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lucindacreek's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I may be influenced by Weir’s film adaptation (which I had to study for year 12 Literature), but Picnic at Hanging Rock completely blew me away. Lindsay has such a dreamy, vivid way of writing and I loved how she was able to make me feel like I was one with the book.
If you like your novels wrapped up with a neat bow, then I’m afraid this story may not be for you. Interpretations are very open-ended, but I kinda like that about this novel. I loved studying this book because I could have my own theories on what happened behind the disappearance of the girls. Murder? Kidnapping? Running away? Aliens? All of these were valid points that my Lit classmates came up with (yes, I’m serious.)
All in all, you should give this novel a try if you love mysterious novels that involve overbearing figures in the early 1900s, Australia.
If you like your novels wrapped up with a neat bow, then I’m afraid this story may not be for you. Interpretations are very open-ended, but I kinda like that about this novel. I loved studying this book because I could have my own theories on what happened behind the disappearance of the girls. Murder? Kidnapping? Running away? Aliens? All of these were valid points that my Lit classmates came up with (yes, I’m serious.)
All in all, you should give this novel a try if you love mysterious novels that involve overbearing figures in the early 1900s, Australia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
catpipp's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Suicide
pocketspoon's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
3.5
This is a really interesting book from a few different angles.
The image of English colonials in Australia is fascinating (and very obviously critical). Honestly, it would be worth it for a glimpse of that alone.
The big central mystery is more of a catalyst than it is the focus, which is a really cool way to tell the story. The knock-on effects on several people adjacent to the disappearance are explored in detail, while we never actual solve the mystery. Some people's lives get better, some people's get worse (materially or emotionally), and some are barely impacted (though we don't spend much time with them).What happens to Sarah is terrible, and really tips the overall mood into tragedy for me
In broad strokes, this is a somewhat eerie tale with supernatural elements, but it is mostly a story about how people react to this event – how they assign or adopt guilt, how they internalise or transfer their stress/trauma, or how they maybe just roll with the punches, etc. The overall tone is melancholy at best and at times heartbreaking. And there are also small moments of humour in the storytelling. Some of the descriptions and commentary are really quite funny in a way that surprised me (pleasantly) in the context of the story. In that way, it kind of reminded me of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.
The image of English colonials in Australia is fascinating (and very obviously critical). Honestly, it would be worth it for a glimpse of that alone.
The big central mystery is more of a catalyst than it is the focus, which is a really cool way to tell the story. The knock-on effects on several people adjacent to the disappearance are explored in detail, while we never actual solve the mystery. Some people's lives get better, some people's get worse (materially or emotionally), and some are barely impacted (though we don't spend much time with them).
In broad strokes, this is a somewhat eerie tale with supernatural elements, but it is mostly a story about how people react to this event – how they assign or adopt guilt, how they internalise or transfer their stress/trauma, or how they maybe just roll with the punches, etc. The overall tone is melancholy at best and at times heartbreaking. And there are also small moments of humour in the storytelling. Some of the descriptions and commentary are really quite funny in a way that surprised me (pleasantly) in the context of the story. In that way, it kind of reminded me of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Classism
Moderate: Child death and Suicide
eve81's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Classism
sortabadass's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
logopolis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child death, Death, Blood, and Alcohol
yleavy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A humorous send-up of boarding school dramas, written in the 1960’s but depicting the early 1900’s. Fizzled out a bit near the end. I wanted it to be weirder and gayer. Next time I’ll just read Shirley Jackson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism and Classism
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
My first Australian gothic! This book was filled with descriptions of college and aristocratic life in direct contrast with the natural landscape of the outback. The building tension from the outset to the aftermath of the picnic was well done in building dread, and you could really feel everything crumbling apart before your eyes. It felt a bit like a fever dream as you’re taken along on this atmospheric ride with the characters, like you’re right there with them. So glad I finally read this one and I’m keen to watch the movie/show adaptations of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Colonisation
crowyhead's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Alcohol, and Colonisation
heddasch's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism