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Floodtide
The year is 1968, and Mike McAllister has newly arrived in the remote Pilbara region of WA, where life is as tough and uncompromising as the land itself.
The huge upstairs verandah was crowded and noisy as yet more drinkers jostled their way out from the jam-packed bar, protectively nursing their jugs of beer. The verandah's dozens of tables and chairs were occupied and standing room was at a minimum with barely enough space to throw a punch. But before long there'd be punches thrown nonetheless - the Mermaid Hotel was a tough place on a Saturday night.
Despite the crowd the heat was not unpleasant. Beneath the corrugated iron roof, large ceiling fans whirred, and a pleasing breeze drifted in from the sea. It was late July, the middle of the dry season.
Mike and Dan had found a spot in the far corner by the wooden-latticed railings where they'd been drinking steadily for the past hour with a bunch of miners from Hamersley Iron. Mike hadn't met the men before, but then, apart from Dan, Mike didn't really know anyone in Dampier.
Amongst the hard drinking men were several equally hard drinking women, which sometimes spelled trouble - the shortage of available women in Dampier could lead to fierce competition. But tonight the crowd's raucousness was good natured with little evidence of frayed tempers. Everyone seemed bent on having a good time.
Then the Swede arrived.
The huge upstairs verandah was crowded and noisy as yet more drinkers jostled their way out from the jam-packed bar, protectively nursing their jugs of beer. The verandah's dozens of tables and chairs were occupied and standing room was at a minimum with barely enough space to throw a punch. But before long there'd be punches thrown nonetheless - the Mermaid Hotel was a tough place on a Saturday night.
Despite the crowd the heat was not unpleasant. Beneath the corrugated iron roof, large ceiling fans whirred, and a pleasing breeze drifted in from the sea. It was late July, the middle of the dry season.
Mike and Dan had found a spot in the far corner by the wooden-latticed railings where they'd been drinking steadily for the past hour with a bunch of miners from Hamersley Iron. Mike hadn't met the men before, but then, apart from Dan, Mike didn't really know anyone in Dampier.
Amongst the hard drinking men were several equally hard drinking women, which sometimes spelled trouble - the shortage of available women in Dampier could lead to fierce competition. But tonight the crowd's raucousness was good natured with little evidence of frayed tempers. Everyone seemed bent on having a good time.
Then the Swede arrived.
501 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2007
133 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Judy Nunn
46 books340 followersJudy Nunn (born 13 April 1945) is an Australian actress and author.
Judy Nunn's career has been long, illustrious and multifaceted. After combining her internationally successful acting career with scriptwriting for television and radio, Judy decided in the 80s to turn her hand to prose. The result was two adventure novels for children, EYE IN THE STORM and EYE IN THE CITY, which remain extremely popular, not only in Australia but in Europe. Embarking on adult fiction in the early 90s, Judy's three novels, THE GLITTER GAME, CENTRE STAGE and ARALUEN, set respectively in the worlds of television, theatre and film, became instant bestsellers. Her subsequent bestsellers, KAL, BENEATH THE SOUTHERN CROSS, TERRITORY, PACIFIC, HERITAGE and FLOODTIDE confirm her position as one of Australia’s leading popular novelists.
Judy Nunn's career has been long, illustrious and multifaceted. After combining her internationally successful acting career with scriptwriting for television and radio, Judy decided in the 80s to turn her hand to prose. The result was two adventure novels for children, EYE IN THE STORM and EYE IN THE CITY, which remain extremely popular, not only in Australia but in Europe. Embarking on adult fiction in the early 90s, Judy's three novels, THE GLITTER GAME, CENTRE STAGE and ARALUEN, set respectively in the worlds of television, theatre and film, became instant bestsellers. Her subsequent bestsellers, KAL, BENEATH THE SOUTHERN CROSS, TERRITORY, PACIFIC, HERITAGE and FLOODTIDE confirm her position as one of Australia’s leading popular novelists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 29, 2024
4.5 ⭐️s
Superb storytelling!
