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Hitch
Amelia stands beside a highway in the Australian desert, alone except for her dog and the occasional road train that speeds past her raised thumb.
After her mother’s funeral, Amelia was confronted by Zach and reminded of the relationship they had when she was a teenager. She feels complicit and remains unable to process what happened. So she ran. Her best friend, Sid, is Zach’s cousin and the one person in the world she can depend upon.
But, of course, the road isn’t safe either. Amelia is looking for generosity or human connection in the drivers she finds lifts with, and she does receive that. But she is also let down.
Hitch is a raw exploration of consent and its ambiguities, personal agency and the choices we make. It’s the story of twenty-something Amelia and her dog Lucy hitchhiking from one end of the country to the other, trying to outrun grief and trauma, and moving ever closer to the things she longs to escape.
After her mother’s funeral, Amelia was confronted by Zach and reminded of the relationship they had when she was a teenager. She feels complicit and remains unable to process what happened. So she ran. Her best friend, Sid, is Zach’s cousin and the one person in the world she can depend upon.
But, of course, the road isn’t safe either. Amelia is looking for generosity or human connection in the drivers she finds lifts with, and she does receive that. But she is also let down.
Hitch is a raw exploration of consent and its ambiguities, personal agency and the choices we make. It’s the story of twenty-something Amelia and her dog Lucy hitchhiking from one end of the country to the other, trying to outrun grief and trauma, and moving ever closer to the things she longs to escape.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
7 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 3, 2019
I picked up Hitch after reading a favourable review and because I liked the cover. :-)
It's Kathryn Hind's debut novel.
It's about a young woman, Amelia, who stricken by grief and past trauma, takes her dog and runs away, without any direction, hitching her way around Australia. Not the safest, smartest thing to do.
She comes across all sort of people, some nice, some not so nice.
I read this in two sittings, it was that readable - true, it's not very long.
I've read novels like this before and I've always liked them. This novel had similar vibes to Tim Winton's Sheperd's Hut and it also made me think of Michael Farris Smith's Desperation Road.
The writing is precise and concise, but effective - I liked it a lot.
I'm glad I picked this book up. I'll be keeping my eyes open for Hind's sophomore novel.
This goes towards my Aussie Reading Challenge 2019 on www.bookloverbookreviews.com
It's Kathryn Hind's debut novel.
It's about a young woman, Amelia, who stricken by grief and past trauma, takes her dog and runs away, without any direction, hitching her way around Australia. Not the safest, smartest thing to do.
She comes across all sort of people, some nice, some not so nice.
I read this in two sittings, it was that readable - true, it's not very long.
I've read novels like this before and I've always liked them. This novel had similar vibes to Tim Winton's Sheperd's Hut and it also made me think of Michael Farris Smith's Desperation Road.
The writing is precise and concise, but effective - I liked it a lot.
I'm glad I picked this book up. I'll be keeping my eyes open for Hind's sophomore novel.
This goes towards my Aussie Reading Challenge 2019 on www.bookloverbookreviews.com
June 17, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Canberra based author Kathryn Hind’s first novel, Hitch, is a book about life, loss, grief, forgiveness, reconciling the past and the present, with an overarching theme of trauma. It is an accessible piece of Australian literary fiction that captured my full attention.
Hitch involves Amelia’s journey across one of Australia’s most isolated stretches of highway, as she treks from the NT to Melbourne, in an effort to escape the loss of her mother, as well as a past trauma. Amelia’s companion is her loyal dog Lucy. While embarking upon this perilous journey, Amelia is confronted with the harsh reality of her past. This open wound, left by an encounter Amelia recently had with her ex at her mother’s funeral, has compelled her to run. Amelia soon realises she cannot escape the past, no matter how hard she tries. In a bid to connect with the one person who may understand her predicament, her best friend Sid, Amelia takes on this emotionally fraught and ultimately hazardous crossing. Along the way she finds a deep contrast in humanity as she deals with her past.
Hitch is a salient debut novel from Kathryn Hind, an experienced writer across a range of mediums. Hitch is a contemporary life based novel that provides a carefully refined and engrossing look at a young woman confronting the trauma of her life, while embarking on a move across the country. The layout of this book is like a stream of consciousness, it is told completely through the lead character’s point of view. As a result, Hitch has no chapter breaks and it took awhile for me to settle into this mode of storytelling. However, Hitch provided to be a fascinating read, as I tried to understand the mystery of why a young woman would put herself through such an ordeal. The unfolding narrative is complex and problematic, but also warranted.
