The Road from Coorain

By: Jill Ker Conway

Narrated by: Barbara Caruso

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

In the 1930s, Jill Ker's parents bought a sheep farm on the western plains of New South Wales. In 1944, they lost nearly everything when a drought hit. Forced to leave Coorain, 11-year-old Jill and her mother settled in Sydney, where Jill struggled to find a place for herself among Sydney's elite.

Her story, both a chronicle of life in the Australian outback and the odyssey of a brilliant woman fighting the constraints of her time, offers a loving view of Australia.

Includes an audio afterword by the author.

©1989 Jill Ker Conway (P)1993 Recorded Books, LLC

Very Interesting

I received an education about Australia, whose history I've neglected until now. Conway's upbringing, education, and eventual departure from her homeland is most unique, while generously managing to convey for most readers connections into Conway's experiences and views. "Independent and brave" certainly sums this character's life. The writing is beautifully detailed and poetic, making the listening a delight.

One Woman’s Struggle to Fulfill her Aspirations

Australia is a major character in this story of family struggle and success. Dr. Conway knows how to give life to details that make the story both believable and interesting. At the end of the book, I wanted to continue with her life as an accomplished adult. It was too short.

Fantastic book

A professor friend of mine, who is also from Australia, recommended this book to me. She is a friend of the author. My friend was raised in Australia but had a different back ground. Her father was a university history professor and her mother was Australia most famous composer. They shared the same boarding school experience. They became friends here in the U.S. when both were professors. I am sure glad I took my friend's advice. This is a great book. Conway paints a picture in rich detail of life in the outback. I could feel myself there with the wind on my face. What a hard life the ranchers had and probably still do. I was most interested in her description of the stoic character of the Australian people. She described my friend personality to a tee. Conway takes us on a journey of self discovery both of her personal life with the lost of her father and older brother to finding her place in academia. In passing, she furnished, a great insight into the difference between high school learning and university learning. She provides a great deal of information of the daily life of a girl growing up in the late1930s to 1960 Australia. She describes the gender discrimination which I could easily relate to having grown up in the same time frame. I had read "A Town Named Alice" from Audible, also about Australia, between the two books they paint an fascinating picture of Australia's out back. Barbara Caruso did a great job narrating the book. Enjoyed the pre and post comments by Jill Ker Conway. You will enjoy this book.

riveting autobiography

The author writes a compelling account of growing up in the Australian bush country.
The challenges she faced within her family, her education and her career including the choices she made, ensured her ultimate success. How she succeeded through them provides insight both to her individual experience as well as to each individual.

So glad I (finally) listened to my aunt

When I was in my early 20s and ready to set off for 2 years as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, I asked friends and family to recommend books I might take along with me, and an aunt who knew me well recommended this one. Unfortunately I didn't bring it along, and I didn't get around to reading it until now, nearly 20 years later. So glad I finally did. What a beautifully written memoir! And what a fine example of an intelligent, thoughtful girl's journey of self-discovery. The descriptions of 1940s life in the Australian outback are vivid and fascinating, and the taste of life in Sydney during the author's adolescent years and young adulthood are equally interesting. Barbara Caruso's narration is superb, as usual.

Quite a woman. Quite a journey.

From Australia’s outback to President of Smith College. Jill Ker Conway lead at times a very challenging life. She made choices that few would’ve been able to. I not only loved her story, but the insights into her decision-making. The book starts out a bit slow, but by a third of the way in I was hooked.

Wonderful story

I Loved this very descriptive account of a life lived in Australia the culture and the family dynamics. The narrator really brought this story to life!

An absolutely wonderful story.

Such an inspiring story about childhood, family and life itself, loved it! And the detailed descriptions of australia, just make you want to see it yourself.

Fascinating

Really enjoyed her account of growing up in the outback. Interesting to hear positive opinions of Americans from an outsider. Of corse this was in the 50’s.

Wonderful memoir

Before listening to this book, I had never heard of Jill Ker Conway. Wow! Such a wonderful example of a strong independent woman. Barbara Caruso reads this book beautifully...