Review: Another Compelling Chapter in the Billabong Series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 10, 2014
Just like the first book the Billabong saga, Dreaming is another wonderful glimpse into an authentic era of Australia, telling a story from a perspective that is rarely seen. The aboriginal history of Australia is so often overlooked or taken for granted, much like the history of Native Americans in my own country. Experiencing such a well fleshed out novel, full of rich characters that are only taking their first steps in the series (I expect them to be around for a few more books), made for a vivid and powerful read. I particularly liked how Shell could so clearly establish the difference between the "white" society and the aboriginal or wild society of other characters. Unlike other "wrong side of the tracks" type novels where cultures clash, Shell didn't take a side, but merely told the story from an object third person view, allowing the reader to make the hard moral choices.Obviously, given the facts, it was hard not to side with Billy, Jarrah, and Jim, but at the same time, it is difficult to fault Emily for acting in the only way that she knows how. This was a wonderful second chapter in what promises to be an outstanding saga of family, change, cultural evolution, and the building of a nation. I can't wait to continue with the next book, just to see what these characters, whom Shell has only begun to fully reveal, will learn and develop and into. I love the style and I think Shell has hit the nail on the head with this series thus far!