Is it a true story or not ?

I was familiar with the old film of the same name and always thought it was a fascinating true story, not realising there was a novel. I began watching the TV serial, enjoyed the first episode, but found it a bit hard to follow half way through the second episode and stopped watching . By then I had listened to some of the audiobook which I was so enjoying, much easier to follow the story, that I watched the first 3 tv episodes again on iPlayer. I really enjoyed the book , which isn’t overlong, and the mysterious supernatural air of the rock comes across in the book. Others may find the inconclusive ending annoying, but sometimes it’s the story telling that’s important.
I’ve enjoyed the tv series having read and finished the book, even though there are many differences in the story. It’s a book and programme I will certainly read again.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Gripping story

Beautifully read . Strange story which keeps you hanging on to the end. We will never know what really happened

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Initially promising; ultimately disappointing

At first I jogged along with it, quite enjoying the evocation of the Australia outback and wondering where it was all leading. Something a bit spooky happens at the Rock and a random assortment of females disappears. Then it just kept trundling along with more random, disconnected events happening to the random assortment of characters. At the point at which I realised that there was not going to be any rhyme or reason to any of it, I simply lost the impetus to keep listening.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Mesmerising

Lindsay creates a vivid tableau filled with well drawn characters.
Evocative prose, compelling plot, excellent book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Beautiful, suspenseful - and unforgettable

This is a very remarkable book. The plot can be described quickly: three schoolgirls and one teacher disappear during an outing to a geological marvel, the mystery is never solved. But that doesn’t remotely explain this book.

The contrast between the very regulated Victorian girls’ school and the ancient and puissant Australian nature is notable. The way the mystery affects the different characters is also central.

The language is elegant and exact - it is unsurprising that the author was also a painter, because she carefully spreads colour across the canvas of the story, subtly highlighting this and that.

Since the mystery has no resolution the reader will come to their own conclusion - the final chapter, left out from the finished book and published on its own much later, doesn’t really resolve the matter.

It is up to you, the reader, to find your own answer to the mystery.

Very nicely read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Finally available on audio

One of my favourite books finally available on audio. Beautifully narrated and as captivating as ever.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Disastrous choice of vocals

Without expression, lack of drama or subtle nuances- this gothic drama is read in a monotonous and flat tone, no effort is made to distinguish between men, women or children- most disappointing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Wonderful story effectively ruined by narrator

A gripping and ultimately unexplained mystery which never fails to engage the reader.
Sadly, the excellence of this book with which I am very familiar was not matched by the reading of it. Accents are clearly not a strong point. The ‘normal’ speed of the narrative was so slow that I was obliged to change it on my device. Characters’ accents were muddled as the narrator clearly misunderstood who was speaking. Her numerous mispronunciations cannot be excused. A total ignorance of French pronunciation made some passages quite excruciating.
A talent for making the most momentous passages sound like the reading of a shopping list adds nothing to the narrative.
I would not recommend this recording and am most disappointed in it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Gripping Classic.

It's a classic, eerie take, good narration. My one criticism is that there were quite a few moments when there should have been a pause. At times it felt a tragic moment or a characters reflection was just skipped. I am not sure if this is the fault of the narrator or an editor.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Always Loved This Story

For those reviewers who gave up halfway through this story, what I would like to say is that this story centres mainly on the events following the aftermath of the disappearance of the school girls more than the event itself. If you've seen the film then you'll know how these repercussions multiply throughout the story leading to numerous and sometimes shocking conclusions. Yale Stone's narration has lost a star from my review as her voice is very monotone and some of her accents are hilarious...but at least she is an Australian reading an Australian story. I've always loved this story...from Peter Weir's iconic 1975 film to Joan Lindsay's book...and the fabled 'missing' final chapter that was only released after her death. The TV series was just awful though!! This is a very passable prodution of this mesmerising mystery from Australia on St Valentine's Day 1900.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!