Cloudstreet

Short Summary


The quote across the cover of my copy of this book says it all… The Modern Australian Classic. And Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet really is that, but it’s also an incredible barometer of just how radically Australia has changed since the years after the Second World War, which is when this story is set from 1944 to 1964.

Cloudstreet

Eliza's Review

This is by far Winton’s best-known book and it conjures a bitter Australia of beaches, waves, fishing boats and rivers in his family saga that proves the point that we are all ultimately connected.

The Lamb family and the Pickles family escape from their own separate tragedies in an attempt to rebuild their lives and find themselves living under the same roof of the big, old haunted house on Cloud Street over 20 years. The families grow, change and live intersecting lives. They are opposites in many fundamental ways, but both families have mastered their own personal brands of dysfunction, and through sleights of destiny are fostered along by bouts of gambling, love, alcoholism, as well as a dark, menacing energy.

Cloudstreet’s backbone is its black comedy, and just enough of it to temper the tragedy. This rambling story of all the messy characters within Cloudstreet proves that our capacity to experience is limitless and that sometimes pure endurance is needed to get through this long life of sorrow and joy. And if you can do that with forgiveness and compassion intact it’s a good life indeed.

Cloudstreet

You'll Love It If

You love a rollicking, rolling satirical family saga that makes you feel like one of the family when you laugh while you cry. It has a beautiful sense of belonging.

ARE YOU SQUINTING READING THIS?
Struggling to read the small print?

It is likely to be Presbyopia or another eye condition. Book an eye test (based on your eye health needs) with one of our optometrists today and learn more.

Keep up to date with all our book club reviews.

Girl. Woman. Other.

Girl, Woman, Other

READ REVIEW
How do we know we're doing it right

How Do We Know We're Doing It Right?

READ REVIEW
Boy Swallows Universe

Boy Swallows Universe

READ REVIEW