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The Thorn Birds
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DAILY MAIL 'One of the biggest-selling, most widely read books in the history of fiction' OBSERVER 'A true epic... It's easy to see why this stunning tale has been called the Australian Gone With The Wind' DAILY TELEGRAPH *'Excellent'
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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From the Back Cover
Colleen McCullough's sweeping saga of dreams, struggles, dark passions, and forbidden love in the Australian Outback has enthralled readers the world over. This is the chronicle of three generations of Clearys, ranchers carving lives from a beautiful, hard land while contending with the bitterness, frailty, and secrets that penetrate their family. Most of all, it is the story of only daughter Meggie and her lifelong relationship with the haunted priest Father Ralph de Bricassart—an intense joining of two hearts and souls that dangerously oversteps sacred boundaries of ethics and dogma.
A poignant love story, a powerful epic of struggle and sacrifice, a celebration of individuality and spirit, Colleen McCullough's acclaimed masterwork remains a monumental literary achievement—a landmark novel to be cherished and read again and again.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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First Sentence
On December 8th,1915, Meggie Cleary had her fourth birthday. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
On December 8th,1915, Meggie Cleary had her fourth birthday. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By dragonfly
Format:Paperback
This novel truly is epic. The story and attention to detail is intriguing . . . that being said, I found some passages and characters more cumbersome than captivating. Strong, independent Meggie is suddenly weak and obsessed around the arrogant and somewhat emotionally obtuse Father Ralph . . . it became a bit tedious after some time to say the least. Back and forth and back and forth, too much drama and telling of the story as opposed to showing me the story. I don't know, this novel had all the makings of a great book, but something did not work for me, I think it was the somewhat irritating main characters. I would have loved to hear more about Fee or Frank, or any of the other beautifully introduced characters.
Yes, I know I am in the minority here, but I never felt engaged with any characters, and at the end I felt I was only just beginning to understand most of them.
Yes, I know I am in the minority here, but I never felt engaged with any characters, and at the end I felt I was only just beginning to understand most of them.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Smallchief
Format:Hardcover
"The Thorn Birds" looks like a story that will be with us for a while. It's certainly an above average novel in the "family saga" genre, even though I can't get quite as rapturous as many of the reviewers.
McCullough fits the cliche of "born storyteller." She puts a lot of words down on paper, spinning the yarn out a long, long time and with no small amount of extraneous stuff. For example, she devotes at least one hundred pages to the lives of Justine and Dane when what we really want to know is what happens to Meggie and Ralph -- the ill-fated lovers who dominate the book.
I don't find the love story of Meggie and Ralph all that compelling -- although it will keep you turning the pages. The real merit of "The Thorn Birds" is the vivid picture it gives of life on a sheep station in the Australian outback before about 1950 when life there became electrified and telephoneified, and more or less the same as everywhere else.
"Thorn Birds" would be better if it were cut down to about 500 pages from the present 700. It seriously falters when the emphasis shifts from the outback to the theater in London and the Vatican in Rome. These are dime-a-dozen stories, but life in the outback, now that's a tale worth telling! And the author does it well.
By Halifax Mary
Format:Paperback
Looks like enough reviews have been written about how wonderful this book is. Just want to say this is a must read for anyone who enjoys a great family saga. I rarely categorize any book as a "must" so it's not something I say lightly. It has to be a riveting read, a fantastic story, and unforgetable. This book is all three. TV miniseries was great as well.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A touching story
What I found amazing about this beautifully crafted love story is AMcCullough's exquisite writing style and his remarkable talent for this genre. Read more
Published on Aug 12 2005 by Sancho Mahle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Epic novel with great timing
I love this book! It is a beautiful story with full of right & wrong turn-outs from this passionate forbidding love between Maggie and Ralph. Read more
Published on Mar 1 2005 by C.W.Barnes
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest Romance Novel of All Time
I have read this at least a dozen times, and still love Meggie, Ralph, Fee, Paddy & Frank. A classic, cannot recommend it highly enough.
Published on Jun 8 2004 by Melissa McCauley
5.0 out of 5 stars
an old classic
could not put it down. Descriptive. Spicy. Delicious.
Published on May 17 2004 by snowblaze
5.0 out of 5 stars
A timeless story of love, ambition, and struggle!
This is a truly a great and classic novel. I do not bestow these oft-overused adjectives lightly. This is a story of deep, rich, and forbidden love, betrayal, tragedy, and... Read more
Published on April 8 2004 by Roger J. Buffington
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blown Away
I first read this book when I was thirteen, and now, four years later I am still taken away by this novel. Read more
Published on Feb 24 2004 by Miss Boleyn
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Grand Epic?!
Meant to be an elegant, thrilling, enthralling story that would span the lives of a family over three generations, "The Thornbirds" begins in in 1915. Read more
Published on Dec 29 2003 by Allyn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not a typical romance novel
I just recently caught the mini-series on TV, and my mom gushed how much she loved the story when she first saw it. Read more
Published on Nov 17 2003 by "starfire086"
2.0 out of 5 stars
Classify under "Romance"
If you're looking for a long, romantic yarn, this is a pretty decent one. The writing is quite good--you can feel the dust and heat of Australia, as it works its way under your... Read more
Published on Oct 14 2003 by Quickhappy
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Book is Better Than the TV Movie
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. Read more
Published on Oct 3 2003 by J. Fenk
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