
'The Thorn Birds' by Colleen McCullough is an epic family saga spanning generations, set in the Australian outback. The story revolves around the Cleary family, focusing on the forbidden love between Meggie and Father Ralph, amidst themes of love, loss, and redemption. The author intricately weaves together the lives of vividly described characters, taking readers on a journey through time as they witness the growth and trials of the Cleary family against the backdrop of Australia's rugged landscape.
The plot of 'The Thorn Birds' is a compelling tale of star-crossed lovers, family dynamics, and the challenges faced by the characters over a span of fifty years. Readers are drawn into the emotional depth of the story, feeling heartbreak, inspiration, and a sense of nostalgia as they follow the characters' journeys from childhood to adulthood. McCullough's writing style is praised for its evocative descriptions, transporting readers to the Australian outback and immersing them in the lives of the Cleary family with a mix of sadness, joy, and historical fiction elements.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of forbidden romance, child neglect, religious conflict, death, and loss.
Has Romance?
The romance is a central theme of the book, particularly the forbidden love between Meggie and Father Ralph.
From The Publisher:
"Beautiful….Compelling entertainment." -New York Times
One of the most beloved novels of all time, The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCullough's sweeping family saga of dreams, titanic struggles, dark passions, and forbidden love in the Australian Outback, returns to enthrall a new generation.
The Thorn Birds is a chronicle of three generations of Clearys-an indomitable clan of ranchers carving lives from a beautiful, hard land while contending with the bitterness, frailty, and secrets that penetrate their family. It is a poignant love story, a powerful epic of struggle and sacrifice, a celebration of individuality and spirit. Most of all, it is the story of the Clearys' only daughter, Meggie, and the haunted priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart-and the intense joining of two hearts and souls over a lifetime, a relationship that dangerously oversteps sacred boundaries of ethics and dogma.
"A heart-rending epic…truly marvelous." -Chicago Tribune
Ratings (51)
Incredible (8) | |
Loved It (22) | |
Liked It (13) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (4) |
Reader Stats (97):
Read It (54) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (29) | |
Not Interested (13) |
1 comment(s)
This is by far the most recommended book I've ever read. I've been meaning to read this one for the longest time as people keep saying it's well worth a read, and very often from people in my real life that isn't that huge of a reader themselves. I'm glad I bought it on second hand as it's a book I'll want to revisit more in the future. Although my reading experience wasn't that great as the text in my book was tiney tiny.
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