I can’t say I have ever had the urge, or have been in the desperate position to consider the act of hitchhiking, which the main character undertakes in Hitch. It is dangerous and risky. Immediately I conjured up a number of different horror stories in my mind. But Amelia’s specific journey highlights both sides of the coin. There were the generous and safe souls that desperately wanted to save Amelia, they were genuinely worried about her wellbeing. Then there those on the opposite side of the spectrum, the dangerous figures that take advantage of Amelia in her dire situation. The fear factor is high and maintained through the bulk of this novel. I appreciated this aspect of Hitch.
The isolation and expanse of the location that Amelia must navigate is relayed very well by Hind. It is hard to believe when reading these setting based sequences that Hind has just this book under her belt. The prose is measured and Hind manages to say so much within just a small space. This takes skill as a writer and I was impressed by Hind’s technique.
Another area that I feel was particularly strong in Hitch was the representation of character. This begins with the vivid expression of Amelia, through to the secondary characters and figures Amelia encounters on her journey. At all times we gain an impression of these people through Amelia’s damaged eyes. Lucy, Amelia’s canine companion for her journey, is also portrayed extremely well on the pages of this novel. There was a strong page presence to all of the characters in this novel. I could also see this book playing well on the screen in the future.
Amelia is consumed by her tragic past, the trauma she has experienced and the recent loss of her mother, which compounds all her pain together. Amelia’s memories appear like little fragments on the page and the reader must work at hard trying to piece them together. Often Amelia’s recollections were not crystal clear, so I felt like it was down to the reader to play an active role in joining the dots together. I think I may have made a few assumptions, but I concluded that this is perhaps what the author intended. I did feel a great deal of regret and sadness for Amelia. I also pondered on the plight of those who take their life into their own hands when they hitch-hike, it really is a gamble.
Hitch is a novel that contains some strong observations about life and how we deal with the damage that we may be issued with. It is about loneliness, connections, grief and dependence. This is an impressive novel from an emerging author who clearly has a promising career ahead.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Hitch is book #85 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
Canberra based author Kathryn Hind’s first novel, Hitch, is a book about life, loss, grief, forgiveness, reconciling the past and the present, with an overarching theme of trauma. It is an accessible piece of Australian literary fiction that captured my full attention.
Hitch involves Amelia’s journey across one of Australia’s most isolated stretches of highway, as she treks from the NT to Melbourne, in an effort to escape the loss of her mother, as well as a past trauma. Amelia’s companion is her loyal dog Lucy. While embarking upon this perilous journey, Amelia is confronted with the harsh reality of her past. This open wound, left by an encounter Amelia recently had with her ex at her mother’s funeral, has compelled her to run. Amelia soon realises she cannot escape the past, no matter how hard she tries. In a bid to connect with the one person who may understand her predicament, her best friend Sid, Amelia takes on this emotionally fraught and ultimately hazardous crossing. Along the way she finds a deep contrast in humanity as she deals with her past.
Hitch is a salient debut novel from Kathryn Hind, an experienced writer across a range of mediums. Hitch is a contemporary life based novel that provides a carefully refined and engrossing look at a young woman confronting the trauma of her life, while embarking on a move across the country. The layout of this book is like a stream of consciousness, it is told completely through the lead character’s point of view. As a result, Hitch has no chapter breaks and it took awhile for me to settle into this mode of storytelling. However, Hitch provided to be a fascinating read, as I tried to understand the mystery of why a young woman would put herself through such an ordeal. The unfolding narrative is complex and problematic, but also warranted.
I can’t say I have ever had the urge, or have been in the desperate position to consider the act of hitchhiking, which the main character undertakes in Hitch. It is dangerous and risky. Immediately I conjured up a number of different horror stories in my mind. But Amelia’s specific journey highlights both sides of the coin. There were the generous and safe souls that desperately wanted to save Amelia, they were genuinely worried about her wellbeing. Then there those on the opposite side of the spectrum, the dangerous figures that take advantage of Amelia in her dire situation. The fear factor is high and maintained through the bulk of this novel. I appreciated this aspect of Hitch.
The isolation and expanse of the location that Amelia must navigate is relayed very well by Hind. It is hard to believe when reading these setting based sequences that Hind has just this book under her belt. The prose is measured and Hind manages to say so much within just a small space. This takes skill as a writer and I was impressed by Hind’s technique.
