Welcome to Litsy!

Somehow despite living in Australia for over a decade I was not familiar with this book. I was recently on a short trip and managed to finish the book I‘d brought along on the first night, so ducked to an op shop and found this. What a fantastic find. Interesting from a colonial history, and near history (written in 1968) perspective. Important, gripping, bloody.

Oh the horror, the violence; how many thousands of Indigenous Australians were slaughtered, raped or assaulted over the years? Similar to Toni Morrison's Beloved, through questioning the insanity of the violence of Jimmy Blacksmith one cannot but question how much more violence was perpetrated against his people and not just the violence but the assault on all levels: demolition of language, culture, religion, food and meaning.

An important book, a very important book. Gripping, bloody, tragic. A bit unputdownable for me. #aussieclassics