Review of Ironbark Hill
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Peggs5
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Review of Ironbark Hill
[Following is a volunteer review of "Ironbark Hill" by Jennie Linnane.]
Ironbark Hill by Jennie Linnane tells the tale of a poor farm girl. Narrated by the main character Natalie, she tells her story of her sixteenth year. It was this year, she proclaims, that outlined the rest of her life. While trying to grow into her womanhood and find who she is and what she wants to do with her life, Natalie also has to conquer other obstacles in her way. Some of those obstacles include an abusive and alcoholic stepfather, bullies at school, almost being raped, and seeing death. The luxury of a simplistic lifestyle on a farm is something Natty unfortunately does not have.
A positive aspect about this novel is that the author does an impeccable job at making sure the reader can differentiate which version of Natty is speaking. While we know the fifty-year-old version of herself is the narrator, there are moments in the book when the sixteen-year-old is expressing her thoughts. Linnane makes each transition between old and young Natty smooth and easy to decipher. The younger Natty is naïve but mature for her age and absorbs everything around her, such as advanced vocabulary. Her older self reflects everything she learned and how she used it to transform herself into a proper and intelligent lady.
I did not find anything negative about this book. At first I thought it was going to be solely about turmoil between a stepfather and his stepdaughter, but it was so much more. Looking back now, I can recall a very specific moment in my life that gave me the ability to know exactly the person I wanted to be. I guess we all must have those instances in our youth that highlight who we are and who we will be as adults. Natty’s story reflects the struggle it takes sometimes to grow up.
I give Ironbark Hill 4 out of 4 stars. It was a joy to read from beginning to end. To be part of the Townsend and Chapman family was an adventure. The emotions of love and hate were so well portrayed that it was hard not to have the same feelings. Every fight was a stab in the heart and every gentle touch or voice made a fluttering sensation in my stomach. I even fell in love with Natty’s pet heifer!
I would recommend this book to high school aged children and above. With the presence of minor profanity, nudity, sex, violence, and alcohol abuse, this novel would be best suitable for more mature adolescence and adults. Young girls around fourteen to seventeen, I feel, would gain quite a bit from reading this book.
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Ironbark Hill
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Ironbark Hill by Jennie Linnane tells the tale of a poor farm girl. Narrated by the main character Natalie, she tells her story of her sixteenth year. It was this year, she proclaims, that outlined the rest of her life. While trying to grow into her womanhood and find who she is and what she wants to do with her life, Natalie also has to conquer other obstacles in her way. Some of those obstacles include an abusive and alcoholic stepfather, bullies at school, almost being raped, and seeing death. The luxury of a simplistic lifestyle on a farm is something Natty unfortunately does not have.
A positive aspect about this novel is that the author does an impeccable job at making sure the reader can differentiate which version of Natty is speaking. While we know the fifty-year-old version of herself is the narrator, there are moments in the book when the sixteen-year-old is expressing her thoughts. Linnane makes each transition between old and young Natty smooth and easy to decipher. The younger Natty is naïve but mature for her age and absorbs everything around her, such as advanced vocabulary. Her older self reflects everything she learned and how she used it to transform herself into a proper and intelligent lady.
I did not find anything negative about this book. At first I thought it was going to be solely about turmoil between a stepfather and his stepdaughter, but it was so much more. Looking back now, I can recall a very specific moment in my life that gave me the ability to know exactly the person I wanted to be. I guess we all must have those instances in our youth that highlight who we are and who we will be as adults. Natty’s story reflects the struggle it takes sometimes to grow up.
I give Ironbark Hill 4 out of 4 stars. It was a joy to read from beginning to end. To be part of the Townsend and Chapman family was an adventure. The emotions of love and hate were so well portrayed that it was hard not to have the same feelings. Every fight was a stab in the heart and every gentle touch or voice made a fluttering sensation in my stomach. I even fell in love with Natty’s pet heifer!
I would recommend this book to high school aged children and above. With the presence of minor profanity, nudity, sex, violence, and alcohol abuse, this novel would be best suitable for more mature adolescence and adults. Young girls around fourteen to seventeen, I feel, would gain quite a bit from reading this book.
******
Ironbark Hill
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