Another area that I feel was particularly strong in Hitch was the representation of character. This begins with the vivid expression of Amelia, through to the secondary characters and figures Amelia encounters on her journey. At all times we gain an impression of these people through Amelia’s damaged eyes. Lucy, Amelia’s canine companion for her journey, is also portrayed extremely well on the pages of this novel. There was a strong page presence to all of the characters in this novel. I could also see this book playing well on the screen in the future.
Amelia is consumed by her tragic past, the trauma she has experienced and the recent loss of her mother, which compounds all her pain together. Amelia’s memories appear like little fragments on the page and the reader must work at hard trying to piece them together. Often Amelia’s recollections were not crystal clear, so I felt like it was down to the reader to play an active role in joining the dots together. I think I may have made a few assumptions, but I concluded that this is perhaps what the author intended. I did feel a great deal of regret and sadness for Amelia. I also pondered on the plight of those who take their life into their own hands when they hitch-hike, it really is a gamble.
Hitch is a novel that contains some strong observations about life and how we deal with the damage that we may be issued with. It is about loneliness, connections, grief and dependence. This is an impressive novel from an emerging author who clearly has a promising career ahead.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Hitch is book #85 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
August 13, 2019
2 1/2 stars. While there are some moments of great description and well constructed tension I felt that the plot and characters let this book down. The male characters ( apart from Sid who is only present at the very end of the book) all have the same menacing unpleasantness and began to blend into each other. The idea of hitchhiking just seemed like a way to construct a plot and join these events together. The character of Amelia also seemed stagnant. At the outset we meet a young woman who is clearly disturbed and running away but nothing in the subsequent events really led me to believe that she was changing in any way. Maybe this would have been a great premise for a short story or even a novella but it just doesn’t survive this longer format.
June 15, 2019
‘It’s really not safe, travelling around like this.’
The novel begins with Amelia and her dog Lucy, walking along the Stuart Highway, counting the posts, trying to hitch a ride. The desert is an unforgiving place, and Amelia surely can’t survive here for long if she doesn’t get a life. But who will pick her up?
Who is Amelia? Where has she come from? Where is she going?
From the opening page, the reader is thrust into an uncomfortable reality. Amelia’s mother is dead, and while her best friend Sid is the only person in the world she can depend on, Sid’s cousin Zach is part of the past she is trying to escape. We travel with Amelia and Lucy. They obtain several lifts, some drivers are kind, others are not, and some are weird. But there is no place of safety for Amelia on the road and when she tries to find work or a place to live, there is no comfort there either.
This story is relentless: I kept reading, unsure whether Amelia or Lucy would survive. I kept reading, certain that Amelia could not escape through running and desperately wanting a resolution for her.
What can I write about this novel without ruining the impact of the writing? This is a novel best read without too much detail about the story: learn about Amelia’s choices as she makes them, understand why she is running as she shares that information. Admire Amelia’s courage, while questioning some of her choices. Travel with her: Ms Hind certainly makes that possible.
I finished the novel wanting more.
This is Ms Hind’s debut novel – the winner of the inaugural Penguin Literary prize.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The novel begins with Amelia and her dog Lucy, walking along the Stuart Highway, counting the posts, trying to hitch a ride. The desert is an unforgiving place, and Amelia surely can’t survive here for long if she doesn’t get a life. But who will pick her up?
Who is Amelia? Where has she come from? Where is she going?
From the opening page, the reader is thrust into an uncomfortable reality. Amelia’s mother is dead, and while her best friend Sid is the only person in the world she can depend on, Sid’s cousin Zach is part of the past she is trying to escape. We travel with Amelia and Lucy. They obtain several lifts, some drivers are kind, others are not, and some are weird. But there is no place of safety for Amelia on the road and when she tries to find work or a place to live, there is no comfort there either.
This story is relentless: I kept reading, unsure whether Amelia or Lucy would survive. I kept reading, certain that Amelia could not escape through running and desperately wanting a resolution for her.
What can I write about this novel without ruining the impact of the writing? This is a novel best read without too much detail about the story: learn about Amelia’s choices as she makes them, understand why she is running as she shares that information. Admire Amelia’s courage, while questioning some of her choices. Travel with her: Ms Hind certainly makes that possible.
I finished the novel wanting more.
