Review: 'The Thorn Birds' by Collen Mccullough
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Review: 'The Thorn Birds' by Collen Mccullough
'The Thorn Birds' is not a book adults would usually recommend young teenagers. At age twelve, I literally had to sneak this book in and out from under my mom's pillow with a thumping heart to read. It lay there for around two weeks before it was locked up. It is the first big book I read and cried over, though I read it too young to understand the underlying meaning of the title itself.
Years later, my second reading of this Australian classic was not as much thrilling. But I still love this book!
Collen Mccullough weaves three generations of the Cleary family in this story. The central character, Meggie Cleary is celebrating her fourth birthday as the story unfolds. She is the beautiful daughter of laboring Irishman, Paddy Cleary and Fee Armstrong Cleary, an aristocratic woman who has seen hard times. Meggie has six brothers.
The big family sets sail from Newzealand to Australia at an invitation by Paddy's wealthy sister, Mary Elizabeth Carson who owns the vast state of Drogheda. I instantly fell in love with the sheep farm along with the Cleary's in spite of the flies, the scorching heat, the endless dust and the fire. Meggie is destined to meet an ambitious handsome Irishman there, Father Ralph de Bricassart, a catholic priest.
I can totally relate to Meggie though I don't share as many brothers as hers. Growing up as the only daughter in a family of sons can leave you pretty forlorn at times. At the first sign of any indulgence shown, young Meggie makes Ralph her everything and confides in him. Later stages, they are in love! That was something inevitable I saw coming all along.
Ralph, a man torn between his commitment to God and his strong desires for Meggie, I pitied him at times and detested the choices he had to make. I hated malicious Mary Carson and cringed when Ralph accepted her will. The plots are interesting! With little chances to pursue her love interest, Meggie marries Luke which I felt was sacrificial on her part but at the same time a blunder.
You'll have to read up to find out what happens to the love that was nurtured at the early stages of the story. There is pain in the story that is undeniable. But it is caused by the situation the characters they themselves put in. Thus, the title 'The Thorn Birds' is apt. It refers to the thorn bird which flies in search of a thorn from the day it leaves its nest. When it finds the thorn, it pierces its breast on it as it sings a sweet song and dies.
I recommend it if you are in for a classic love story.I would mark the book 4 out of 4 rating.
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Ralph De Bricassart, now I have differing views of him. I think he is a good person but I could never forgive the way he almost toyed with Maggie's heart her whole life. I mean why couldn't he choose? Was he of such high opinion of himself that he thought he deserved to be more than just the ordinary person who's main goal in life is to love and be loved? I don't know but I found his indecisiveness a little annoying at times. And then I always wondered how he didn't get that Dean was his? I mean, how could she have gone back to Luke after being with him? If he loved her truly, he would have known right away. But I guess it makes sense because we hurt those we love most of all.
This will forever be my favorite quote from this book and just in general, "Poor, little Maggie. You still think love can save us. It’s more killing than hate. Hate is so clean, so simple. Like being in the ring. With hate, you just keep hitting. You hit until they stop hitting back. With love they never stop."
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