The Waddi Tree

Picked this book because Humphrey Bower was narrating. He is on my very very very short list of favorite voices. This story is wonderful; however I believe that this author could have made this into an exceptional book by reducing the amount of characters and going in-depth with main characters.
I just felt that I had not gotten to know anyone in within this novel.

I picked this book because it was narrated by my favorite, Humphrey Bower. And as always, he does not disappoint. This story, set in Australia, tells the story of two branches of the McAllister family. The main character whom the story unfolds around is Jim, who is a youngster when the story begins. We see him thru to adulthood. Kerry McGinnis gives us wonderful visuals of the outback and the inhabitants who live on a working stock farm/station there. I would recommend this book. It is not a fast paced thriller that burns up the pages with action but is a wonderfully layered story of a family who learns to live with tragedy and each other's quirks!

I grew up in Whyalla Australia and moved to Canada when I was 13. The writer has such a great knowledge and was able to paint a picture of the country,the weather,the relationships life on a station and so on. I really liked the book up to the ending.
I had hoped sentimentally I suppose that the writer could had provided more detail around the conclusion between Jim and Rob, the with the marriage to Ruth and her acceptance of the brother.Would have been nice to have closure on this perhaps in an epilogue if you didn't want to do a chapter. Leaving it to s to figure let me down a bit.
All in all a great yarn with true blue use of the language.
I reackon some not Australian would have some problems with the lingo. I assume in the written format you have a slang dictionary or they can sure find one on the net. Nice work look forward to more form the writer.

I loved this book, a great australian story

yes i will be looking out for titles

the narrator was great he gave each person in the book a special way of coming to life

yes read more books

take to time to listen to this one...great story about an australian family and the lives

I am continuing to listen to this book because the reader is fantastic. One of my all time favorites. But nothing is happening in this book and I'm nearly done! I'm disappointed. I have listened to numerouse Bryce Courtenay books and I love them. I thought I'd try a different author with Australia as the background. No comparison. Stick with Courtenay!

If I could give this novel a 6 out of 5 I would. Terrific story where you laugh and cry with the main character, Jim, as he grows and develops after a tragic family accident and the lost of his father to booze. The Australian landscape is vibrant; and absolutely no one is better than Humphrey Bower. I wish there were more books by Kerry McGinnis. This is a 'must download'.