I had to DNF after 15% - this novel was not what I thought it would be,. I was expecting a quirky story, but it came off stilted. The narrator had no personality like Mrs. de Winter from Rebecca. I really like the cover! thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

<p>I've never been completely convinced Australia exists. I've met many Australians, I've know non-Australians who have been to Australia, I watched a lot of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartbreak_High">Heartbreak High</a> when it aired on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showcase_(Canadian_TV_channel)">Showcase</a> in the 90s. So, rationally, I <i>know</i> Australia exists, but if Australia were to suddenly be like "Psych!", I could totally see where that was coming from.</p>

<p>All this to say that <A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/15046079/book/148990189">The Strays</a> is set in Australia. But it doesn't feel like Australia. It feels like the setting could be anywhere. Like rationally knowing Australia exists, I rationally know that books from Australia don't all need to feature kangaroos and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Kelly">Ned Kelly</a>, but then I read a book set in Australia with nary one mention of a koala and I'm like "Hmmm...are we sure this is in Australia? Just because the book references Melbourne and Sydney and says a few times that they are in Australia, do I really believe this book is set in Australia?" So, again, if <A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/15046079/book/148990189">The Strays</a> were to suddenly be like "Psych!", I could totally see where that was coming from. </p>

<p>(And, I mean, for goodness' sake, I'm Canadian, I read plenty of Can-Lit, and I hardly expect every book set in Canada that I read to feature igloos and polar bears and poutine. I feel I am somehow mentally deficient in all things Aussie. Do I need to eat <del>more</del> some (because I've never managed to put even a little near my mouth) Vegemite? Why can't my brain comprehend Australia? Australia, why are you so difficult?)</p>

<p>Framing this in a more positive light, <A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/15046079/book/148990189">The Strays</a> transcends Australia and isn't regional literature. It's a compelling read of a colony of artists in the 1930s, but, unfortunately, has all the things I don't like about first novels: an outsider narrator (the reader is already the outsider; I don't need another removal for me to see through two steps removed) looking back (why not set it simply in that time frame, rather than use a flashback framing device) who views the rest of her life as somewhat inconsequential (so, again, why bother with the flashback and the little bits of her life after that? Just stay in the time frame if that was so important) with a somewhat deus ex-machina reason for getting the gang back together in the present time so that our narrator can reflect (seriously, just set it in the 1930s and be done with it) on the brilliant men surrounded by their supporting/adoring women (blehhhhhhhhh). I do not like these things. I think they weaken the novel. Luckily, the novel, especially the pretty writing, is strong enough (even with the lack of platypuses/platypii/platypodes) that the things I dislike serve as annoyances rather than deal-breakers, and, at times, the novel reads like a painting, with colour and slashes and visible brush strokes that I love. But still, I'm conflicted: did I need to read another flashback book about brilliant, abusive men who don't really get their comeuppance, no matter how lyrical the writing is and how well I could see how everything looks even though <del>Australia is imaginary</del> I have never been to Australia? I guess I did since I did.</p>

<p>Plus the font was large, and the margins wide, so I did read it quickly. Yay.</p>

<p>Obligatory picture of my favourite Australian book: </p>

<p><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61pKbB3fCXL._SY494_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg"></p>

<p>Yeah, it's completely unrelated, but <a href="https://www.librarything.com/work/1738">Sometimes I Like To Curl Up In A Ball</a> is a very cute book that I enjoy a lot.</p>

<p><A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/15046079/book/148990189">The Strays</a> by Emily Bitto went on sale January 3, 2017.</p>

<p><small>I received a copy free from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</small></p>

There’s something I find so mesmerizing and fascinating about the bohemian artist’s life and that magic is brought to life in The Strays by Emily Bitto. I felt so swept up in this book, I may as well have moved across the world to be taken in by the fantastical Trenthams.

Told from split points in the 1930’s and 1980’s, Lily recounts her childhood adventure as the close friend of Eva Trentham and her time on the sidelines of their bohemian home come artist’s commune and what that means for her and the three young daughters who blossom without any real adult supervision or guidelines.

Lily was rather unglamourous except as our narrator, but this subtly gave the reader the opportunity to slip into her shoes and feel almost as if they, themselves, were recounting their own childhood. But Lily didn’t have to shine, she was surrounded by enough eccentric characters to carry this story. Eva was that kind of confident free spirit you can’t help but be drawn to, Bea seemed like the only responsible one in the entire family, parents included. Heloise was certainly colourful in a very odd way. And then the remaining artists who inhabited the home to make up the circle all had their own interesting attributes.

As a debut, I quite liked the story and Bitto’s writing. But ultimately, it didn’t wow me. I enjoyed it, it was a nice read, but although it likely was for the time period, it wasn’t necessarily shocking or unexpected. It was also influenced by certain facts and the existence of similar people in similar situations, which I didn’t know going in and was kind of disappointed to find out.

In a way, this reminded me a bit of The Virgin Suicides, not necessarily for the content, but for the dreamy feel and the way these four naive girls were trying to come into their own while living in their own destructive dreamworld, a dreamworld that was basically constructed by their artist parents.

I’d be very curious to read more of Bitto’s work, to see what other worlds she can build perhaps outside the inspiration she took from this particular art world. But she is off to a strong start and I was certainly smitten with this anything but normal family and their commune of strays.