Listened to the audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda Audio
Read by Richard Aspel
Duration: 22 hrs, 30 min. 1.25x Speed
Superb storytelling!
Listened to the audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda Audio
Read by Richard Aspel
Duration: 22 hrs, 30 min. 1.25x Speed
January 26, 2012
Hmmm...where do I start with this one...the 2-star rating says a lot... I rarely rate this low.
What didn't I like: The general lack of character in the characters... they were crude in general, all the women were shallow, and mostly trailer-trash variety, the men just screwing everything in sight, the amount of slang and swearing (hey, I'm no angel but there was enough cursing to make a sailor blush here!). There was also a LOT of name-dropping...Alan Bond, did I mention ALAN BOND!
Without getting into spoilers I really didn't like the ending. I thought Mike would have more cahonies than taking the cowards way out....tsk tsk tsk! I am nearly tempted to go back to 1-star at this point.
Judy Nunn was very descriptive of the regions but I found there was so much fact jammed into the story I thought I was back in the history room at school again. Another count of over-the-top. I think she just tried too hard and it came across in the story.
I much prefer the subtle approach where you're not being force-fed a story....in the end it felt like taking medicine. I'll be waiting a little while before my next dose of Judy Nunn, maybe once the bitter taste is gone from my mouth.
What didn't I like: The general lack of character in the characters... they were crude in general, all the women were shallow, and mostly trailer-trash variety, the men just screwing everything in sight, the amount of slang and swearing (hey, I'm no angel but there was enough cursing to make a sailor blush here!). There was also a LOT of name-dropping...Alan Bond, did I mention ALAN BOND!
Without getting into spoilers I really didn't like the ending. I thought Mike would have more cahonies than taking the cowards way out....tsk tsk tsk! I am nearly tempted to go back to 1-star at this point.
Judy Nunn was very descriptive of the regions but I found there was so much fact jammed into the story I thought I was back in the history room at school again. Another count of over-the-top. I think she just tried too hard and it came across in the story.
I much prefer the subtle approach where you're not being force-fed a story....in the end it felt like taking medicine. I'll be waiting a little while before my next dose of Judy Nunn, maybe once the bitter taste is gone from my mouth.
October 9, 2021
2.5★
This was such a disappointment because I normally love Judy Nunn books. This is certainly my least favourite Judy Nunn book, and one of my least favourite reads this year. It was too “bloke-y” - too much talk about sex in underage boys, and continued as they grew into adults.
It finally improved about halfway through, but not enough to redeem the whole book for me.
I listened to it on audio, and the narrator, Richard Aspel, was good.
This was such a disappointment because I normally love Judy Nunn books. This is certainly my least favourite Judy Nunn book, and one of my least favourite reads this year. It was too “bloke-y” - too much talk about sex in underage boys, and continued as they grew into adults.
It finally improved about halfway through, but not enough to redeem the whole book for me.
I listened to it on audio, and the narrator, Richard Aspel, was good.
June 29, 2016
Excellent read... review to come.
My review:
Floodtide takes the reader on the journey of four men and their families over a span of four decades, in Western Australia. Beginning with their carefree childhoods in the prosperous post-war 1950s, through the Vietnam War and hippy years of the 60s, into the mineral boom of the 70s and ending during the corrupt years of the 80s, which saw the birth of WA Inc.
There is an environmentalist fighting to save the stunning Pilbara from greedy mining companies, a crippled Vietnam war veteran who finds his talent elsewhere, and the ambitious geologist who joins forces with the shady businessman, both of them having a great impact on the rise and development of Perth from sleepy coastal town to important, booming city.
But the 1990s sees the four friends swamped by a floodtide of change, and with their opposing personalities, combined with their life choices, things will never be the same for any of them.
I enjoyed Judy Nunn’s captivating story and her compelling descriptions of Perth and the Pilbara, regions I have always wanted to visit. I also enjoyed learning about the history of Western Australia.
