Cloudstreet

This is the best book I have read. It is a clasic moving and interesting from beginning to end. I felt like I knew these people they were so ordinary and yet so rich.

A marvellous read. Beautifully written, wonderful characterisation, both funny and moving.
4.6 stars.

I've lived in Perth most of my life and am almost ashamed it took me so long to read Cloudstreet. The story is astounding. I turned it over in my mind for days after finishing it. My only (very slight!) issue was that Peter Hosking is obviously an east coast man, his pronunciation was a little off at times and it would have been lovely to make use of more West Australian talent.

excellent

Simply brilliant. Some of the Aussie slang may pass over the heads of some international readers though. It is now my favourite Audible book to date!

Very enjoyable

Dysfunctional Families Australian Style

Those words are the best I can come up with to depict this book. There are two families living in one house on Cloudstreet near Perth, Australia. This house and these families become the center attraction of the entire neighborhood. Both families are of the working class; in fact they are lucky if they even have a job. The time period is 1944-1964, so the end of the war and the hard times that followed determine the setting. Life is hard; it is a struggle. Booze, gambling, promiscuity, adultery, child abuse, anorexia and children with mental retardation - all play a central role in this novel. It sounds pretty depressing, doesn’t it? Sometimes, too, the language is downright crude. Nevertheless, by the end of the novel you care for the characters. Maybe they are total losers, but some of them are trying their best. Even the losers have some good qualities. There is moreover another theme to the book – the strength of families. So the book isn’t depressing, and there is humor, albeit sad humor.

I am glad I read this book. For me a three star book is one I liked; it is one I am glad I read! This book is considered an Australian classic. It is definitely a total immersion course in Australian life, at least those of the working class after WW2. It is so, so, so Australian - full of colloquialisms and expressions foreign to me. For this reason I must wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook narrated by Peter Hosking. Through his clever intonations you can more easily guess the meaning of expressions and words foreign to those of us who are not Australian. I LOVED how Oriel Lamb spoke. Yeah, she was also kind of my hero all through the story. There are lots of dialogs, and the characters are reinforced by the narrator’s ability to distinguish between each.

The conflict between the Aboriginal people and other Australians is portrayed to a lesser extent, but it is hinted at. The inherent wisdom of Aboriginal beliefs comes to the fore through spooky premonitions. I found this kind of corny, but I guess it had to be drawn into a book about Australian life. It sort of belongs.

As soon as I finished I had to go back and listen to the very first scene again...with tears running down my cheeks. Yes, I will listen to the whole thing again one day because I think it is one of those books where it's not just the story that is wonderful to listen to, it's revisiting "old friends" that will be fun.

I didn't really have a favourite character because the whole book is full of interesting and wonderful characters. This is definitely the book for those who love books about people. I was sad when the book finished because I felt that I had gotten to know the characters so well that I knew them and will miss them terribly.

He brings life to the story and characters. He did a terrific job.

I wouldn't want to take anyone out for dinner from Cloudstreet- I would invite myself over for dinner. I would be content to be a fly on the wall !

I listened to this book while I was renovating my house so now the characters and stories are embedded in my house too. I feel very sentimental about this book - so much so the first thing I did after I finished listening was purchase another Tim Winton book in the hope of finding another book just like it.

Top 10 - I really enjoy the narrative

When Mr Lamb would spin the bottle

When the two mothers danced together at the wedding

Winton's characters celebrate and suffer and Peter Hosking gives them voices that stay with you. This story is sad and hopeful full of details that puts you inside the head of each character. There are ghosts, talking pigs and a voice from beyond but it all seems real. It is a beautiful story of two complicated families. Listening to Peter's Australian accent and his singing of folk songs added a whole extra layer of joy. I loved this book and the reading.