Having just read The Sun Walks Down, the audio version became available and I just had to hear the story in an Australian voice. Even though it is not told through one central character, this story is Cissy’s, and the choice of female narrator reflects this. Character development, even the minor ones, is excellent. I swoon when an author’s turn of phrase sticks to me - “every fly that ever bothered God” .

This book was so beautifully written and the imagery so powerful I often felt like I was inside the harsh Australian setting. I had the pleasure of listening to this story and I highly recommend the audio book. The narrator has an beautiful voice and an uncanny ability to make the words come alive.
We are immersed in the the story of a boy that goes missing after a dust storm in the harsh and unforgiving outback of Australia in the 1800's.
This historical fiction was unique to me and I enjoyed the wide ranging cast of characters, the writing, the setting and everything about this beautiful story which sounds like someone is reading poetry.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the audio arc in exchange for my review.

This was a powerful book and so beautifully written....almost like poetry. It contains important information of the colonial times in Southern Australia in 1883 that many of us may not have read or learned about previously, especially concerning the original/native people. The narrator, Emma Jones, is soft-spoken, with an Aussie accent, and created a gentle, again poetic, atmosphere.

This is a multi-faceted story about a 6 year old boy, Denny, who goes missing during a horrific dust storm, whereby the whole community becomes involved with his search. We learn about various people as they begin finding out about the missing boy from "—newlyweds, landowners, farmers, mothers, artists, Indigenous trackers, cameleers, children, schoolteachers, widows, maids, policemen—" along with their relationships, personas, and the multicultural homes and habitats.

It is truly difficult and rough living times and we witness some of the behavior of the townsfolk: One man who refuses to let the best tracker search for Denny; how Denny's father bargains with God for his son to be found, and how Cissy (Denny's sister) is one of the most singularly brave and strong siblings to go searching with some of the men. We also discover that Denny's mistrust in some of the searchers causes him to stay hidden and unresponsive.

I'd like to thank the author, Fiona McFarlane, an Australian, NetGalley, and Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd, for the beautiful Audio ARC, for my unbiased review.

This was one I listened to. I’m new to audio books but find they help keep the house moving (laundry going, dishes done) and the narrator of this one was just lovely. I loved her Australian accent and her gentle voice. I also love this kind of story; there is a central plot point (young Denny Wallace goes missing in a dust storm in the Australian outback and everyone is searching for him) but also we get the stories of lots of people in the town (the visiting European painters, the wealthy widow, the constable, the indigenous tracker, the ridiculous paster). It was 10 hours on audio so felt kind of long to me, but it was easy to listen to and I was not quitting until I found out what happened to Denny. 4.5 stars

We’re nearing the end of January! What has been your favorite read (so far) this month?
There are a couple of days to go, but this is definitely a contender.
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The Sun Walks Down takes places in late 19th century Australia over the course of a week. Six year old Denny has disappeared in the outback during a dust storm and the entire community is trying to find him.
This book follows a lot of characters, mostly European settlers and children born in Australia. It only delves into the mind of one Aboriginal tracker, and it was uncomfortable reading the thoughts of the new settlers towards the Aboriginal people. I enjoy a character driven novel, and that’s primarily what this is, even portraying the land that way.
I loved the imagery, I thought the plot itself was thin, but the writing was beautiful.
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I loved the audio!

While the book starts with a boy going missing, this is not an epic search nor a neurotic thriller to find a culprit, but instead a quiet excuse to paint a picture of a remote town in the mountains and deserts of Australia in 1883.. Laid bare are the dreams, worries, and relationships both decades and days old of the townsfolk as they search for the lost boy. The full scope of ways that people respond is put on display as national identity, race relations, religion, and identity influence those on the hunt.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this book by Fiona McFarlane.

The Sun Walks Down, in Norwegian, means that the sun is setting. The title is just the beginning of an atmospheric telling of colonial Australia. The story begins with a six-year boy, Denny Wallace, who wanders from his home and gets lost as the weather turns difficult. Each chapter introduces us to someone who is looking for him or runs into him. Each chapter fills out a picture of Australia in the 1880s--the beliefs, the loves, the relationships, and the dreams. It is narrated in a soft, non-dramatic voice by Emma Jones. It is like having a story read to you in the evening. The power of it grows and grows. By the end, the reader has hiked a mountain, run a race, and not even realized that she had exerted energy. It is the kind of story one thinks about long after putting the book down.

This is a wonderful book. You can be sure it is when someone like Ann Patchett sings its praises.

Denny is the only son to a wheat farmer and a homemaker and he’s also the youngest. While the older girls were at the constables wedding to the German widows daughter Mary his mother sent him out to gather kindling, but that was hours ago long before the sandstorm. When her older daughters make it home she wants to hear everything about the wedding, about the Vicker fainting, the beautiful dress, the roses tied to the wagon but interrupts the chatter to tell them about the baby brother Denny and how he hasn’t come back. The rest of the book is told from the viewpoint of those who are looking for Denny and those who have come across him. I have never read a book like this and as of recently have been really interested in Australian literature and I think anyone wanting to learn about Australian history should read this book not only is it rich in history it gives a voice to many characters not traditionally seen anywhere infiction and clearly miss McFarlane has a great grasp and has done her research. I listen to the audiobook and I found the narrator edit a whole new layer texture to the narrative that just made it that much better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. You learn about so many different people living in Australia not to mention the story of little Denny and his colorful cast of neighbors and
Potential rescuers I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I love a book with a setting I'm not familiar with, and this definitely hit that part spot on! I've never been to Australia, and the descriptions were well-done. However, the book/plot itself was not exciting to me at all. It felt mundane and I slogged through it. As I listened to this on audiobook, the narrator seemed unrealistic as well. Character development was lacking; I never got into them, and couldn't relate through most of the book.

After finishing The Sun Walks Down, all I can think of is, "Wow, what a pleasant story." I know almost nothing about 1880s Australian history, but this book provides a fascinating depiction of the diverse inhabitants with varying customs, beliefs, and occupations. This mix of characters truly made the book shine. While the main plot point is finding Denny, a six-year-old boy that wanders off in a dust storm, it's the interactions and lifestyles of his family, neighbors, and the entire town that kept me hooked. The narration was gentle and fit the story perfectly, and the beautiful writing also made the book a pleasure to pick up.