In this ironically titled and exuberant first novel by Miles Franklin, originally published in 1901, Sybylla tells the story of growing up passionate and rebellious in rural New South Wales, where the most girls could hope for was to marry or to teach.Sybylla will do neither, but that doesn't stop her from falling in love, and it doesn't make the choices any easier.
Our first classic for the year found us, unsurprisingly, in an interesting discussion on the role of women in the 1800s. Sybylla, it was agreed, was cut from a different cloth than most young girls of the time, so created a wonderful character with which to base this very Australian story around.
Most of us had read this book at least once during our youth and some found it just as entertaining and enjoyable as the first time, while others saw the story through more mature and even slightly cynical eyes. The melodramatic style surrounding Sybylla and Harry Beecham's relationship found a few of us rolling our eyes, but most of us could see the maturity in the writing style from Franklin, considering she was but 16 when she penned this classic.
The description of the Australian bush and lifestyle was appreciated by all and Jeanette commented on the wonderful colloquial language that we hear so little of in today's Australian fiction.
Research into Miles Franklin herself was just as interesting as the book for some of us. She was quite an enigma in her later life and some of us wondered if she struggled with her sexuality in an era when women rarely admitted to such a thing.
Regardless of Franklin's age or preferences, My Brilliant Career has been held in high esteem internationally for many years, and we as a group are happy to include it on our list of very enjoyable reads.
Most of us had read this book at least once during our youth and some found it just as entertaining and enjoyable as the first time, while others saw the story through more mature and even slightly cynical eyes. The melodramatic style surrounding Sybylla and Harry Beecham's relationship found a few of us rolling our eyes, but most of us could see the maturity in the writing style from Franklin, considering she was but 16 when she penned this classic.
The description of the Australian bush and lifestyle was appreciated by all and Jeanette commented on the wonderful colloquial language that we hear so little of in today's Australian fiction.
Research into Miles Franklin herself was just as interesting as the book for some of us. She was quite an enigma in her later life and some of us wondered if she struggled with her sexuality in an era when women rarely admitted to such a thing.
Regardless of Franklin's age or preferences, My Brilliant Career has been held in high esteem internationally for many years, and we as a group are happy to include it on our list of very enjoyable reads.
