Official Review: Young in a Wild Place by Jacqueline Knox

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 30 May 2019, 18:43

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Young in a Wild Place" by Jacqueline Knox.]

2 out of 4 stars

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Young in a Wild Place, written by Jacqueline Knox, is a brave and candid account of the author’s experiences growing up in Broom, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, among the aboriginal people, struggling to be “accepted in a man’s world.” The first-person narrative revolves around the main character’s reflections on conciliating an ancient, wild, and traditional culture with a modern, technological one.

The book's timeline is a nonlinear one. It encompasses elements of the author's childhood and adult years, as well as her parents' backgrounds. The main character is likable and empathic. Knox shares with readers her endearing childhood memories, which involve being taken care of by the aboriginal women while her mom managed the family's homestead - with vast lawns, a multitude of flowers, and a vegetable garden. She also explores her love of horses in the narrative, describing how she learned how to handle wild horses with her dad.

The inside perspective on the Australian indigenous people, full of details about their beliefs, customs, and culture, was a noteworthy positive point. The author gives the reader an inside perspective on a way of life of which we know so little. I would never have thought of some of the characteristics that she mentions. Passionate about her ancestors and her country, Knox is also ambivalent about it. She is bothered by how the aboriginal culture weighs heavily on the young, sometimes leading to alcohol and drug abuse issues, as well as suicides.

To name a negative point, I found the narrative to be overly simplistic. Even though this comes across as an honest and heartfelt story, it is a bit shallow and bland. The author's relationship with her daughter Merilee, for example, could have been further developed, in my opinion. Additionally, the narrative often lacks coherence, consisting mainly of loose, isolated episodes.

Lastly, I found quite a few editing errors in the book, which is far from its most polished form. I don’t believe anyone proofread it, much less edited. So, due to the number of mistakes, I stopped taking note of them after a while. For this reason, and also for the simplistic narrative, I am taking two stars away from its rating. Therefore, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I believe it should appeal to readers interested in aboriginal cultures, especially when seen from a feminine perspective. Readers who prefer more elaborate narratives might not like it.

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Young in a Wild Place
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Wyland · Post by **Wyland** » 10 Jun 2019, 04:52

I like topical issues on the first-time experiences in new places. I think this would be an interesting novel to read. Thanks for the review.

Post by **kandscreeley** » 10 Jun 2019, 12:19

I would enjoy learning more about the Aboriginal people and their customs and cultures. It seems like it would be hard to "fit in" with the outside world. Still, the issues with the timeline and organization would be frustrating. Hopefully the author can fix a few things. Thanks!

Chrystal Oaks · Post by **Chrystal Oaks** » 10 Jun 2019, 15:57

Knox's personal history with the Aboriginal people is something I would be interested in reading. Hopefully Knox will fix the editing and organizational issues soon. I enjoyed reading your great review. Thanks!