. When, a century later, Broome schoolboy Dancer falls foul of the local bikie gang, he and his father head up the Gibb River Road. Here, in a maze of rugged ranges and remote communities, Dancer begins to unravel the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of Milly Rider, the mother he never knew. But the valley hides its secrets well. As Dancer learns the ways of his mother’s country, he uncovers a precious inheritance – one not even those closest to Milly expected to find.
January 15, 2019
- Loved this story. Murder, mystery, bikie gangs. But somehow it feels very natural and understated.
- Adored the close male relationships and depiction of male emotion.
- I was, at first, apprehensive of an indigenous story written by a non-indigenous person. This was very frowned upon in my Creative Writing/Literature degree. However, this novel feels very authentic.The authors note states Hawke has a long relationship with the indigenous community. Perhaps, collaborative writing between indigenous Australian’s and non-indigenous Australian’s is a step toward reconciliation.
- The first third required a lot of flipping to the family tree page, but it’s very much worth pushing through.
- Adored the close male relationships and depiction of male emotion.
- I was, at first, apprehensive of an indigenous story written by a non-indigenous person. This was very frowned upon in my Creative Writing/Literature degree. However, this novel feels very authentic.The authors note states Hawke has a long relationship with the indigenous community. Perhaps, collaborative writing between indigenous Australian’s and non-indigenous Australian’s is a step toward reconciliation.
- The first third required a lot of flipping to the family tree page, but it’s very much worth pushing through.
May 23, 2023
Had this not been a book club read and I'd not received encouragement from other reviews, this would have been a did not finish.
Until the 3rd part, this book chopped and changed characters and POV's too much. It was ridiculously hard to keep track.
I was pretty busy at the time of reading and had gaps before getting back to the book, which made it even more challenging to remember what had happened and who was who.
Thank goodness for the family tree diagram!
Anyhow, part 3 stayed in the same time frame and flowed well. It also brought all the elements together and made it a book I might like to re read when I have the time to give it my full focus.
I think it would make a topical movie. There are some interesting characters with good stories to tell in this book.
Until the 3rd part, this book chopped and changed characters and POV's too much. It was ridiculously hard to keep track.
I was pretty busy at the time of reading and had gaps before getting back to the book, which made it even more challenging to remember what had happened and who was who.
Thank goodness for the family tree diagram!
Anyhow, part 3 stayed in the same time frame and flowed well. It also brought all the elements together and made it a book I might like to re read when I have the time to give it my full focus.
I think it would make a topical movie. There are some interesting characters with good stories to tell in this book.
January 23, 2019
I hope this finds the wide audience it deserves, although the short title and plain cover with a bird is not the best. Yes, it was confusing early on with everyone each having several names and the time jumps - the family tree at the beginning didn't really help. But lovely writing (sparse but effective), a good multi-generational family story sensitively told, and a great sense of place and respect for indigenous people.
August 8, 2021
This book was hard for me to follow, it depicts 4 generations on a family and the time jumping back and forth confused me.
The novel is set in a rural areas of Western Australia and the descriptions are vivid! It is easy to imagine the outback cattle stations and the harsh lifestyle. There are a lot of nicknames for family members and its a difficult trail to follow
It's a slow burn adventure and I would recommend it to those who would like to know more about life in Western Australia.
The novel is set in a rural areas of Western Australia and the descriptions are vivid! It is easy to imagine the outback cattle stations and the harsh lifestyle. There are a lot of nicknames for family members and its a difficult trail to follow
It's a slow burn adventure and I would recommend it to those who would like to know more about life in Western Australia.
January 8, 2019
This is an epic family saga! I was grateful for the family tree at the start of the book, because it was a bit confusing at times working how everyone related and fit together, but with the help of the tree I was able to follow along and enjoy the story. I especially enjoyed the sense of deep connection to land.
May 29, 2019
A good story, which could be longer as there are a lot of characters and generational themes that could be explored in more depth. But what set this book apart for me was how much heart the author has put in it. Steve Hawke obviously has a lot of affection for his subject matter, and it really shows. For a relatively short book, I got surprisingly engrossed with the characters' stories.
February 1, 2020
The storyline is amazing, and it captures your imagination very quickly, but I had to keep going back to work out all the characters as they were all introduced so fast, and in not enough depth. The author is trying to create mystery and intrigue but a little more character detail would have made the story easier to follow. The landscape is etched in my mind, THAT was written with great detail!
May 31, 2022
The best of my reads for the Broome-Darwin trip. A multi-generational story, about the interface between white and Aboriginal people. Author was very clear it was his imagination, with no basis in reality. But it was clear he had a good understanding. The perspectives of all the parties over time was compelling and insightful.
May 26, 2020
I struggled with the first quarter of this book with the different characters (names) and story lines but then got into the flow of the novel. Once that happened I really enjoyed the stories and loved the descriptions.
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