Heart of the Dreaming

Heart of the Dreaming #1

by Di Morrissey

The book that launched Di Morrissey as Australia's most popular female novelist.

At twenty-one, Queenie Hanlon has the world at her feet and the love of handsome bushman TR Hamilton. Beautiful, wealthy and intelligent, she is the only daughter of Tingulla Station, the famed outback property in the wilds of western Queensland.

At twenty-two, her life is in ruins. A series of disasters has robbed her of everything she has ever loved. Everything except Tingulla - her ancestral home and her spirit's Dreaming place...

And now she is about to lose that too...

• An extraordinary story of thwarted love and heroic struggle, Heart of the Dreaming is the tale of one woman's courage and her determination to take on the world and win.

Genres: Romance, Australia, Fiction, Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

640 pages, Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 1996

About the author

Di Morrissey (born 18 March 1943 in Wingham, New South Wales) is one of Australia's most popular female novelists. She grew up in the remote surrounds of Pittwater, north of Sydney, Australia.

Growing up she counted famous Australian actor Chips Rafferty as a close mentor and friend who helped provide for her and her mother after the death of her father as a child, sending them overseas to California to live with family.

In her later years, Di went on to become a journalist on London's Fleet Street, and worked for CBS in Honolulu, where she lived with her husband who was in the foreign service, and even had a small role in the series Hawaii Five-0, a guest role in season three, episode seven, 1970 starring as 'Alicia Anderson'.

After moving back to Australia, Di published her first book 'Heart of the Dreaming' which instantly became a bestseller. Since then Di has published another 17 bestsellers, her latest being 'The Silent Country'.

Reviews

[Cheryll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me wanting the pages to never end.
Can't wait to read the sequal (Follow the Morning Star)

[jess ❈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 / 5

Popsugar 2018 Prompt: A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift

I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. When my nan gave this book to me - she had gotten it free in one of those markets, I was a bit iffy about reading it? I just didn't think it was a book for me, and in a way, I was right. I still enjoyed it, even in the tiniest bit.

I have to admit that I didn't read the whole book, I skim read the last quarter just because it had been a month of reading it and it felt like I was never going to finish. I realised that life is too short to focus on a book that you're no longer feeling - a month to read a book is a long time for me, and I just had 0 motivation to keep going. It wasn't a DNF though because I did finish it, I just didn't focus 100% on the last part.

It was interesting to read a book set in Australia, the country side of it, and the issues that happened throughout the book. That being said, it felt like there was too many complications and plot-lines happening. At the same time, it was predictable.

I didn't feel much connection to any of the characters, if anything, they all felt rather dull to me. There were moments where I liked them and moments where I didn't. I just didn't feel a proper person in the characters, they felt a little flat.

Perhaps I'll give Di Morrissey another go one day, who knows!

[iona willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My country

The story captures the spirit of the Australian bush and the characters within it are created by it. This book is utterly spellbinding and complex. I couldn’t put it down.

[Charmaine Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read with enough intrigue to keep me interested. A big saga with a predictable ending, but nonetheless it was a great story.

[Jenny Rushforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Di, for another WONDERFUL BOOK….
I “could not” put the book down….
I LOVED the characters & the Story….
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.
I see there is a sequel….
I’m not ready for that….As I’m still coming to terms with the adversities, Queenie & TR, had to endure….
BUT, in the end, “LOVE CONQUERS ALL”….
(I’m hooked on your books Di. I’ve read many of them)….
Certainly you are one of Australia’s Best Author’s, in my opinion….

[Joan]

I love Di Morrissey's books and this one in particular as it is set in Australia and in my mind I can picture the country and the places she describes. They are easy reading with interesting. if a little predictable, plots and characters. The storyline has all the joys and sorrows of life. I read for enjoyment and this one fits the bill exactly.

[Shereen Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Di Morrissey's books, love the settings in the outback the way you feel like you are there with them, Riding the land.
The storyline has all the joys and sorrows of everyday life, throw in a outback station, sister and brother rivalry wanting family affection and wealth, greed, loving and commitment to the family legacy.
Queenie, the main protagonist is the only daughter of the owner of Tingulla Station. She is a determined young woman ahead of her times, adventurous, beautiful and intelligent, she is also fiercely protective of her ancestral home. When disaster strikes, Queenie must find all the courage she can to save her family dynasty.

[Karen L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got wrapped up in Queenie. She continues to persevere. Few people are as resilient as she is. Her repeated successes despite the losses is admirable even if a bit unrealistic for the majority of people. People can be stubborn and hold on to their hurt when we should at least hear each other out instead of holding on to the pain or being so scared of feeling the pain agin.

[Rae Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Australian saga spanning 3 decades.

Queenie has a love for the family station - Tingulla. She meets TR on the night of her 21st birthday.

