Overall rating and opinion of "Ironbark Hill" by Jennie Linnane

mcurtis · Post by **mcurtis** » 16 Apr 2018, 17:00

I think the plot and characters were written well. I only cared for the main character, Natalie, the other characters didn't have much in redeeming charateristics. The mother was disappointing in her role. Her daughter was so dedicated to her and supported her in the end, when her mother was not protecting her while she was vulnerable. But this shows the relationship between an abused person and the abuser. The mother shut down and the children suffered. This continues to happen in today's society. This could be an eye opener for the priviledged who never had to deal with issues such as this. I think this is a good book to recommend for young adults and older teens to relate to ideals they may be facing.

RebeccasReading · Post by **RebeccasReading** » 16 Apr 2018, 18:04

This book was a tough one to read because of all the emotional weight. I thought it was excellent.

Farmgurl1 · Post by **Farmgurl1** » 16 Apr 2018, 18:49

I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing is so eloquent and almost poetic. The plight of Natalie to rise up against poverty, abuse and avenging her dead father is so powerful. I really liked that Natalie is such a strong character and keeps her head high even when she gets continuously beat down. There really wasn't anything I didn't like about the book. The book was very emotionally charged through and kept me interested. Easily one of the best books I have read this year.

DustinPBrown · Post by **DustinPBrown** » 17 Apr 2018, 06:04

I haven't read it yet, but reading all these positive comments makes me want to. It sounds like it deals with themes of trauma and abuse, so I hope it's not too intense for me

tevinamunga · Post by **tevinamunga** » 18 Apr 2018, 03:51

the book offers a great way to connect on a personal level with the an character,Natalia.Her character is just as stunning as the challenges she goes through as she lacks her mother's provision and guidance will make you empathise after you are done.
i would strongly recommend this to avid readers who are looking for a connection with the main character since there's so much inspiration and in-between lessons one will learn

Irene C · Post by **Irene C** » 18 Apr 2018, 11:16

I only cared for the main character, Natalie, the other characters didn't have much in redeeming charateristics. The mother was disappointing in her role. Her daughter was so dedicated to her and supported her in the end, when her mother was not protecting her while she was vulnerable.

I found that I could relate to the mother, somewhat. She had loved both Natalie's father and stepfather Alex, and it seemed that she was mostly beaten down by the stepfather's alcoholism and the poverty that resulted, as well as Alex's abuse. She seemed to be trying to make the best of a bad situation by enduring it the only way she could.

strawberrysab · Post by **strawberrysab** » 18 Apr 2018, 15:45

I loved this book, there was something very human about Natalie's protectiveness toward her mother and siblings. Kids have this kind of innate sensitivity. They can feel the vulnerability in those supposed to protect them and they become their protectors instead. It's sad but so real.

KatrinaP · Post by **KatrinaP** » 18 Apr 2018, 16:55

Slevasse wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 21:41 This book for sure had me stepping out of my genre comfort zone, but I was glad to.

It's always great to read books that stretch us a bit in terms of our comfort; I think sometimes we readers dig down into our favorite genres so far that we miss great books in different genres!

KatrinaP · Post by **KatrinaP** » 18 Apr 2018, 17:07

Farmgurl1 wrote: ↑16 Apr 2018, 18:49 The book was very emotionally charged through and kept me interested.

Many of the reviews note that this book is emotionally weighty; I think sometimes books that are heavily emotional can be hard to read but it seems that this one also has a solid story that keeps pace with the emotion. I'm definitely interested in reading this one as well.

Irishmom · Post by **Irishmom** » 18 Apr 2018, 18:34

This was hard for me to read, as I felt very protective of my siblings when we were kids. It was a very good portrayal of an abusive parent.

tlemire · Post by **tlemire** » 18 Apr 2018, 21:36

I just finished this book, and thought it was a good read. I felt like I really knew Natalie after going through the life-changing events with her and watching her grow and mature. I will be interested in reading other books by Jennie Linnane, and would recommend this one to others. That said, it all went a bit fast for me at the end. Would have liked there to be more substance in between what occurred with Alex and the end.

Chill01 · Post by **Chill01** » 18 Apr 2018, 23:35

I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars. The writer was a natural storyteller. She draws you into her world and you see what she does and feel what she feels. This was an intense book.
What I liked most was how she was able to bring the characters to life, give them all meaning and identity without going being overly wordy or redundant. I did not like some of the choices she made, to form a relationship with her employers' husband, and her rejection of her faith. The writer illustrated perfectly why she made those choices and it was in some ways, understandable. Her final dealing with her stepfather (without a spoiler), was unexpected and a bit alarming.

tlemire · Post by **tlemire** » 19 Apr 2018, 01:38

This was my first review and I gave it 3 out of 4 stars. After finishing my review and then reading other reviews, I lean toward a 4. The writer is a great author. There was a lot of substance to the story, and she didn't leave loose ends. All of my questions were answered. And while she made some choices not everyone would like, she made it clear why the choices were made so they were understandable.

Mildred Tabitha · Post by **Mildred Tabitha** » 19 Apr 2018, 01:47

I have read around 5 reviews about the book so I can fully understand what it is about. I is now a book I want to read and I just added it on my shelf. I am not sure if my personal experience is what has drawn me towards the book but I feel I can relate to it and reading it will be inspiring for me.

Christina Rose · Post by **Christina Rose** » 20 Apr 2018, 00:13

melissy370 wrote: ↑14 Apr 2018, 16:56 This is not my typical book to read but the author's writing style drew me in. I sympathized with Natalie since I grew up in a similar household, but I did not agree with her choices. The grandfather was my favorite character with his wit and quiet strength. His presence kept the family from exploding. My rating for the book is 3 out 4 stars because adultery seemed to be glorified, especially at the end.

I'm glad the author's writing style could draw you in, especially with a book you might not have read otherwise. I can understand why you would choose to rate this book a 3, considering the glorification of adultery. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.