I felt the ending was the only weak point in the story. There was a little too much unnecessary factual information that took over the story, and I wasn’t happy with the way the main character’s issues were resolved. It seemed quite “out of character”. However, that didn’t deter from this overall great yarn, with its true blue Aussie flavor.
My review:
Floodtide takes the reader on the journey of four men and their families over a span of four decades, in Western Australia. Beginning with their carefree childhoods in the prosperous post-war 1950s, through the Vietnam War and hippy years of the 60s, into the mineral boom of the 70s and ending during the corrupt years of the 80s, which saw the birth of WA Inc.
There is an environmentalist fighting to save the stunning Pilbara from greedy mining companies, a crippled Vietnam war veteran who finds his talent elsewhere, and the ambitious geologist who joins forces with the shady businessman, both of them having a great impact on the rise and development of Perth from sleepy coastal town to important, booming city.
But the 1990s sees the four friends swamped by a floodtide of change, and with their opposing personalities, combined with their life choices, things will never be the same for any of them.
I enjoyed Judy Nunn’s captivating story and her compelling descriptions of Perth and the Pilbara, regions I have always wanted to visit. I also enjoyed learning about the history of Western Australia.
I felt the ending was the only weak point in the story. There was a little too much unnecessary factual information that took over the story, and I wasn’t happy with the way the main character’s issues were resolved. It seemed quite “out of character”. However, that didn’t deter from this overall great yarn, with its true blue Aussie flavor.
May 31, 2020
I love JN books but just couldn’t get into it al all.. I’m not really sure why. I didn’t click with the characters.. I didn’t finish it. Very unusual. Maybe I will try it again at another time.
August 18, 2023
This book tells the stories of four men who have been friends since childhood or their teenage years.
Three of them share a terrible secret that they manage to conceal for years.
One of them is a consummate wheeler dealer. One is intellectually brilliant but shows himself, ultimately, to be a coward. The third is a worrier, constantly anxious about what might or might not happen next. Only the fourth friend is utterly honest.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this book, some more believable than others but, for some reason, I didn't take to the characters or care very much what happened to them. However, the book is well enough written hence the three stars.
Three of them share a terrible secret that they manage to conceal for years.
One of them is a consummate wheeler dealer. One is intellectually brilliant but shows himself, ultimately, to be a coward. The third is a worrier, constantly anxious about what might or might not happen next. Only the fourth friend is utterly honest.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this book, some more believable than others but, for some reason, I didn't take to the characters or care very much what happened to them. However, the book is well enough written hence the three stars.
August 2, 2009
This book was enjoyed by some and disliked by others. It was a good read for the former, they could relate to it’s local setting and found it reminiscent of Cloud Street. For the latter, it was long-winded, verbose, contrived and unengaging and ungripping. They felt the author was writing from a formula which left the story with little depth and the characters undeveloped. It was thought that Nunn’s style of writing may have been influenced by the fact that she had been a soap actor and had a leaning towards script writing. The cover was found to be misleading and a put off, the over- use of slang was grating as was the name- dropping. The ending was sad and the immorality of the central characters was distasteful . Some suggested the novel may work better as a screen play.
October 21, 2017
Not a bad read. Set in a time when the men were men and the women were kept in their places. A little slow in parts, and I felt like the ending was all a bit rushed. I would have preferred to have seen Mike stand up to his friends and see where that took the story. But I can't say I didn't like it. Definitely worth the 4 stars.
March 3, 2014
1 star for the Western Australian history. 1 star for the rest of the book
October 23, 2021
Normally the title of a book gives some insight into the content, not this time, I am still at a loss, my only thought is that perhaps life is the floodtide that overtakes all of us and sweeps us along.
The book was loosely in three parts, the first part being the middle. Our hero goes deep diving and has a heart attack, not fatal of course or the middle would be the end.
The story then moves back in time to his childhood, youth and young adult hood. We meet the other three people who play important parts in this saga, his childhood friend, and his two university friends. We follow these people through ups, downs and general life experiences until we once again reach the middle. Our hero meets the love of his life, looses the love of his life, becomes embroiled in an event so heinous it haunts him, becomes famous, meets the love of his life again discovers he has a child and lives happily until the end.