She lives through some life changing events and manages to look after herself and everyone around her.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good holiday read with interesting bits about “the bush”, Outback Australia and life in Australia at the time. Advertised as a love story, and that it was. However, the ending felt contrived and a bit too convenient.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, however it was quite predictable now that I’ve read a few Di Morrissey books there seems to be common themes and events. Easy and enjoyable reading though.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I have really enjoyed this book. The Australian outback was such a good setting. Felt I was there. I really enjoyed her books.

[Linda Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, predictable, romantic saga. No page turner, background audio while working. Made tears fall out of my eyes.

[Cheryl Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Morrissey novel and I've been hooked ever since.

[Rowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Di Morrissey novel. Lots of adventure and intrigue. A gripping tale.

[Katlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story. Cannot wait to read the sequel.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this one much better than the first Di Morris that I read. In the end I couldn't put it down. A nice story.

[Carol James]

Not her best book, have always enjoyed Di’s books, but this one is hard going, yet to finish it, but will keep going.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg what can I say. This book enthralled me from start to finish.
I kept wanting to read ahead to see if it all worked out in the end.
Absolutely loved it.
Can't wait to read book 2

[Gena · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Really enjoyed this family saga of Queenie and her ancestral outback Queensland home Tingulla. Keen to read the next in the series.

[Alan Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Brilliant book couldn't put it down from start to finish. I cannot wait to start another book from Di Morrissey

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working my way through Di Morrissey’s back catalogue, one which I had not read was the novel that began her career as a popular Australian novelist, Heart of the Dreaming. It is an outback epic, set on a property in Queensland, called Tingulla Station. Queenie, the main protagonist is the only daughter of the owner of Tingulla Station. She is a determined young woman ahead of her times, adventurous, beautiful and intelligent, she is also fiercely protective of her ancestral home. When disaster strikes, Queenie must find all the courage she can to save her family dynasty. This book was a delivered in true Di Morrissey style, she always writes captivating page turners from the first to the last page. The descriptions of life the station were detailed and vivid, painting an accurate portrait of the struggles faced by those on working on the land. Di Morrissey has a fabulous knack of writing about her characters in such a way that we feel their emotions and feelings deeply. Her love story was filled with tearjerker moments and also some unexpected twists. As this is quite an epic family based dynasty book, I would have loved a timeline to help place the events that happened in the story. I also enjoyed the happy ending, but felt that there were some implausible coincidences that helped tie up the conclusion of the story a little too quickly. Next on my reading agenda of Di Morrissey’s collection will be her sequel to Heart of the Dreaming, Follow the Morning Star. Overall, although it is not one of my all time favourite Di Morrissey books, it still rates highly as a great novel of the Australian outback.

[Chiro Pipashito T H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Queenie and TR's romance was enjoyable to read. Otherwise this novel is too melodramatic,at times too predictable and the author conveniently changed the course of the story so that it becomes a happy ending. But then it became too good to be believable. For example, when Queenie met TR, I was almost certain the Author will kill Queenie's husband Warrick. And not surprisingly, Warrick died in a plane crash shortly afterwards. When Tango appeared in the story, I was almost certain he will turn out to be Queenie's long-lost son, and my prediction came true.

And how come the author could not come up with any proper name for the male protagonist? TR- what sort of name is that? Then I figured most likely the name was inspired from the character JR of American TV drama Dallas which was on air around the time this book was published.

The book deserves 2 stars for describing the life in Australian outback but missed on other starts because of poor plot.

[Susiekenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An epic book covering half a lifetime of the main character Queenie Hanlon. This was the first Di Morrisey book I have read and coincidentally this was her first published. At times it is a bit melodramatic but overall it's compelling, has the strong Australian feel reminiscent of The Billabong Books by Mary Grant Bruce and is a captivating romance too.

[Muphyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice mindless summer read, just what I needed after months and months of stress. No thinking required at all, plenty of implausible scenarios and, of course, a truly kitschy happy ending.

Awful translation though, so clunky and rushed, clearly the translator didn't get paid very much.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the detail and description of Australia. I think the author was vague in her timeline and the inconsistencies bugged me. Just an ok story for me. There were some implausible story lines and I think the end was wrapped up a bit fast. I did enjoy the character of Queenie.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe that I missed this one. It's a really nice read.
Queenie the main character is quite frustrating and at times annoying to the point that you want to slap her around the head!
Overall a very enjoyable book. As an audio book I felt it was very well narrated.

[Tamara Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down, so many twists and turns that kept me so intrigued... I loved the imagery throughout the book my imagination was going crazy :-) thankyou for a great read

[Ely · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

My first Di Morrissey! I really liked the story of Queenie and TR, the only thing that bought this down for me was I felt like it dragged on in places and skimmed over others. Considering this is a genre I'd usually stay far away from, I'm pretty surprised by my reaction.

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

true australia