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Queen Kat, Carmel and St. Jude Get a Life
A tumultuous year in the lives of three unforgettable women.
This is a wonderfully passionate & absorbing novel which explores the lives of three very different girls in their first year out of school, who share an inner city Melbourne house. All three girls come from the small country town of Manella. Katrina, priveleged, beautiful, & sophisticated, is the daughter of a wealthy medical family; Carmel, from a struggling farming family is overweight & inhibited, but has a gift for music, & Jude, a medical student, is the daughter of a Chilean doctor who was murdered when she was two.
This is a wonderfully passionate & absorbing novel which explores the lives of three very different girls in their first year out of school, who share an inner city Melbourne house. All three girls come from the small country town of Manella. Katrina, priveleged, beautiful, & sophisticated, is the daughter of a wealthy medical family; Carmel, from a struggling farming family is overweight & inhibited, but has a gift for music, & Jude, a medical student, is the daughter of a Chilean doctor who was murdered when she was two.
444 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
8 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Maureen McCarthy
33 books104 followersMaureen McCarthy, the ninth of ten children, was born in 1953 in country Victoria. She has worked as a teacher in Victorian secondary schools and has written scripts for television and educational films. Her film credits include 'Skipping Class', he award-winning documentary, 'Eating Your Heart Out', and the SBS mini-series, 'In Between', which was later adapted inot four novels by Maureen. Her latest works includes the novels Ganglands and Cross My Heart, which was published in 1993 and short-listed for the NSW Premier's Prize in that year. An Australian author and scriptwriter, her novels concern the lives of emerging adults, from ages sixteen to early twenties. McCarthy has three sons and lives in Melbourne.
Maureen dedicated her story in the collection 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories' to the memory of her much-loved nephew, Justin Haire, who died tragically in October 1993, aged 21 years.
Maureen dedicated her story in the collection 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories' to the memory of her much-loved nephew, Justin Haire, who died tragically in October 1993, aged 21 years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 25, 2021
actual rating: 3.5/5
Finally a story that i could relate to in someway and even though this book was released back in 1995 it still holds true for many people over the age of 18 today. I enjoyed following the lives of 3 different teenagers who have all turned 18 and have recently graduated high school ready to start the next phase of their lives.
Kat, Carmel and Jude are all different in their own ways and are dealing with different things that the others are not and it was good to see this dynamic. I thought all three girls were really well written and all their problems were all relevant today and that what most go through after leaving high school . I really resonated with Carmel the most as she has and still does struggle with her weight and being made fun of for most of her life and it was good to see a plus sized person being represented in a way that i haven't read before.
The writing however during the book was a little choppy and didn't quiet grab my attention in parts which was a let down with how amazing the characters were.
I would love to see more stories like this get published as for someone who's in their 20's there isn't a lot of stories of people struggling on trying to find themselves and figure things out after high school. I like stories about teenagers in high school but there needs to be more stories about people in their 20's dealing with all these issues.
Finally a story that i could relate to in someway and even though this book was released back in 1995 it still holds true for many people over the age of 18 today. I enjoyed following the lives of 3 different teenagers who have all turned 18 and have recently graduated high school ready to start the next phase of their lives.
Kat, Carmel and Jude are all different in their own ways and are dealing with different things that the others are not and it was good to see this dynamic. I thought all three girls were really well written and all their problems were all relevant today and that what most go through after leaving high school . I really resonated with Carmel the most as she has and still does struggle with her weight and being made fun of for most of her life and it was good to see a plus sized person being represented in a way that i haven't read before.
The writing however during the book was a little choppy and didn't quiet grab my attention in parts which was a let down with how amazing the characters were.
I would love to see more stories like this get published as for someone who's in their 20's there isn't a lot of stories of people struggling on trying to find themselves and figure things out after high school. I like stories about teenagers in high school but there needs to be more stories about people in their 20's dealing with all these issues.
