Page 1 of 1

Review of Goanna Man

Posted: 29 Dec 2024, 23:48
by Lisa P Cowling
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Goanna Man" by Natasha Power Dixon.]
Book Cover
4 out of 5 stars
Share This Review


"Goanna Man" by Natasha Power Dixon is an amusing collection of short stories that details the adventures of Bruce Marsh, a popular professional Australian cowboy. Narrated by Bruce and compiled by Natasha, the stories offer a hilarious glimpse into Bruce's life. His escapades, which are set against the backdrop of the remote area of Australia and beyond, are filled with distinct personalities, surreal events, and unexpected challenges. From his childhood fantasy with firecrackers to running a horse riding school with his brother Ricky, Bruce's life is a combination of resilience and resourcefulness. Whether it’s a misunderstanding about a stolen saddle or unknowingly strolling down an unknown street, Bruce's ability to somehow navigate the problem and then proceed to laugh at the situation after kept me entertained. He also engaged in mishaps like mistaken road trips, close encounters with a crocodile, and hilariously attempting to impress a girl. 

Bruce's storytelling, I would say, is the heart of this book. I loved how the author was able to maintain a reader-focused tone as the story unfolded; the author tried to maintain the interest of the readers by sharing a variety of his personal anecdotes. The different experiences helped to keep the story fresh and intriguing. I also loved how each character was introduced in the book. They all had just enough personality to make them intriguing. Aside from Bruce, I took a great liking to Cait and Ash. I thought it was quite funny seeing them want to sell their toys to earn money. I also loved how the author captured authentic rural Australian voice, which, in my opinion, made this book unique. But I believe the author’s target audience goes beyond the Australian people. This book was mostly written in a colloquial manner, making it quite challenging to read at first. Writing in a third-person point of view at some point would have been better. So, I rate this book a 4 out of 5. This book had no errors, and Bruce's charm and intelligence shined throughout. His stories were a mixture of humor and the unique Australian spirit.

******
Goanna Man
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Re: Review of Goanna Man

Posted: 21 May 2025, 13:52
by Kibet Hillary
Bruce Marsh sounds like a really interesting person, and I particularly admire the trait of always getting out of a problem and then making a light moment of it all. I have always been a fan of stories from Australia, and hence this one is already on my to-read shelf. Thanks for the review, @Lisa P Cowling.

Re: Review of Goanna Man

Posted: 21 May 2025, 23:20
by Isreal Akor 2
Sounds like a really fascinating read. Bruce and Natasha are both making my day worthwhile.

Re: Review of Goanna Man

Posted: 24 May 2025, 10:47
by Hills Christopher Albert
I really enjoyed this review! It makes me curious about Bruce’s quirky adventures and the Aussie flavor of the stories. The mix of humor and local voice sounds like a refreshing read, even if the colloquial style might take some getting used to.

Re: Review of Goanna Man

Posted: 26 May 2025, 11:29
by Mary Okafor 1
I really love the story but the author should try and improve on his or her writing skills
Atleast the writing should be big so that people that are reading it will be able to see it ,the story is very interesting