The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

I probably shouldn’t be writing this post yet. I’m angry and disappointed. Angry at the author of this book, who I feel betrayed her characters. Disappointed that the author so flippantly dismissed the depth of the very relevant relationship which she had created between two complex people, only to have this relationship violated, and dismissed, as if these two people were mere acquaintances.

In order to further explain my frustration, enjoy the following story: There’s a little bluebird that comes to a woman’s window every day for 60 years. Every morning, he lands on her planter box, spins around on one foot, takes a bow, winks at her and then flies away. After 60 years of this bird’s consistent behavior, the woman wakes up one morning. She’s learned that she has cancer. She looks out the window. She sees the bird approaching and is heartened. He lands on the planter, glares at the woman, turns around, poops on her window, and flies away.

I’m not saying the bluebird should have moved into the woman’s house to be her pet. I’m not saying the bluebird should have cured the woman’s cancer. All I’m saying is that if the ^&*#ing bird can’t find it within himself to act the same way he has without fail, for the last 60 years, on this very important day when the woman is suffering, perhaps he shouldn’t be in this bloody story!

Having said all of this, I very thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, until about 50 pages from the end, I loved this book.

It really was a beautiful story of three generations of the Cleary family—their journey from poverty in New Zealand to wealth in Australia. The book was published in 1977, but was set in the early 1900s and runs past the end of World War II. I confess that the inclusion of intimate relations was an exciting change from the stuffy mid 19th century books I’ve been reading lately. The book was well written, characters were well developed (until they were betrayed), the storylines were complete, and the book was a very quick paced, easy read.

Favorite passages:
(in reference to Mary Carson…I’m a Scorpio myself and found this amusing)
"Why, and to be sure it means herself is a Scorpio woman, does it not? A Scorpio woman, now!”
“I haven't got the slightest idea what you're talking about, Min!”
“The wurrst sign a woman can find herself born into, Mrs. Smith darlin'. Och, they're children of the Devil, so they are!” pg. 163

(Father Ralph speaking to the doctor delivering Meggie’s baby)
"the church is adamant on that point, Doctor. No choice must ever be made. The child cannot be done to death to save the mother, nor the mother done to death to save the child.” He smiled back at Doc Smith just as maliciously. “But if it should come to that, Doctor, I won't hesitate to tell you to save Meggie, and the hell with the baby." Pg. 364

(Meggie, comparing Ralph to Luke)
"And her hands itched with the feel of Luke's back when he held her close in a dance, she was stirred by him, his touch, his crisp vitality. Oh, she never felt that dark liquid fire in her bones for him, she never thought that if she didn't see him again she would wither and dry up, she never twitched and trembled because he looked at her." Pg. 292

If this were a movie, I’d rate it: R

Overall Grade: A-
Would I recommend this to my friends? Yes…I think. I’m still really frustrated, but I think I’d recommend it.