This is Ms Hind’s debut novel – the winner of the inaugural Penguin Literary prize.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 3, 2019
I was recently questioned for criticising an Aussie debut that dealt with trauma and I’m afraid that I’m at it again. I feel strongly about giving honest opinions about the books I read and don’t want to play into publication bias by ignoring the books I dislike. So here goes: the ‘tension’ in this book is so overly and painfully manufactured that every person our protagonist Amelia meets as she hitchhikes in the Australian desert is a complete caricature. There are some lovely descriptions of landscape but this just wasn’t for me. I’m curious to read the next winner of the Penguin Literary Prize as I really want to be a supporter of the prize.
April 24, 2019
This book was a compelling read. It was beautiful and full of foreboding. The main character was on a journey both literally and figuratively. The fear throughout much of the book was palpable, there were times when I could barely breathe. I think a big part of this was the knowledge that probably the worst had already happened to her, so if anything bad was going to happen, it was going to be awful.
The journey is about trying to run away from something, all the while finding that you’re running towards it. The main character is dealing with grief; grief over the loss of her mother, the loss of her innocence and the loss of her sense of control.
I found that on one hand I could view the story as a parable with many of the events having a meaning that went beyond the actual occurrence. On the other hand, many of the events were well and truly grounded in real life. When I have tried to imagine life as a homeless person in the past, I have shuddered to think how I would have handled the everyday, like menstruating.
It was also a really interesting exploration about consent and the terrible effects of having it disregarded, no longer having control. It was a relief to watch the character take back her own power in a really low key but purposeful way. And thankfully, her dog makes it to the end with her.
If there were ever any doubts about the devastating effects of sexual assault on victims, this book will go a long way to helping dispel them. It’s not an easy read, but I found it a very rewarding one.
The journey is about trying to run away from something, all the while finding that you’re running towards it. The main character is dealing with grief; grief over the loss of her mother, the loss of her innocence and the loss of her sense of control.
I found that on one hand I could view the story as a parable with many of the events having a meaning that went beyond the actual occurrence. On the other hand, many of the events were well and truly grounded in real life. When I have tried to imagine life as a homeless person in the past, I have shuddered to think how I would have handled the everyday, like menstruating.
It was also a really interesting exploration about consent and the terrible effects of having it disregarded, no longer having control. It was a relief to watch the character take back her own power in a really low key but purposeful way. And thankfully, her dog makes it to the end with her.
If there were ever any doubts about the devastating effects of sexual assault on victims, this book will go a long way to helping dispel them. It’s not an easy read, but I found it a very rewarding one.
January 27, 2020
Hind’s writing style is a perfect example of “show, don’t tell,” and very much deserving of the Penguin Literary Prize (in my humble opinion). The book follows Amelia and her dog Lucy along the scorched tarmac of the highways of Australia. As Amelia zigzags her way from the country to the coast whilst processing the loss of her mother, Hind gently and subtly paints her main character and plot in such a way that I found my heart hammering and swiftly turning pages without really knowing how I got to that point. Hind created characters and weaved together a story that was gripping in its reflection of the complexities of the human experience. A worthwhile read!
July 8, 2019
I wanted to like this book more. I found it hard to warm to Amelia. Perhaps I am too old to appreciate the need of hitchhiking. The description of the places along the way were good. I just found that I didn’t really care what happened and even the end left me a bit cold. I would have liked more of the lead up to the trip, and more detail about her relationship with Zach. This just wasn’t for me and I had to force myself to finish it.
June 16, 2019
Winner of the 2018 inaugural Penguin Literary Prize.
A Local author and PhD Scholar at ANU, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics.
This is a solid debut novel. Vivid descriptions of scenery and people, I felt I was there. The writer also made me care enough about the main character and what was happening to her that I read the book in one sitting over a few hours.
It just needed that elusive something extra to become a 4 or 5 star novel.
I'll be interested to see what she does next. Her next book could be a 4 or 5 star novel for me.
A Local author and PhD Scholar at ANU, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics.
This is a solid debut novel. Vivid descriptions of scenery and people, I felt I was there. The writer also made me care enough about the main character and what was happening to her that I read the book in one sitting over a few hours.
It just needed that elusive something extra to become a 4 or 5 star novel.
I'll be interested to see what she does next. Her next book could be a 4 or 5 star novel for me.
October 3, 2019
The dog, Lucy, was the only redeeming feature in this book.