February 8, 2009
The writing isn't great, but the characters and their struggles to cope with life at uni are very real. Some parts nearly had me in tears, and at one point I felt too sick to continue reading Jude's section (I had to put the book down and come back to it later). Evoking such strong emotions is, for me, a sign of good storytelling, so even though the narrative and dialogue felt clunky, this book gets four stars.
April 19, 2020
aside from the sweeping generalisations of the 90s and YA fiction, this novel captures the experience of being 18, from the country and in your first year of uni so well. it is so good, still
August 8, 2022
Loved this book as a kid, loved it now
June 23, 2020
This was a fun Australian story of three 18 year olds finding their way after moving from the country to the city to start university. Although it wasn't the best writing and at times I got confused who was narrating, I listened to the second part via audiobook yesterday and think that it made for a good audiobook. Now that I am finished I want to watch the tv series but I cannot find it anywhere.
July 8, 2017
It isn't perfectly written, but the enchantment and allure about these three girls and their story has you overlooking that completely.
Any good Australian YA novel seems to have this kind of magnetism to it that you can't get from anything else. This book is right up there with the likes of Looking for Alibrandi.
I was only 9 when the mini-series aired on TV, so I sought out a DVD on Fishpond for - wait for it - $8! It is currently on the way to me now and I can't wait to watch it because I'm slightly sad I've had to close this book for now.
Any good Australian YA novel seems to have this kind of magnetism to it that you can't get from anything else. This book is right up there with the likes of Looking for Alibrandi.
I was only 9 when the mini-series aired on TV, so I sought out a DVD on Fishpond for - wait for it - $8! It is currently on the way to me now and I can't wait to watch it because I'm slightly sad I've had to close this book for now.
August 12, 2025
a nice contrast to the more recent trend of lonely young women making terrible decisions. but man the way women's appearances were centred and endlessly-described in the 90s was wild hey! you're either so thin and beautiful it drives people insane and you become a victim of your own perfection, or a fatty-fatty-fat-fat but unbelievably gifted in other ways so it's ok that some people like/desire you (and they're saints for doing so). what I'm saying is this book is an accurate portrayal of being a teenager at that time.
June 9, 2018
Definitely the classic Melbourne YA novel of my generation. Can't believe it took me so long to read it. Enjoyable, if not mind blowing. Big issue with the excusing/acceptance of rape; I hate that in YA fiction (and in real life).
September 5, 2022
Entertaining read plus it dealt gently but clearly with young adult issues...maybe a little dated.
September 8, 2023
Still a classic.
July 18, 2024
another pleasant surprise - wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as i did and i can see why it's marketed as a classic YA/NA aussie coming of age. loved all the characters and their complexities
December 7, 2017
This book is one of a type I'd like to read more of, set in the first year of university, where people make bad choices and good ones and learn about themselves. (Unrelated fact: My first year of university is about to start). It does the typical thing where the three heroines are 'from different worlds' and have a lot of bad and sad things happen to them (or actively cause them) but make friends through the process. So, fun.
I did find this more gritty than I was expecting. There's lots of talk of pornography here, drugs (like, cocaine? Seriously?), a fair bit of drinking and partying. The book doesn't require that you know much about the political situation of the early nineties, but it does have a lot about the Chilean movement, which I barely knew anything about. I really liked that there was a biracial character and that that part of Jude's identity is well, and compassionately, explored. Also I knew nothing about Chilean atrocities of the seventies, so I feel educated as well. The characters all do some really dumb things, but they're really well fleshed out, so who cares?
Just mentioning the words 'The Breakfast Club' is tantamount to making me froth at the mouth, so I'm not going to compare this book to that (awful, horrible, nasty why is it so acclaimed I hate it so so so much) movie, because Queen Kat doesn't deserve that. (neither do Jude or Carmel). I think Carmel is the most unique character; her insecurities--and blossoming!--felt different to a lot of characters. I also liked that she was fat and learning to be ookay with it. Jude is The Political One and Kat is The Pretty, Shallow One. But because each character gets a change to tell their part of the story, you know that it's more complicated than all that. It would be hard to say what the plot of this novel is, because it's all about the exquisitely painful process of being brave and being alone and being friends with people who aren't like you. This book is also about family, about how painful it is to separate from them and become your own person--but how that's important too.
