Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now

by Ellen Van Neerven (Editor)

This wide-ranging and captivating anthology showcases both the power of First Nations writing and the satisfaction of a good short story. Curated by award-winning author Ellen van Neerven, Flock roams the landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling, bringing together voices from across the generations. Featuring established authors such as Tony Birch, Melissa Lucashenko and Tara June Winch, and rising stars such as Adam Thompson and Mykaela Saunders, Flock confirms the ongoing resonance and originality of First Nations stories.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Indigenous, Australia, Anthologies, School, Ebooks

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2021

About the author

Ellen van Neerven (they/them) is an award-winning author, editor and educator of Mununjali (Yugambeh language group) and Dutch heritage. They write fiction, poetry, and non-fiction on unceded Turrbal and Yuggera land. van Neerven’s first book, Heat and Light (UQP, 2014), a novel-in-stories, was the recipient of the David Unaipon Award, the Dobbie Literary Award and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Indigenous Writers Prize. van Neerven’s poetry collection Comfort Food (UQP, 2016) won the Tina Kane Emergent Award and was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Kenneth Slessor Prize. Throat (UQP, 2020) is the recipient of Book of the Year, the Kenneth Slessor Prize, and the Multicultural Award at 2021 NSW Literary Awards, and the inaugural Quentin Bryce Award.

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsurprisingly, this is a solid collection of stories. Stand oura for me includes Sam Watson Wagan's haunting and gentle story The Release, Adam Thompson's deliciously vengeful Honey, and Melissa Lucashenko shortform saga of Dreamers. And honourable mention to the excerpt from Tara June Winch's Swallow the Air that starts the volume. While not all the stories resonated the same way, there is such diversity in time of writing and approach here that every entry has something of interest

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I struggle with short stories. Something something about not having enough time to immerse myself but this collection was a DELIGHT.

An excellent collection, well selected and written. I enjoyed every single one. Some were a warm hug while others were heartbreaking. Some centred around culture while for others it was a smaller part of the wider narrative.

Honestly. I just really enjoyed it.

[Mentai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some absolute standout, stellar stories here that just hit me in the gut, moved me, or were so subtly emotional they could suggest great political issues with image and intimate character relations. But some of the stories did not seem to fit at all and I wondered about the centre holding the collection together. Flock exposed me to some of the authors' work that I wasn't aware of, great.

[Tanu]

First couple were good - the Tara June Winch one especially - but after that I'm afraid it just didn't hold my interest.

[Cecile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful beautiful collection. I have now read Cloud Busting by Tara June Winch about four times - it’s stunning, filled with so much warmth and joy. Definitely want to revisit and sit with these stories again soon. Would highly recommend.

[Cadence Lz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay I gobbled this up

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As all short story collections go, there and some stories better than others. There were no ‘bad’ stories, but some were more enjoyable than others. This is a collection of short indigenous stories and I absolutely adored it. Despite the length of the stories, some really struck a cord with me. For the most pain they were complex, really demonstrating the struggles the indigenous people have face. Notable themes are love (both romantic and violent platonic), family, grief, motherhood, and connections. My favourite of these stories are: Rodeo Girl by Michael Torres, Wildflower Girl by Alf Taylor, River Story by Mykalea Saunders, Dreamers by Melissa Lucashenko, and Frank Slim by Tony Birch

[Lisa Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flock is a beautiful collection of stories, rich with emotion, deep layers of pain and wonder. Each story gives a small glimpse at lives touched by love, tragedy, bliss, sorrow, the patchwork of lived experience.
You can almost taste the dust, smell the rivers and deserts, feel the pain and sorrow of loss, the sticky mess of love. Worth reading, and savouring.

[Underground Writers]

This review was first published on the Underground Writers website: http://underground-writers.org/review...

Trigger warning: mention of a stillborn birth

Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now edited by the highly commended and awarded poet and author Ellen van Neerven is easily one of my favourite anthologies ever and probably the best book I have and will read this year. Not only is Flock visually beautiful, with its stunning cover by Luritja woman Kukula Mcdonald and bright orange inside covers, it’s a stunning collection of First Nations short stories that will nestle into your heart. Ellen van Neerven has expertly curated stories from 20 First Nations authors from the past 25 years, each story sharing the history and experiences of First Nations peoples living in colonised Australia.