At this point everything falls apart and his world comes crashing down.
I wish I could say that I felt anything for him or his friends but three out of the four of them were not nice people.
I cannot decide what I thought of this book, it annoyed me, frustrated me and yes I kept reading.
Try it for yourself, maybe you will find more in it than I did
The book was loosely in three parts, the first part being the middle. Our hero goes deep diving and has a heart attack, not fatal of course or the middle would be the end.
The story then moves back in time to his childhood, youth and young adult hood. We meet the other three people who play important parts in this saga, his childhood friend, and his two university friends. We follow these people through ups, downs and general life experiences until we once again reach the middle. Our hero meets the love of his life, looses the love of his life, becomes embroiled in an event so heinous it haunts him, becomes famous, meets the love of his life again discovers he has a child and lives happily until the end.
At this point everything falls apart and his world comes crashing down.
I wish I could say that I felt anything for him or his friends but three out of the four of them were not nice people.
I cannot decide what I thought of this book, it annoyed me, frustrated me and yes I kept reading.
Try it for yourself, maybe you will find more in it than I did
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2018
Floodtide by Judy Nunn is the story of Mike McAllister, and his best friend Spud Farrell. Mates in childhood, as they grow Ian Pemberton and Murray Hatfield. The novel follows them from their childhood in the 1960s, as the group follow their dreams and carve out lives for themselves.
I was hooked on this book very early on. The story of the Batavia and the Abrolhos Islands are things I grew up with, so straight away I wanted to read on. Being a WA girl myself, so many of the locations are familiar (although admittedly I am seeing them decades later) that I was thoroughly enthralled.
Beyond that, I love how Nunn mixes fact with fiction. Spud and Ian, two fictional characters, yet their lives become entwined with some major moments in WA political history. It's done so seemlessly, that you almost wonder in what you are reading is fiction at all?
The other thing I'm finding I love about Nunn's books is that every character has a backstory. The character is never just the bartender, we get a brief history on them and what led them to this point in time.
Floodtide is heavy going at some points, but it worthwhile in the end.
I was hooked on this book very early on. The story of the Batavia and the Abrolhos Islands are things I grew up with, so straight away I wanted to read on. Being a WA girl myself, so many of the locations are familiar (although admittedly I am seeing them decades later) that I was thoroughly enthralled.
Beyond that, I love how Nunn mixes fact with fiction. Spud and Ian, two fictional characters, yet their lives become entwined with some major moments in WA political history. It's done so seemlessly, that you almost wonder in what you are reading is fiction at all?
The other thing I'm finding I love about Nunn's books is that every character has a backstory. The character is never just the bartender, we get a brief history on them and what led them to this point in time.
Floodtide is heavy going at some points, but it worthwhile in the end.
December 12, 2021
A saga of four friends, two of whom had grown up together as kids, and another two joined the group in the university years. Mike, Spud, Pembo and Muzza came from different backgrounds and progressed through different experiences throughout the novel. They all developed and changed, not always for the better.
By the end of the book, I felt Nunn was challenging the reader with unanswered questions. If you were involved in a dreadful death as a teenager which you did not own up to, do you deserve to have a happy successful life? Is it OK to cover up proceeds of illegal activities by donating to charitable causes?
Judy's books are always well researched and incorporate real people and events as this one based in Western Australia over 4 decades. Reference is made to oil spills, Vietnam war, Government corruption and winning the America's Cup yacht race among other happenings.
A long (as usual for Nunn's novels) but worthwhile read.
By the end of the book, I felt Nunn was challenging the reader with unanswered questions. If you were involved in a dreadful death as a teenager which you did not own up to, do you deserve to have a happy successful life? Is it OK to cover up proceeds of illegal activities by donating to charitable causes?
Judy's books are always well researched and incorporate real people and events as this one based in Western Australia over 4 decades. Reference is made to oil spills, Vietnam war, Government corruption and winning the America's Cup yacht race among other happenings.