I really like reading classic YA like this, because it makes me understand modern YA like (my darling) Untidy Towns better. How can you read this and not think that Kat is a little like Addie from Take Three Girls? As I said, the characters, (especially Kat) are sort of archetypes. But McCarthy rips those archetypes aprat and makes them vulnerable, and that's why they're interesting. This book is old, and it's so nineties (letters? lp's? i don't understand?) but cafe's are forever.
As a side note, Melbourne is such a cool city and I definitely want to live there for a few months at some point.
This book is about learning about other people, even when that seems impossible. As such, it is really fun and important and also depressing.
I did find this more gritty than I was expecting. There's lots of talk of pornography here, drugs (like, cocaine? Seriously?), a fair bit of drinking and partying. The book doesn't require that you know much about the political situation of the early nineties, but it does have a lot about the Chilean movement, which I barely knew anything about. I really liked that there was a biracial character and that that part of Jude's identity is well, and compassionately, explored. Also I knew nothing about Chilean atrocities of the seventies, so I feel educated as well. The characters all do some really dumb things, but they're really well fleshed out, so who cares?
Just mentioning the words 'The Breakfast Club' is tantamount to making me froth at the mouth, so I'm not going to compare this book to that (awful, horrible, nasty why is it so acclaimed I hate it so so so much) movie, because Queen Kat doesn't deserve that. (neither do Jude or Carmel). I think Carmel is the most unique character; her insecurities--and blossoming!--felt different to a lot of characters. I also liked that she was fat and learning to be ookay with it. Jude is The Political One and Kat is The Pretty, Shallow One. But because each character gets a change to tell their part of the story, you know that it's more complicated than all that. It would be hard to say what the plot of this novel is, because it's all about the exquisitely painful process of being brave and being alone and being friends with people who aren't like you. This book is also about family, about how painful it is to separate from them and become your own person--but how that's important too.
I really like reading classic YA like this, because it makes me understand modern YA like (my darling) Untidy Towns better. How can you read this and not think that Kat is a little like Addie from Take Three Girls? As I said, the characters, (especially Kat) are sort of archetypes. But McCarthy rips those archetypes aprat and makes them vulnerable, and that's why they're interesting. This book is old, and it's so nineties (letters? lp's? i don't understand?) but cafe's are forever.
As a side note, Melbourne is such a cool city and I definitely want to live there for a few months at some point.
This book is about learning about other people, even when that seems impossible. As such, it is really fun and important and also depressing.
December 20, 2011
FIRST IMPRESSION:
A story which would focus on three characters in particular.
WRITING STYLE:
There was never a dull moment with the writing style. It never failed to keep me interested. This was the book which got me into reading again, after a long break.
PLOT:
Pulled off better than I expected. Three girls, one dorm. All with different personalities.
CHARACTERS:
All the characters were amazing. I love their insights. It was characterisation at its best, and it was told in three points of views.
OVERALL:
A heart-warming, wonderful story about how the unlikely of people can become best friends in the most unexpected way.
AMOUNT OF STARS:
5
A story which would focus on three characters in particular.
WRITING STYLE:
There was never a dull moment with the writing style. It never failed to keep me interested. This was the book which got me into reading again, after a long break.
PLOT:
Pulled off better than I expected. Three girls, one dorm. All with different personalities.
CHARACTERS:
All the characters were amazing. I love their insights. It was characterisation at its best, and it was told in three points of views.
OVERALL:
A heart-warming, wonderful story about how the unlikely of people can become best friends in the most unexpected way.