Each of these short stories is poignant in its narrative and honest in its interrogation of colonised Australia. In ‘Honey’ by Adam Thompson, Aboriginal man Nathan is being racially tormented by his conceited employer, Sharkey. Thompson’s narrative explores racism perpetrated by white people and the blatant and careless destruction of cultural artefacts and land by white Australians. In Alf Taylor’s ‘Wildflower Girl’, Ada’s children Queenie and Jack are playing in a wildflower field when Queenie is stolen away from her family. Cassie Lynch’s ‘Split’ is a story of Perth, Noongar Country, and the history and beauty of the land before invasion. Moreover, Gayle Kennedy’s ‘The Golden Wedding Anniversary’ is an insightful glimpse into mid 20th century segregation and racism and the ongoing effects it has on First Nations families.

This anthology also includes some very beautiful stories, such as Mykaela Saunder’s ‘River Story’, in which Juna gives birth to her baby, Gracey, surrounded by her mother and Aunties on Country. ‘River Story’ is a touching intergenerational story about First Nations women. Another story that touches on childbirth is Jane Harrison’s ‘Born Still’, which is a moving exploration of giving birth to a still-born child that will break your heart but leave you with hope. Overall, van Neerven has chosen stories of resilience and truth that will leave readers feeling confronted and maybe uncomfortable, which is exactly the type of stories that need to be read.

Flock is an amazing collection filled with highly esteemed writers. I am sure that every single story will impact and resonate with readers. If you loved Common People by Tony Birch, Born Into This by Adam Thompson, and Fire Front: First Nations Poetry and Power Today curated by Alison Whittaker, you’ll love Flock!

[Joss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just recently emersed myself into the world of short stories and I am delighted to have read this collection as one of my first.
I am writing this review 2 weeks after I completed the book, because I figure if stories stay with you for that amount of time they will be around for a lifetime in your mind.
There are 4 stories in particular that I can't leave alone and keep ruminating on. They trapped me, grabbed my gut, twisted it good and made me feel such raw emotion that they had me howling due to the complete injustice of the antagonist of the story.
All of the stories will make you feel the red dirt, taste the heat of the Australian sun and connect with the spirit of the people.

A beautiful collection of stories, each all different from each other, signifying that the individual person has their own characteristics much like an individual cockatoo but flocked together difficult to tell apart (the front cover). I personally feel that the "Flock" statement shows how all mobs/tribes of Australia can come together to show their culture as one but also in each individual ways.

Recommend this book to anyone who is willing to listen ❤️

[Declan Fry]

Although he is often credited with helping overturn the confidence trick of terra nullius – that enduring pretext for the theft of a continent – Eddie Koiki Mabo also helped, in his way, to usher in a new age of literature. I say “new age”, although this isn’t entirely true: the age had never really ended. But regular programming, it’s fair to say, had been briefly interrupted.

Mabo served to remind Australian authors that there was no new land to seek out, no new continent to be written. The hunger to empty this place of its people, of its stories and meaning, was misguided. A few pimply, halting efforts to enlist the cultures of First Nations in this process had been attempted (think of the Jindyworobak poetry movement of the 1930-50s, or Les Murray’s The Buladelah-Taree Holiday Song Cycle). But today any writing, whether in or about this continent, must engage with what is already here, without seeking to displace or appropriate it.

Read on: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/...

[Marles Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories have all been published previously over the last twenty-five years. That is not to say they have been well and truly read. It is the bringing of them all together in this flock that reignites their purpose, their meaning. The stories all reach out to hard places - racism, the unempowered, death, abuse, rape, stolen generations: "The evil always seemed not too far away". They also expose history that we all should know about. These stories question what has gone before, and what might be. These stories seem to take you on a cyclical journey, as if each story is pushing the reader to feel the joy and beauty of country and culture, thrashing abuse and terror, and the steps towards life renewed. All different but equally emotive and evocative. There is so much colour and texture in each story with voices across generations. There is heartache and heartbreak. "For sometimes it is the smallest thing that can bring comfort": these stories have again stretched their wings to fly.

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me nearly three weeks to get through this, but it's an anthology of short stories and I was reading between one and three stories a day, sometimes only during my morning coffee on my cottage deck. Short story collections do seem to read slower, so no matter. It's a very interesting and diverse selection of First Nations stories, with a variety of themes covered: the Stolen Generations, trauma, loss, alcohol abuse, crime, incarceration, racism, family and kinship ties, connection to Country. There wasn't really a standout story for me although I enjoyed the magical realism of 'River Story' by Mykaela Saunders and 'Split' by Cassie Lynch as well as the bush yarn style of 'Dreamers' by Melissa Lucashenko; what a jaw-dropping ending that story had. On an unrelated note, this is my final book for 2022; I capped out at 90 books, which I'm thrilled about. Here's to more fine yarns in 2023.

