So, I usually purchase two versions of the book. A paperback copy and an audio book. These audio books are read by actors and totally bring the whole thing to life. I find I can concentrate on the imagery and the plot twists, etc, when not having to read the text.

Then, after listening to the story at least once I read the paperback a couple of times.

Wonderful way to cope with long journeys.

They’ve been filming for the past few months, and my brother got the roll of Ted Pickles. I can’t really comment on the book as I’ve only just started reading it.

But I think you should definitely watch the mini series and see how it compares!

he speaks and nobody but fish understands him
fish is clearly a symbol of christianity
christians primarily follow the bible
and the bible says we cant eat pigs, or any animal that is cleft footed or chews of the cud for that matter.
of course the bible was written with those messages so that the people in the time it was written wouldnt get disease and the like.

i believe that by killing the pig the lambs would have completely severed the ties with their relationship with ‘god’.
when the pig is attacked by dogs and nursed back to health by the lambs its symbolic of their slowly strengthening relationship with god, clearly demonstrated by the increasing number of religous references as the novel progresses.

Overall, the novel is filled with too many tiny details that everybody pays too much attention to, even Tim Winton. For a novel set over 20 years following the lives of people from their youths to their deaths, why do we know more about the pig than we do about Chub pickles

If you think it doesn’t have a plotline, you are completely and utterly wrong. It’s plot begins with the death of the Aboriginal girl and ‘hag’ woman, and is even further constructed as the two families (The Lamb’s and The Pickles) come together under the one roof.

As the story goes on, we see the battles that the Australian working class is sometimes forced to deal with, and this leads us to one of the most relevant themes of the novel: the importance of family and home. Without our family, we are nothing. Our families shape who we are, and that is what Winton is trying to get across. Together they are able to pull through every challenge that comes their way.

The book is also about Fish’s journey of self-discovery. If you don’t understand the narrative structure, the entire novel is written through the eyes of the healthy adult version of Fish, who we know was brain-damaged when he nearly drowns. In his final moments, Fish is able to look back over his life and the lives of his family, and the novel is about him finally being able to understand.

As for the talking pig, this creature is no different to the ghosts that haunt Cloudstreet, it is used as a device in helping the reader to understand Fish’s childlike frame of mind. When Lester is able to hear the pig speak, it symbolises the fact that he is able to understand where Fish is at.

Lastly, I would just like to talk you through my favourite scene of the novel. It is the one where Rose and Quick make love for the first time, in the library. Their passions and lust for one another are enough to drive away the “shifty shadows” that haunt Cloustreet. I think it’s beautiful the way Winton is able to portray the fact that we, as people, can come together and overcome any obstacle.

I must go out and get/read more Tim Winton books~!

I think Winton has done a great job, also love his new one breathe and went to his talk at the orpheum. was soooooo good! so good to listen to.