AMOUNT OF STARS:
5
April 11, 2017
It had been years since I last read this book, and when I ran out of library books the other day, I figured it was about time I revisited something I loved to death as a teenager. It's a familiar story to anyone who's moved away from home to university and has had to deal with living with a bunch of strangers. But at the same time, it's the story of how people aren't who you think they are, how friendships can grow in the most unlikely of places, and how the choices you make can impact your entire future.
It's pretty dated now - there are no mobile phones, no internet, very little mention of computers - but it's still thoroughly enjoyable.
It's pretty dated now - there are no mobile phones, no internet, very little mention of computers - but it's still thoroughly enjoyable.
December 22, 2014
I first read this when I was 14 or 15. I loved it then, and I loved it again when I re-read it 10+ years later. It's an extremely well-told tale of three very different girls who move in and out of each other's lives in complex ways, all the while living in the same house. Each character has her flaws and her virtues, and McCarthy describes these young women so well you never feel quite right condemning them for their faults or shortcomings. It's not that you totally adore them, but they're honest and real and fallible and forgivable. I hope I can read this again after a decade and enjoy it just as much.
June 21, 2016
Did not finish. I really didn't enjoy this book at all. I only read about 100 pages and I that's my limit if I'm not enjoying it. I didn't think the writing was particularly good (I have read and enjoyed The Convent by Maureen McCarthy, so it's not necessarily her writing in general). I found the book itself really boring to read and I had to force myself to keep going, in the hopes that it would get better. The characters all annoyed me as well, and even though I could relate to Carmel the most, I still didn't enjoy or want to read her story as I found both the plot and the writing really hard going. Overall I rated this book one star because I didn't finish it. It's in the "un-haul" pile!
March 20, 2010
At times this story can be a bit clunky but its charm overrides all its faults. I love reading this book whenever I miss Melbourne - the characters go to cafes I went to, they sit in the rotunda in the Edinburgh gardens late at night just like I used to, and the streets they walk are all familiar and tinged with the same love I felt. Maybe that's why it works for me - it makes my own memories fresh again.
February 9, 2012
I didn't like this book as well as the other Maureen McCarthy I've read but it was a solid OK! I did listen to it and the reader is Australian which made it very enjoyable. This book just felt a little more superficial than the other one. I couldn't quite love all three of the main characters, but again a solid 3 stars.
November 27, 2008
Great book. Read it in secondary school and I plan to read it again some time. The characters are solid and I still remember scenes from this book. Whenever I eat hot salty fish from the fish and chip shop I think of this book.
July 17, 2009
I adored this book. It was such a good read. A story about three university students, stepping out into the real love, their lives enriched by love, betrayal and family secrets. Though the ending was sad, I enjoyed this book to no end. The characters are so real, alive and passionate.
February 29, 2012
Going through Aussie books and coming across so many novels I read back in school that had such an impact on me but I managed to forget about.
This one in particular was a bit rough around the edges but the story flowed and the characters were oh so real.
This one in particular was a bit rough around the edges but the story flowed and the characters were oh so real.
August 29, 2012
One of those great "coming of age" stories, I probably should have read when I was 20. Still good to see the character development and the "twist" that three apparently different girls actually had so much in common.
February 10, 2007
It's been a while since I read this and I was probably a bit young at the time, but I remember I enjoyed it.
May 26, 2009
my favorite 'coming of age' book i read in high school, cant find it in UK so have requested younger sister seek it out and send to me becasue i want to read it again!
June 26, 2017
3 girls going through the tough transition from high school to college. another great aussie read
September 29, 2011
I honestly couldn't get into it. I'd heard so many good things, but in the end I just didn't like any of the characters enough to care to read about them.
April 17, 2011
Fantastic. Three very real characters each with unique voices. Was a big literary influence on my novel The Big Smoke.
March 20, 2012
This book wasn't as good as McCarthy's others but overall was relatively enjoyable. The characters did irritate me a lot though & I found them to be a bit unrealistic but all in all a good YA book!
October 18, 2012
It could have been "Queen Kat, Carmel, St Jude and Anemone get a life" because I felt like being in part of their lives!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews