The Thorn Birds
by Colleen McCullough
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Book Reviews of The Thorn Birds
Book Review: Thanks, Stephen King, For Convincing Me To Read This Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Not directly, never met him, but his positive comments in Danse Macabre compelled me to dig up this 1970's mega-hit when otherwise I'd probably never have done so. This novel is among my favorite works of modern fiction. Despite its being set in Australia, it reminds me a lot of the very best in US southern gothic. The tale here is much bigger than the "priest breaks vows with fetching Irish girl" that so many seem to focus on. Sure, that's an inescapable part of the plot, but what really made this story for me was its sweeping scope. The Thorn Birds begins in New Zealand in the early 20th century and concludes, after spanning the world, in Australia in modern times. Between the points of its beginning and its ending, a reader trails along on a ride that covers all that is mighty in the human experience. It is the story of one family's unlikely climb from poverty to social heights, and it is the tale of a gifted cleric whose unique communion with God is not severed by the extremes of his far-from-amoral conduct. There is much to love in The Thorn Birds, and the characters are magnificently created by the brilliant Colleen McCullough. There is passion in this book, and there is the undeniably gruesome. Tragedy is always lurking and appears when it is least expected: or wanted. Above all else there is a statement here, I think I'm correct in defining, regarding the nature of human life, and how in the end not one of us can ever achieve our fullest measure by dwelling strictly in happiness alone. This was the best sort of novel, one like Gone With The Wind, or Lonesome Dove, that took me completely by surprise with the wonders of its heights and its depths.Book Review: A modern classic to rival "Gone With the Wind"
Summary: 5 Stars
Colleen McCollough's "The Thorn Birds" is more than just a beautifully written epic. It transports the reader into another time and place so completely and effortlessly that it is virtually impossible to put the book down. I found myself resenting the interruptions of my real life when I first read it, at the age of 12, in 1978. From Ms. McCollough I learned about the process of menstruation, experiencing with Meggie her fear and awe as her body changed and grew. In this book, I discovered my own emotional range, which was far greater than I had ever known. Perhaps because I first read it at such a vitally impressionable age -- and I should mention that I have read and re-read the book more than twenty times in the 30 years that have passed since then -- "The Thorn Birds" came to represent my coming-of-age story. Meggie Cleary is the character with whom I have identified my entire adult life, never mind the fact that I am a gay man living sixty years later and half a world away from her. Her agonies, her triumphs, her strength, and, most of all, her capacity to love, left an impression on my young spirit that have only grown more intense with the passing years. Needless to say, this is my all-time favorite book, but more than that, it is a life-changing experience for the reader who can appreciate the detail of Ms. McCollough's research, the elegance of her prose, the depth and humanity of her characters. "The Thorn Birds" is truly one of the greatest works of literature ever written, the kind of masterpiece that every artist dreams of producing just once in a lifetime.Book Review: Touching, beautiful saga that leaves reader overwhelmed!
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough is my favorite novel. It is in a category by itself and deserves more than five stars. I saw ten minutes of the miniseries on television and knew I had to read the book. I was twelve, and the story of Meggie and Ralph moved me to hysterical tears. I am now 18, and I have read the book so many times I have lost count. Set in the Australian Outback in the years surrounding WWII, it is the story of a girl growing up, learning that "The best is only bought at the cost of great pain...Or so says the legend." The courage and strength of Meggie despite the tremendous hardships of her life inspires me. I must admit I fell in love with Ralph de Bricassart; first with his name, then with the man. (I can only hope to find such a person!) All of the other characters--Fee, Paddy, Frank, Dane, Justine, Rain--are developed clearly throughout the story. McCullough is a genius for combining three generations of the Cleary family into one novel! I still cry when I read the story, for the love, and for the pain. The introductory story of the thornbird is a lesson for life: all sadness will pass, and one day something beautiful will come from that pain. A highly emotional book, "The Thorn Birds" is the best work of this century. It is worth reading to anyone who enjoys drama and romance, as well as suspense, action, and sadness! The movie based on the novel starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward is an excellent interpretation.Book Review: Touching, beautiful saga that leaves reader overwhelmed!
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough is my favorite novel. It is in a category by itself and deserves more than five stars. I saw ten minutes of the miniseries on television and knew I had to read the book. I was twelve, and the story of Meggie and Ralph moved me to hysterical tears. I am now 18, and I have read the book so many times I have lost count. Set in the Australian Outback in the years surrounding WWII, it is the story of a girl growing up, learning that "The best is only bought at the cost of great pain...Or so says the legend." The courage and strength of Meggie despite the tremendous hardships of her life inspires me. I must admit I fell in love with Ralph de Bricassart; first with his name, then with the man. (I can only hope to find such a person!) All of the other characters--Fee, Paddy, Frank, Dane, Justine, Rain--are developed clearly throughout the story. McCullough is a genius for combining three generations of the Cleary family into one novel! I still cry when I read the story, for the love, and for the pain. The introductory story of the thornbird is a lesson for life: all sadness will pass, and one day something beautiful will come from that pain. A highly emotional book, "The Thorn Birds" is the best work of this century. It is worth reading to anyone who enjoys drama and romance, as well as suspense, action, and sadness! The movie based on the novel starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward is an excellent interpretation.Book Review: The Book is Better Than the TV Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Having been a long-time fan of The Thorn Birds mini-series on TV, I finally got around to reading the book. And am I very glad I did. McCullough's prose provides readers with an incredible amount of background of both Australia and the characters that no movie could ever match. The book delves into the minds of many of the main characters, giving readers a better sense of their inner-selves, what makes each of them tick. Perhaps the best insight focuses on Father Ralph de Bricassart and Meggie Cleary. Ralph's battle between loving God and Meggie is explored in a manner that makes his anguish truly believable. Likewise, Meggie's anger at God for withholding from her the men sho loves most is detailed in a way that readers can identify with her plight, too. Information of the true character of hardened, undemonstrative Fiona Cleary, Meggie's mother, is trickled into the plot throughout the entire book. Meggie's children, Justine and Dane, allow the plot to progress to it's expected, bittersweet ending. The Drogheda sheep station is another important character, providing the characters a stable home they can always come back to. Which they all do, time and again. A strong cast of secondary characters adds to the real-life quality of this sad tale. This book is a true modern classic and a must read for anyone who loves lengthy, well-written historical fiction.