An eerie gothic tale bathed in light. Picnic at Hanging Rock takes places on a bright, perfect, sunny summer day. In fact, very little of the novel takes place at night. The Australian bush, the stately gardens, and the sun-baked roads all give a sense of dizzying heat, which somehow adds to (if not creates) the uncanny feeling of dread that looms throughout the story. The slow start made me skeptical that I would enjoy this book - but now I want to go back and pick up the details I might have missed. Very gothic, eerie, and strange - not horror exactly and even suspense feels like a strong word. But always a feeling like something bad is about to happen (and it does). I am most intrigued by the “pattern” and what it all means. The detached framework of the narrative also has a very spooky effect. Something supernatural is afoot at Hanging Rock...

PS Albert and Mike were in love, right? And Sarah was in love with Miranda? Not sure about Sarah, but like...Mike was hot for Albert for sure.