The Thorn Birds (Virago Modern Classics)

The Thorn Birds was written by Australian novelist Colleen McCoullough, who sadly died 29 January 2015, aged 77. It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and was adapted into a TV series in 1983. It is an epic tale spanning the years 1915 to 1969, following three generations of the Cleary family from their humble beginnings in New Zealand to the home of a wealthy yet elderly family member in Australia. The novel is predominantly based at this fictional Australian Sheep Farm, Drogheda and the family encounter many difficulties, including bereavements, incarceration, affairs, the Second World War and such forth. It is interesting to see how the generations change and adapt and every generation of Cleary woman seems that little bit happier, freer and more content than the last, perhaps. I could not put this book down and believe men and women alike would enjoy and benefit from reading it. As well as containing a lot of fascinating information about the Australian's wildlife and culture, it contains valuable historical references such as Australia's role in the defeating of Hitler in WWII. More significant for me however was the novel's approach to love, so real, genuine, honest and refreshing. It truly is a masterpiece and even considering the novels' enormous 692 pages I didn't want it to end. I would like to read more Australian novelists' works as well as the rest of Colleen McCollough's, including, 'An Indecent Obsession'. You will love the story of the Thorn Bird, so magnificently sad; yet beautiful.

Excellent brand new book in Excellent quality box. Very quick delivery too

I wanted to love this book, because the concept is fantastic, but it kept "missing" for me, which exasperated me somewhat. If you imagine this is the story of a girl and her love for a priest you are wrong. It's a long-winded saga, and that relationship is only a small part of the story. It's too long by a few hundred pages as there isn't enough in it. It rambles on at the end. I'm not sure why we even needed the Justine/ Dane/ Rainer stuff. It makes an untidy end. I love books with a powerful sense of place, and you certainly get that with the outback parts. I don't think the twins going to war was necessary to document in detail, as it didn't push the story on. There was too much of the Vatican too, I felt, as I get annoyed when a book so centred in place suddenly moves elsewhere. Overall the style is fine and easy to read. There are a few clunky word choices, but you always get those. I found the changes of POV from one paragraph to another were confusing: Towards the end we have a paragraph about Justine in London, and the next is from Meggie's POV in Australia. I thought it was somewhat odd that not one of the Cleary men married. I realise they would not meet many people where they live, but perhaps one of the twins could have met someone while away at war. It seems to be a sexless, rather sterile family (Meggie's generation). I did not take to any of the characters, except perhaps Dane. This sounds a negative review. It's not. I read it quickly and I give it four stars. If it was a dish (I know this is pretentious) I would say it needs seasoning. There was just something missing from what could have been am incredible, powerful story of love, God, morals etc. I would have preferred less of a saga, and more of a shorter love story, kept tighter with more tension. I do realise that styles have changed over the last 30 odd years and maybe that is it: it is simply dated. Having said all this, I reckon I will read it again, and I recommend it. Just don't expect an overwhelming tortured love story.

I first read this book following its original publication and absolutely loved it then. I then watched the TV series and mostly loved that too. Periodically over the years I had thought to re read it so it was with delight that I saw it come up on my kindle for 99p - wow - how seductive was that so I promptly downloaded it. I have not been disappointed. Yes I recalled the story and knew what was coming from chapter to chapter but this did not quell my enthusiasm to continue reading. It is still one of the best - actually I should say greatest novels I have read. Time since first written does not diminish its excellence. I urge readers to read it. It is a marathon of over 700 pages but a marathon worth entering. Reading it this time I could now picture the various locations having visited each of them on my latter holidays. This added to the enjoyment. It is a book on relationships, loyalty, wasted years in life and powerful story lines for each character. Read read read and devour the sheer brilliance of this author.

I read this when it first came out, and also saw the TV series which was a bit of a travesty. Seeing it again and available for less than a pound on Kindle, I thought it would kill a bit of time. I was astonished to rediscover what a good book it is - it's so long since I read it and in my mind it had become a bit of a soapy/ early chick-lit type saga, but it really isn't. Although it's basically a love story, it's not sentimental or romanticised at all. Meggie is not a soft pliable heroine at the mercy of men, she turns out to be strong and resourceful and shapes her own fate where she can. The depiction of life in Australia in the first half of last century, its toughness and the toughness of the people that lived it together with many incredibly vivid descriptions of the natural surroundings, all comes over as truly authentic and believable. As a fifty something with Irish Catholic origins and a family member as a priest I can understand the utter taboo of the subject matter and what a huge thing it would have been. I really recommend this book, it's a great read.

Un peu deçue par son format car j'ai voulue acheter un livre plus grand que celui que j'avais déjà. Finalement il est des mêmes dimensions. Mais ce n'est pas grave, j'adore ce livre et très contente d'en avoir un de plus.

When writing, acting, music, and films had something to say and told us a story. I did not really understand the big deal about Barbara Stanwyck when I was 16 as I intensely watched this. 30 something years later, I began watching Turner Classic Movies and I taken the time to enjoy ALL of her films and I was made to appreciate the Thorn Birds even more. I felt for her soul all the way. She was in pain with love and lust and her eyes weren't old, her heart wasn't old, her desires weren't old, it was only her body. If Father Ralph met Stanwyck in her earlier day opposite Henry Fonda, I bet that Father De Brisscart would not have needed to feel pious and wholesome. I love Meg and Father's relationship the most. I had feels just like for much older men into their late 28s when I was 11 and in the 80s, it was a fantasy, but now it is a Scarlet Letter, a stalking and being a prisoner of life. Well executed film for TV and worth having in your permanent film collection. Also, I got the DVS version, but this does not matter, the seller was excellent and they did not disappoint, not a one, and also, the package was sealed in clear wrapping to show the care they took to sell this. Another awesome story from the 80s.....The book and the mini series will always be the best and not that new junk that they have the nerve to remake. Who ever remakes this should have "old Hollywood" return and break their knee caps and watch a LOT of excellent films so that they will learn how to cast, budget, use a camera, spend the money, and much more, It would be the best knee cap breaking these young Gen Y film makers can hope for. I really do mean break every bone in a dirt-bag's knee cap. No Joke. A great film or excellent performances would be left alone to enjoy and to savour. NO one should remake what has already been done. Gen Y...WHY? Watch this mini-series, it is better than a theatrical release and well worth keeping, I 'll never forget this from my HS teenage years. I loved those two together when Sidney Penny grows up and becomes Rachel Ward..now THAT is excellent casting. 80s women were real and beautiful, talented, not snotty and not blonde, dead goodness too many blondes, too loud and dress terrible for professionalism. Give us back the men who look like real men and women who inspired other women for being the strong silent type. Thank you Colleen MC Collough. You captured telling a story with Australian History, took our minds to a place we have never been before and created work for hundreds of perfectly, gorgeous talents people who did not need to be a ho or shout or to be on You Tube for attention. This was the real thing. Thank you. Buy it as the novel AND the film. either way, no waste of time shall you ever consider this art in motion to be. Long Live Rachel Wood and Richard Chamberlain in the film version and how Colleen pictured them exactly as they came to life on screen.

The author didn’t have any main male characters alive but one, while the women of three generations all survive.

The book revels you from within.You could feel the pain and joy and live the journey as the book progresses.A must read

Great book Very entertaining Hard to out the book down as it's well written Great story A great companion to the mini series on dvd A good read