West of the Blue Gums

by Robyn Lee Burrows

The story of two women who suffered similar tragedies in their lives...over a century apart.

544 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2004

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

West of the Blue Gums penned by Robyn Lee Burrows is an incredibly poignant historical fiction novel set in multiple time frames. This powerful tale recounts the life of Jess and Brad and Jenna and Adam. Set in the unforgiving and harsh land of Diamantina in central Queensland in the 1860s its focus is on Jenna and Adam - their story is heart-rending and had me wiping tears from my eyes at all the unfairness and suffering they endured. The present day couple, Jess and Brad’s story is also sad, however I loved their storyline too, actually Jess’s story thread, to be more precise, was quite intriguing as it involved diaries that belonged to Jenna and Adam, hoping they would uncover an unsolved mystery. A compelling and unexpected ending which was superbly executed.

Before the narrative begins a poem is composed by the author’s cousin, Colleen McLaughlin, titled ‘Song of the River,’ it is emotive and breathtaking. I loved it so much I’ve printed it off to reread over and over again.

#book ‘b’ of the a-z author challenge 2018

[Robyn Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two couples whose lives are divided by a hundred years in central Queensland. Jenna and Adam's in 1860's and Jess and Brad in the present time. Jess comes reluctantly to the Diamantina with Brad who is an aquatic biologist and his work brings him to this harsh part of Australia. Jess has lost a child and cannot bring herself out of the depression she feels. Jess spends her time avoiding Brad and deciphering a diary she has come across that was written by Jenna. Both women lives are somewhat familiar; both have lost children and both have husbands who love them but they can't love them back.
The harshness of central western Queensland comes to life in this really good book. I've had the book in the car and have been reading it in dribs and drabs when I've had to wait for different reasons but eventually had to bring it to the house so I could read it how it deserves to be read.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay.

[Deidre Le Maistre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twists and turns and a hint of history. I enjoyed it.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a 100 page rule with my books, if the story doesn't grab me by then, then I give up on reading it. I got to around page 90 with this book and thought that would be it. However, I kept going because I *wanted* this book to be good. The fact that it is an Australian author and written about an outback location urged me to break my hundred page rule. However, I was very disappointed in this novel. I found this book terribly cliched in it's writing and the story quite predictable. Cliches ranged from the descriptions of the outback setting to the reactions of people to tragic events (sitting in foetal position rocking backwards and forwards). I found the The main character Jess, although having been through a very tragic experience, to be extremely annoying and hard to sympathise with, particularly with her self sabotaging of her marriage. I think there is a big gap between how the author intended her to be perceived and how she wrote about Jess's character.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really amazing book. loved every minute of it. Pioneer family of Australia, facing the land and its problems. The characters in the book were interesting to read about.