Review of Native Companions
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Rupali Mishra
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- Latest Review: Native Companions by Jenni Barnett
Review of Native Companions
[Following is a volunteer review of "Native Companions" by Jenni Barnett.]
Jenni Barnett's Native Companions, the first book in the astonishing Chronicles series, is, I must say, a very interesting one. The book documents Jenni's opinions on her lifelong interest in ethnography, indigenous civilizations, conventional healthcare, and the adaptability of outback Australian indigenous people. According to writer Jenni, her intention is not to preserve the past but to convey in this story their "apathy, personalities, knowledge, and devotion that were essential to their existence." This book recounts the daily lives of the indigenous people, reestablishing a whole tribal sphere of ceremonies, myths, customs, beliefs, and routines. The plot revolves around an old gum tree and a deceased person's wish. An outstanding student of part-Aboriginal anthropological study, Rex Graham assures his dying grandmother that he will solve her great-grandfather's nightly riddles and provide the solution for the sake of the Aboriginal people. To connect with and remember his ancestors and their tales, Rex lay down beneath Gran Yan, the oldest tree. He is said to sleep beneath the tree while he is dreaming under Gran Yan, listening to all the old bush tales that are passed down to younger trees and new generations.
A true picture of the communal, spiritual, and civilizational facets of the Aboriginal Australian tribes is presented in this story. Beautiful illustrations and a vocabulary of indigenous mixed-language terms are also included. The story illustrates how a select group of combatants, hunters, and commercial fishers stand out from the others and are remembered. The tribal Booran elder and fire guardian Ooraawoo, who are "ministers or healthcare men," have the ability to speak with the ghosts or spirits of the old Wirinuns and remember their journey back to Yaraan Grove from the vast inland desert. Brolga and Kaii, the two orphans brothers of the extinct Mullian tribe, must survive a series of tests before they are eligible to receive the customary bora "beginning ritual." Willie, like a true Robinson Crusoe, has to contend with a strong hurricane and make friends with local animals to survive in the woods. His great character, unflinching bravery, and ebullient emotions surely make him a symbol.
What I like about this book is that it is divided into six segments, each one concentrating on a different phase of the tribes' fight for existence in particularly trying conditions. I admire it, and it is especially distinctive and remarkable, the way they have admirable reverence for the environment and their homeland and their deep ethical standards. I adored the exquisite examples of the plants and animals at Yaraan Grove, the Booran Tribe's ancestral home. The oldest tree, Gran Yan, which has silently witnessed their past, turns into a storyteller of long-forgotten folk tales and traditions as well as an emblem of their existence.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because it has some mistakes that need to be fixed. I did not find anything objectionable or dislike about this book, but I would like to give one piece of advice to the author: the conversation part can be written in the dialogs section so it gives more feeling and is more enjoyable to read rather than reading it like a paragraph. It has errors, so this book needs one more proofreading and editing round to make it perfect.
I recommend this to anyone who is curious about native Australian narratives and international folklore in general. A collection of stories, fables, and folklore will captivate everyone who appreciates the epic tales of past generations.
******
Native Companions
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Jenni Barnett's Native Companions, the first book in the astonishing Chronicles series, is, I must say, a very interesting one. The book documents Jenni's opinions on her lifelong interest in ethnography, indigenous civilizations, conventional healthcare, and the adaptability of outback Australian indigenous people. According to writer Jenni, her intention is not to preserve the past but to convey in this story their "apathy, personalities, knowledge, and devotion that were essential to their existence." This book recounts the daily lives of the indigenous people, reestablishing a whole tribal sphere of ceremonies, myths, customs, beliefs, and routines. The plot revolves around an old gum tree and a deceased person's wish. An outstanding student of part-Aboriginal anthropological study, Rex Graham assures his dying grandmother that he will solve her great-grandfather's nightly riddles and provide the solution for the sake of the Aboriginal people. To connect with and remember his ancestors and their tales, Rex lay down beneath Gran Yan, the oldest tree. He is said to sleep beneath the tree while he is dreaming under Gran Yan, listening to all the old bush tales that are passed down to younger trees and new generations.
A true picture of the communal, spiritual, and civilizational facets of the Aboriginal Australian tribes is presented in this story. Beautiful illustrations and a vocabulary of indigenous mixed-language terms are also included. The story illustrates how a select group of combatants, hunters, and commercial fishers stand out from the others and are remembered. The tribal Booran elder and fire guardian Ooraawoo, who are "ministers or healthcare men," have the ability to speak with the ghosts or spirits of the old Wirinuns and remember their journey back to Yaraan Grove from the vast inland desert. Brolga and Kaii, the two orphans brothers of the extinct Mullian tribe, must survive a series of tests before they are eligible to receive the customary bora "beginning ritual." Willie, like a true Robinson Crusoe, has to contend with a strong hurricane and make friends with local animals to survive in the woods. His great character, unflinching bravery, and ebullient emotions surely make him a symbol.
What I like about this book is that it is divided into six segments, each one concentrating on a different phase of the tribes' fight for existence in particularly trying conditions. I admire it, and it is especially distinctive and remarkable, the way they have admirable reverence for the environment and their homeland and their deep ethical standards. I adored the exquisite examples of the plants and animals at Yaraan Grove, the Booran Tribe's ancestral home. The oldest tree, Gran Yan, which has silently witnessed their past, turns into a storyteller of long-forgotten folk tales and traditions as well as an emblem of their existence.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because it has some mistakes that need to be fixed. I did not find anything objectionable or dislike about this book, but I would like to give one piece of advice to the author: the conversation part can be written in the dialogs section so it gives more feeling and is more enjoyable to read rather than reading it like a paragraph. It has errors, so this book needs one more proofreading and editing round to make it perfect.
I recommend this to anyone who is curious about native Australian narratives and international folklore in general. A collection of stories, fables, and folklore will captivate everyone who appreciates the epic tales of past generations.
******
Native Companions
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Native Companions by Jenni Barnett