September 6, 2019
I wanted to like this book as I usually enjoy reading stories involving descriptions of the outback with a grim or scary flavour (Kenneth Cook's Wake in Fright being the ultimate in my opinion). The pitch of the book sounded really promising but I actually struggled to finish it and was disappointed. Not that it is all bad, it is a good story overall, but I wasn't convinced. The story was not really original, it felt like I had already read something similar before. I also didn't really care about Amelia. I didn't really like the author's style either. I could tell it was a first novel. It felt like the author had tried too hard, it didn't flow well and didn't feel natural. The missing bits of Amelia's story that the author slowly unveils throughout the book (the white room, what happened with Zach) are actually disappointing and not that original or interesting. Sid is probably the most likable character in the book but he only gets a few pages at the very end. And there is that strange part of the story with Pops that I still don't understand today...
April 25, 2019
For me this book illustrates the reality for women who dare to exist and navigate life without external protection (being in a group or with a man beside her). This is a horrifying story, set within a disturbing culture, wrought with realistically flawed characters. Though this is a work of fiction, it really is not.
A powerful and stunning debut. I will be following Kathryn's works from here as I believe she has presented us with a voice worth listening to.
A powerful and stunning debut. I will be following Kathryn's works from here as I believe she has presented us with a voice worth listening to.
June 15, 2020
Hitch (Penguin Random House 2019) by Kathryn Hind won the inaugural Penguin Literary Prize two years ago. Readers are immersed in this story of one young woman (and her dog) as she hitchhikes across the country while trying to outrun her past.
Amelia is alone and sometimes lonely. With only her backpack and her dog Lucy for company, she sets off on a solo adventure, crisscrossing Australia from the desert to the sea, from the outback to small towns to cities. She is hitchhiking – a notion that immediately registers an alert in the reader. An alert that is not unfounded. From the opening pages, we sense the sinister menace ever-present in the chances she takes accepting rides from complete strangers. While it’s true that some are kind, it’s also true that some are suspicious, dangerous, creepy, untrustworthy and well, just plain weird. But what’s most intriguing and mesmerising about this book is that Amelia – and indeed the reader – cannot tell or know the difference. She must use her radar to scan every person she encounters, to try to ascertain the risk factor. Is his lack of hygiene a bad sign? What secret signals are the couple giving each other that she can’t decode? Did he accidentally nudge her leg when he changed gears? Is his quietness a welcome gift or a subtle warning? Amelia is constantly on high alert, watching for danger, anticipating trouble, trying to be as small and as unobtrusive as possible so as not to attract attention or suggest any kind of openness to an advance or intimacy.
The plot is fairly simple and is a straightforward linear narrative of this one period of her travels. There are days when not much happens. Days that could be terrifying but end up banal. It is this very relentless monotony of high stress accompanied by little action that gives the novel its disturbing and threatening subtext. We are finely attuned to every small behaviour that might indicate trouble. We are kept in a constant state of high alert. Sometimes our misgivings are founded; often we just don’t know – Amelia extricates herself from the situation before we can find out whether or not she would have been okay had she stayed. It’s exhausting.
The underlying story is the reason behind her travels and it is twofold. Firstly, her mother has recently died, and Amelia is in an acute stage of mourning and grief. She has not processed her mother’s death and is not ready to confront her house and all that is familiar. Secondly, at her mother’s funeral, she is confronted by Zach, a young man with whom she had a relationship as a teenager many years before. The issues of consent, desire, culpability, abuse, guilt, shame and self-worth are explored through her fear of Zach and what he represents, not only himself, but also what he represents in her.
The uplifting part of the novel, the optimistic thread, is her friend Sid, another young man she has known since childhood, a friend and ally. Someone she has left in order to find herself. Someone who hasn’t stopped caring. Someone to whom she believes she might, one day, perhaps find her way back. The only complication is that Sid and Zach are not only cousins but best mates, and that adds a whole other layer of difficulty to their relationship, to what is said and unsaid.
During her travels, the harsh Australian landscape and environment is depicted with authenticity; every dry roadside, every parched tree, every dusty path and abandoned dwelling is a warning: take care, this is inhospitable country.
This novel is poetic and literary. It is a meandering story where pages and pages can go by without much happening, and yet because of the voice of the main character, because of the compelling sense of urgency and concern we feel for her, we meander along with it, tension rising and falling with each hitchhiking encounter, as her past and her reasons for wanting to escape gradually become apparent. The author doesn’t tell us too much too soon but skilfully allows us to fill in the gaps. Gripping, tender, traumatic, empathetic and wise, Hitch will pick you up and give you an uncertain ride; you won’t know where you’re going, who you’re travelling with, or where you might end up. You can only hope you survive.
Amelia is alone and sometimes lonely. With only her backpack and her dog Lucy for company, she sets off on a solo adventure, crisscrossing Australia from the desert to the sea, from the outback to small towns to cities. She is hitchhiking – a notion that immediately registers an alert in the reader. An alert that is not unfounded. From the opening pages, we sense the sinister menace ever-present in the chances she takes accepting rides from complete strangers. While it’s true that some are kind, it’s also true that some are suspicious, dangerous, creepy, untrustworthy and well, just plain weird. But what’s most intriguing and mesmerising about this book is that Amelia – and indeed the reader – cannot tell or know the difference. She must use her radar to scan every person she encounters, to try to ascertain the risk factor. Is his lack of hygiene a bad sign? What secret signals are the couple giving each other that she can’t decode? Did he accidentally nudge her leg when he changed gears? Is his quietness a welcome gift or a subtle warning? Amelia is constantly on high alert, watching for danger, anticipating trouble, trying to be as small and as unobtrusive as possible so as not to attract attention or suggest any kind of openness to an advance or intimacy.
The plot is fairly simple and is a straightforward linear narrative of this one period of her travels. There are days when not much happens. Days that could be terrifying but end up banal. It is this very relentless monotony of high stress accompanied by little action that gives the novel its disturbing and threatening subtext. We are finely attuned to every small behaviour that might indicate trouble. We are kept in a constant state of high alert. Sometimes our misgivings are founded; often we just don’t know – Amelia extricates herself from the situation before we can find out whether or not she would have been okay had she stayed. It’s exhausting.
The underlying story is the reason behind her travels and it is twofold. Firstly, her mother has recently died, and Amelia is in an acute stage of mourning and grief. She has not processed her mother’s death and is not ready to confront her house and all that is familiar. Secondly, at her mother’s funeral, she is confronted by Zach, a young man with whom she had a relationship as a teenager many years before. The issues of consent, desire, culpability, abuse, guilt, shame and self-worth are explored through her fear of Zach and what he represents, not only himself, but also what he represents in her.
The uplifting part of the novel, the optimistic thread, is her friend Sid, another young man she has known since childhood, a friend and ally. Someone she has left in order to find herself. Someone who hasn’t stopped caring. Someone to whom she believes she might, one day, perhaps find her way back. The only complication is that Sid and Zach are not only cousins but best mates, and that adds a whole other layer of difficulty to their relationship, to what is said and unsaid.
During her travels, the harsh Australian landscape and environment is depicted with authenticity; every dry roadside, every parched tree, every dusty path and abandoned dwelling is a warning: take care, this is inhospitable country.
This novel is poetic and literary. It is a meandering story where pages and pages can go by without much happening, and yet because of the voice of the main character, because of the compelling sense of urgency and concern we feel for her, we meander along with it, tension rising and falling with each hitchhiking encounter, as her past and her reasons for wanting to escape gradually become apparent. The author doesn’t tell us too much too soon but skilfully allows us to fill in the gaps. Gripping, tender, traumatic, empathetic and wise, Hitch will pick you up and give you an uncertain ride; you won’t know where you’re going, who you’re travelling with, or where you might end up. You can only hope you survive.
July 25, 2025
I’ve been reading books for over 35 years and this has to be the slowest and most tedious book I have ever read. I’m surprised the author was nominated for some sort of award in Australia but more full Australians. This spoke lens itself to helping you sleep if you have problems with sleeping.
Apart from that – all the best to the author and speed it up a little without Having a fairly nonsensical script.
I actually read 42% of the book and I had to return the book or someone had to put me down>…..
Apart from that – all the best to the author and speed it up a little without Having a fairly nonsensical script.
I actually read 42% of the book and I had to return the book or someone had to put me down>…..
July 8, 2019
A realistic and disturbing read with a positive final release. ‘Hitch’ is a surprising story about contemporary women and place. It reveals some of the highs and deep lows of travelling alone principally as a young woman, but it is also about the loss of a parent and the feeling of being cast adrift. Amelia appears to be running away to find herself; despite the awareness of her mother’s illness she is still shattered by her death and literally bolts when the man who abused her as a child confronts her at the funeral.
Fortunately, she has two anchors; Sid her friend since childhood to whom she sends postcards from all over Australia and Lucy her faithful kelpie. Hitchhiking used to be an acceptable way to travel – to see the countryside and the world – but now it is uncommon, unsafe and even unacceptable. Nevertheless, Amelia is offered lifts by many decent people, is befriended and enjoys the company of adults and children on her way. For example, the afternoon she spends at the river with a young girl allows her the time to just relax and just be.
The horrors of being lone female, however are reinforced over the last section of the story. Finding a safe place to sleep is difficult, washing is problematic and some people are just mean and heartless. Amelia hits a definite low when she is left stranded with her pack locked in the boot of a vehicle and forced off a property by a furious country woman. Still back in the city she is accosted by men who seem to think it is their right to humiliate and denigrate women.
Everyone needs a Sid. Her persistent objective, despite her desperate times of distress, is to get to Melbourne where she knows she will find support.
Fortunately, she has two anchors; Sid her friend since childhood to whom she sends postcards from all over Australia and Lucy her faithful kelpie. Hitchhiking used to be an acceptable way to travel – to see the countryside and the world – but now it is uncommon, unsafe and even unacceptable. Nevertheless, Amelia is offered lifts by many decent people, is befriended and enjoys the company of adults and children on her way. For example, the afternoon she spends at the river with a young girl allows her the time to just relax and just be.
The horrors of being lone female, however are reinforced over the last section of the story. Finding a safe place to sleep is difficult, washing is problematic and some people are just mean and heartless. Amelia hits a definite low when she is left stranded with her pack locked in the boot of a vehicle and forced off a property by a furious country woman. Still back in the city she is accosted by men who seem to think it is their right to humiliate and denigrate women.
Everyone needs a Sid. Her persistent objective, despite her desperate times of distress, is to get to Melbourne where she knows she will find support.
May 21, 2019
I absolutely adored this book! I finished it just now and I could not wait to talk about it! This book follows Amelia and her dog Lucy who are hitchhiking the east coast of Australia. After the devasting loss of her mother Amelia finds herself trying to outrun the past but endangering herself in the process. This book was so real. Amelia was so real. It was like watching someone you love go through a tough time and there is nothing you can do to help them. The writing was incredible, I was with Amelia every step of the way and this book broke my heart over and over again. Sometimes it was an obvious heartache for a protagost clearly suffering and sometimes it was the quiet heartbreak of searching for human connection and being let down. This book made me want to be kinder everyday to everyone I meet because you never know what’s going on with them. The narrative of a women’s safety in this world really struck a cord with me and if that’s not enough this book also makes a statement about consent and ambiguous sexual relationships. I loved it so much. If there is one book you pick up from my recommendations make it this one! I was sent this book for review by the publisher.
June 25, 2019
Hind's depiction of the realities of travelling alone as a woman are gut-wrenchingly authentic. It's a vivid read, written with a careful and discerning eye. It explores trauma in a very sensory way, and encourages the reader to see the world through Amelia's eyes. Although the novel centres around some dark themes, and involves some difficult scenes, it didn't feel like a harrowing to read. There's a kind of hope and resilience which comes through.
It's not your typical hitch-hiking story, nor a mystery or thriller, but something quite different. Because it doesn't conform to genre expectations I was kept wondering what would happen right up until the final page, totally absorbed in what would become of Amelia. It's literary fiction, and certainly gets you thinking about the imagery and what it suggests. Some of the imagery was so stunning I had to go back reread pages!
It's a brilliant debut from Hind and I'm looking forward to what she writes next.
It's not your typical hitch-hiking story, nor a mystery or thriller, but something quite different. Because it doesn't conform to genre expectations I was kept wondering what would happen right up until the final page, totally absorbed in what would become of Amelia. It's literary fiction, and certainly gets you thinking about the imagery and what it suggests. Some of the imagery was so stunning I had to go back reread pages!
It's a brilliant debut from Hind and I'm looking forward to what she writes next.
August 5, 2019
‘Hitch’ provides an interesting and sophisticated account of trauma and loss. What I found difficult to believe was that a young woman would, today, hitchhike (alone but for her dog) across outback Australia by choice and, if she did, that she would not encounter further seriously traumatic events. The irrationality and riskiness of the mission, accompanied by the ever present threat, was a barrier to my absorption in this work. Why she would take this type of risk is never adequately revealed. Perhaps the hitch-hiking journey was intended as a metaphor, but that aspect didn’t work for me.
The writer is clearly skilled and I found the vignettes of the people she met fascinating. I look forward to Kathryn Hind’s next work.
The writer is clearly skilled and I found the vignettes of the people she met fascinating. I look forward to Kathryn Hind’s next work.
June 27, 2019
The relentless and suspenseful pace of this book, and the journey it reveals, makes for an intense but highly rewarding page-turner.
Hard to put down, and throughout the protagonist's journey the author has provided masterful insights into the human soul, its fragility, weaknesses and enduring ability to survive. Highly recommended!
Hard to put down, and throughout the protagonist's journey the author has provided masterful insights into the human soul, its fragility, weaknesses and enduring ability to survive. Highly recommended!
June 14, 2022
I can only give this one star for effort, up there with the worst book I've ever read. Drama for the sake of drama, needless descriptions of events not worth knowing, clumsy writing all through. Not recommended.
July 1, 2019
A pretty depressing read about a damaged girl meeting a stream of unhelpful strangers.
December 16, 2019
Some beautiful prose, but so so so so much detail which meant the story got completely lost, for me. I found it hard to finish. Not sure it was worth it in the end.
April 14, 2020
I liked this episodic story of a young woman hitchhiking through South Australia. The story begins with her being "picked up" somewhere south of Alice Springs and follows her as she hitches with various people through to her destination. Each episode has its own drama and characters, although I didn't think hitchhiking was as fraught with drama as the character in this book experienced.
I like stories based in places that I know and how my knowledge of those places enhances my experiences of the story. Someone who doesn't know those places may not find it as engaging because they are anonymous without that "third-dimension".
Putting aside the locations, I felt the story had enough tension and mystery to sustain me through to some sort of a happy ending for the character. Without the happy ending, it could have been a tad depressing.
I like stories based in places that I know and how my knowledge of those places enhances my experiences of the story. Someone who doesn't know those places may not find it as engaging because they are anonymous without that "third-dimension".
Putting aside the locations, I felt the story had enough tension and mystery to sustain me through to some sort of a happy ending for the character. Without the happy ending, it could have been a tad depressing.
July 20, 2020
Debut novel alert! This novel is the winner of the Penguin Literary Award this year. It starts powerfully with Amelia, a young woman with scars of self injury, hitch-hiking in outback Australia with her loyal dog Lucy. You can feel the heat and discomfort and are immediately distressed by the fact she has run out of water. Throughout the novel I kept asking myself, “Hasn’t she seen Wolf Creek or heard of Ivan Milat?” Kathryn Hind sets up threatening situations and continually unsettles the reader. Whilst hitch-hiking Amelia, meets a series of people and the male characters don’t exactly make you think highly of Australian men with the exception of maybe Sid. I loved Kathryn’s precise description and well-developed characters and the challenge of piecing together Amelia’s past to understand what this journey is about. It explores trauma, grief, and all things women as well.
May 9, 2020
For me this had the feel of Wake In Fright. An unsettling tension is always there which I think mirrors how Amelia is feeling all the time. With no chapters the pace of the book races along just like the kilometres Amelia is travelling while she searches trying to find answers, peace, love and life.
December 31, 2022
A dark and depressing novel, with some light at the end of the tunnel for the intrepid reader. Ostensibly part flight/ part road trip of self-discovery, Hind does a great job of exploring many of Australian culture's misogynistic elements and how girls are raised to internalise their exploitation.
♀️ ♀️ ♀️ 1/2
♀️ ♀️ ♀️ 1/2
June 18, 2019
I absolutely love this book! Such an interesting view of what it’s like to be a woman. Always on guard, always summing people up and questioning their intentions. I would love a sequel to this as I can’t stop thinking about Amelia and how she’s going now.
July 27, 2019
This a heart breaking tale of a young woman who was subjected to sexual abuse. This book follows the plight of this lonely, fragile girl as she attempts to reconnect with the world. I found this novel to be totally affecting. A magnificent debut.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2019
Amelia has lost her mother and she has lost her way. After her mother's funeral she meets Zach - she has bad memories of what Zach did to her when she was young. So she takes off hitchhiking down a highway in the Australian desert with her trusted dog Lucy by her side. But the highway is not safe either so she heads toward her best friend Sid, but Sid is Zach's cousin and will she be safe? This is book about someone trying to find their way through loss and trauma, to find a connection that gives meaning to her life.
June 19, 2019
Beautifully written literature. A young woman suffering PTSD. A bleak story.
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