There are far fewer novels by Australian and New Zealand writers available in the UK than might be expected given our common language. I’ve often wondered why, perhaps something to do with rights. Carrie Tiffany’s Mateship with Birds is a memorable exception.
Set in a small Australian settlement in the 1950s, it’s the story of two lonely middle-aged people, quietly losing whatever physical charms they once possessed but still yearning for sexual love, so tenderly portrayed that you find yourself desperate for someone to make the first move. Harry, a dairy farmer, lives next door to Betty and her two children. Both lead mundane lives, conscientious in their work. Harry’s a birdwatcher who records his observations in a dairy account book; Betty brings up her children, quietly letting assumptions that her husband died in the war stand. That may sound a bit dull, but Tiffany’s novel is a complete delight: funny, beautifully expressed and written with huge affection for ordinary unglamorous people which means most of us. The last line made me laugh out loud from sheer joy.
What about you, any blasts from the past you’d like to share?
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I ADORED this book and there are scenes that live on in my memory, especially little Hazel trying to draw a horse 🙂
I’m so glad you loved it, Kate. Her characters are wonderfully dawn.
Oh, I’d completely forgotten reading this! I liked it, but had to dig up an ancient review from my old blog to remember anything else: https://laurareadingbooks.blogspot.com/2012/09/birds-and-bullets.html
Thanks for the link, Laura. I’ve no idea why I’ve not read anything else by her. I’ll check out what’s available.
I’ve not come across this book or the author but I have made a note of it as it sounds utterly delightful – just right when you need a certain kind of poignant but sort of also cosy book to hit that spot!
Betty and Harry are so affectionately portrayed, and it’s very funny too.
This sounds really lovely. I’m going to look out for it!
I loved it! It’s quite earthy but if you don’t mind that, I’d recommend it.
Sometimes novels by Australian authors, published there first, turn up on the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and it’s the first I’ve heard of them.
It’s a mystery! You’d think, given our shared language, we’d hear much more about Australian fiction.
This is new to me but sounds wonderful!
It’s a real treat, Cathy. One to cheer yourself up with when you need it.