[Amy Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now edited by Ellen van Neerven is a collection of short stories that are powerful and deep with emotion.

The stories span a range of topics but all highlight the love, life and power of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and are all stories from First Nations authors. As a white Australian,  I feel like I learn more about this beautiful and powerful culture with each book I read, and I recommend all Australians continue their education by hearing and learning directly from First Nations authors.

Like all anthologies, there were some stories that resonated with me more than others, but I feel like everyone will find something to connect to in this collection. A number of authors that I'll seek out from here on in. Giving this collection ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5).

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The year elevens are reading this for assessment. The short story format is perfect for students. The stories are all written by First Nations people, and these authors are themselves a diverse bunch. It'a a wide range of ages, experiences, identities included in the group, so the stories explore the indigenous perspective from both historical and modern times. As in all short story collections, some are better than others. Standouts for me included Cloud Bursting, Stepmother, The Golden Wedding Anniversary, Frank Slim and Moama.

[Natasha (jouljet) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of First Nations voices and stories. Vivid tales of place and country, many of laying to rest and goodbye. Some cracking yarns.

Contributors range from giants such as Tony Birch, Tara June Winch and Melissa Lucashenko, and then emerging writers such as Adam Thompson and Mykaela Saunders. Nineteen stories, nineteen authors.

Such different voices here, and yet such rich sense of belonging, identity and community.

[Erin Reads The World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now needs to be added to the list of perfectly curated short story collections. I enjoyed every single. I thought about listing my favourites, but I'd be listing nearly the whole book.

Each story is distinct, as is each voice throughout. Some stories are rooted in history and the impact of colonialism on First Nations people, some speak of the injustices of the police system on Aboriginal men. Other stories show the connection with Country, with traditional ways of living and strong family relationships. Other stories give a glimpse into modern life and struggles.

Flock opens with a story from Tara June Winch (talk about starting on a high note) and includes some other big names including Tony Birch and Melissa Lucashenko. It also includes new to me authors who I would love to read more of, including Ellen Van Neerven, Mykaela Saunders and Jane Harrison.

In short, read this perfect collection. Be touched by the stories that are heart-wrenching, insightful, funny and beautifully written.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flock is an anthology of incredibly intimate storytelling. Beautiful and powerful stories of strength, of love, of hope, of tradition, of culture and of change. Stories from several generations of the world's oldest storytelling culture. A thriving culture, if this collection is anything to go by.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an magnificent collection of stories. All so different but so fabulous. Highly recommend this book

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection with some strong stories, but unfortunately some that just weren't very good.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating collection of short stories. Each provided a unique perspective of life as traditional owners of country. Loved it!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of some very good short stories leaving the reader richer in experience and feeling. Stepmother was one of the highlight stories.

[Alli_aye · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome collection. Different genres, styles, joyful, heartbreaking, all of it. Really enjoyed it

[Michael Mulcahy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly mixed collection. Some of the stories were great, others dire.

[duKe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid collection of First Nations stories that could selectively serve as a teaching tool for Stage 5 English. Some shine through a lot more than others.

[Rebecca Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection that introduced me to a number of authors whose work I will look to read more. The whole collection is worth reading more than once.

[Kim Johnstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diverse range of short stories by First Nations' writers, telling stories of the past, present and future. Some important stories for understanding Australia.

[Rob Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nineteen stories each by a different author. Surprisingly good.

[Jim Rimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

No ums about it, do yourself a favour!

This is a great collection. It includes tales about the importance of Country, family and memory, a few tear jerkers, some stories that dive into deep time, and others that touch on love and romance.

While reading this I had to force myself to slow down, to let each of story sit with me. It's very rich and is one of those books you could dip in and out of or read through.

[Jane Messer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading this a little slowly, story by story interrupted by reading other books and other short story collections. Really impressed so far, and often disturbed, because how could a collection of stories by our First Nations writers not disturb, given their history of dispossession and worse. That said, there's been humour, beauty, hope. And just very good short story writing. So far I've read Jane Harrison's moving prose piece 'Born, Still' (memoir?); Melanie Saward's 'Galah', Mykaela Saunders 'River Story' - which won the Australian Review of Book's Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize a couple of years back. For lovers of Tara June Winch's Swallow the Air, her story here, 'Cloud Busting' is more reminiscent of that book's lyricism and the young narrating voice than her more recent short story collection, After the Carnage. Samuel Wagon Watson's 'The Release' is also brilliant. So, I'm halfway through and totally impressed. The editor Ellen van Neerven has gathered such an excellent range of Indigenous writers and stories here.