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The Yield
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February - April 2020: The Yield
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I was lucky enough to be at an event where Tara June Winch discussed the book with a Melissa Lucashenko (it’s a great talk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG0P5... ) and she addresses your first question. I loved the way Poppy’s voice shone through and he told his story and the story of his family using the dictionary. I found it very moving.
I should be getting Song Spirals from the library tomorrow!
This is my favourite to take out the prize this year btw. 🤞
I agree Sue! This is the fourth book I have read from the longlist and I think it's by far the strongest contender.
The innovative conceit of this work of fiction is Winch’s use of the language of the Wiradjuri people, to both tell the story and to teach language words. The result is a collection of interweaving stories that are revealed at a slow and gentle pace giving the reader the time needed to drop into the narrative.
Winch teaches us about Language with a capital ‘L’ weaving the present urgency of belonging, land rights, mining and climate change, with the stark reminder of the invasion history of pain and loss. The reader experiences an intricate layering of time through narrative explored in Language. This is Language that drives culture, and energy, and brings people back from the brink. It is Language that heals.
The vital importance of this story, as well as being a fabulous read, is that it reminds us that the way forward, the way to healing and reconnection, both for the land and for people, is through the depth of knowledge held within Indigenous languages.
Reading Questions
1. Tara June Winch chose to give voices to August, Albert Goondiwindi and Ferdinand Greenleaf. Why do you think she chose the split narrative? What is the impact of using such diverse voices and experiences?
2. How did you feel about Poppy’s method of bringing Wiradjuri language back through stories?
I'm not sure if anyone has read this and Songspirals: Sharing women's wisdom of Country through songlines or any of R.M.W Dixon's books on Indigenous language, but I think that could be a really interesting discussion. I think I'll be attempting to read all three, if anyone is interested in discussing those with me shortly!