Colleen McCullough - The Thorn Birds: A Novel

Pros: Language, characters, settings

Cons: Heart breaking

The Bottom Line: The bottom line is still crying.

Review: There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing ...

Pros: Australia and other compelling characters, patterns and themes.

Cons: Does not contain Richard Chamberlain.

The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line is 'shear' nonsense!

Review: "There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life...." So begins Colleen McCullough's masterpiece, THE THORN BIRDS, a huge semi-historical novel about the Cleary family of Drogheda -- an immense Australian sheep farm -- and part ...

Pros: Creative, brilliant, a wonderful masterpiece that is brilliant in its own image.

Cons: Falling for her first husband was one of the stupidest moves possible.

The Bottom Line: A book that's all about family roots and finding your place in the world. You will wish that your life was this interesting.

Review: A book that spans the generations is the theme for The Thorn Birds. Spanning over three generations of the Cleary family, Colleen McCullough is able to capture the essence of the human spirit.

Love, death, heartache, grief, joy, compassion,...

Pros: Gripping, though-provoking; potential for great discussion in a book club.

Cons: Sad in many parts; third generation of Cleary's start to lose their interest.

Review: If you are a fan of the classic '80's mini-series based on this book and starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward, then this book is a must-read. If you are a fan of novels that have it all-- love and hate, humility and pride, wealth and poverty - ...

Pros: intriguing, layered story.

Cons: plot drags slightly, at parts

The Bottom Line: Do not be intimidated by the fact that this book is nearly 600 pages long! Read it anyway. You will be glad you did.

Review: "The thorn birds" has been compared to Gone with the wind, on several occasions. Both protagonists a ...