A long (as usual for Nunn's novels) but worthwhile read.
September 15, 2017
A little disappointed in the ending. After a wonderful and descriptive story, the ending seems rather rushed and abrupt.
November 21, 2017
What fantastic storyteling!
Am on page 432 and can't wait to finish it!
Am on page 432 and can't wait to finish it!
December 9, 2017
Didn't finish..so boring!
March 2, 2020
I enjoyed this book much more than Tiger Men. It's perhaps my fourth favourite. The other three top favourites are : (in no particular order )
Kal
Beneath the Southern across
Terroritory
Kal
Beneath the Southern across
Terroritory
July 9, 2020
This is a good read right from the start! Really enjoyed it!
July 11, 2020
A strong WA story
April 28, 2021
Not a bad audiobook. Began promisingly. Character choices were somewhat painfully endured. I suppose they were still realistic.
October 22, 2022
A good story teller but preferred her tales from early Australian history.
February 17, 2023
Brilliant. Judy Nunn is a wonderful author
July 5, 2023
Absolute drivel!
May 14, 2024
Enjoyed her writing once again. Different from some of her others. Still easy to read.
June 20, 2024
Loved this book, great storyline plus lots of snippets of WA places and history 👍
August 8, 2024
I love Judy Nunn books so far, but I have to say, I thought Floodtide was a bit ordinary and lacked excitement, until the 2nd last chapter, then it was finished. Disappointing.
October 5, 2024
Brilliant
November 4, 2024
3.5 rounded up
June 29, 2016
Floodtide takes the reader on the journey of four men and their families over a span of four decades, in Western Australia. Beginning with their carefree childhoods in the prosperous post-war 1950s, through the Vietnam War and hippy years of the 60s, into the mineral boom of the 70s and ending during the corrupt years of the 80s, which saw the birth of WA Inc.
There is an environmentalist fighting to save the stunning Pilbara from greedy mining companies, a crippled Vietnam war veteran who finds his talent elsewhere, and the ambitious geologist who joins forces with the shady businessman, both of them having a great impact on the rise and development of Perth from sleepy coastal town to important, booming city.
But the 1990s sees the four friends swamped by a floodtide of change, and with their opposing personalities, combined with their life choices, things will never be the same for any of them.
I enjoyed Judy Nunn’s captivating story and her compelling descriptions of Perth and the Pilbara, regions I have always wanted to visit. I also enjoyed learning about the history of Western Australia.
I felt the ending was the only weak point in the story. There was a little too much unnecessary factual information that took over the story, and I wasn’t happy with the way the main character’s issues were resolved. It seemed quite “out of character”. However, that didn’t deter from this overall great yarn, with its true blue Aussie flavor.
There is an environmentalist fighting to save the stunning Pilbara from greedy mining companies, a crippled Vietnam war veteran who finds his talent elsewhere, and the ambitious geologist who joins forces with the shady businessman, both of them having a great impact on the rise and development of Perth from sleepy coastal town to important, booming city.
But the 1990s sees the four friends swamped by a floodtide of change, and with their opposing personalities, combined with their life choices, things will never be the same for any of them.
I enjoyed Judy Nunn’s captivating story and her compelling descriptions of Perth and the Pilbara, regions I have always wanted to visit. I also enjoyed learning about the history of Western Australia.
I felt the ending was the only weak point in the story. There was a little too much unnecessary factual information that took over the story, and I wasn’t happy with the way the main character’s issues were resolved. It seemed quite “out of character”. However, that didn’t deter from this overall great yarn, with its true blue Aussie flavor.
July 26, 2011
Like other books she's written, this one covers a long time period for a series of characters embedded in an Australian geographical context, this one being Perth/Pilbara between 1960-90. Having just moved to Perth, the description of the city and it's development was of some interest, but I there was less of the Pilbara than I had hoped. I find Nunn's style of switching between different character's point of view 'at random' irritating, but the story moves along quickly enough to prevent boggin down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews