Thank you Spinifex for this book in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

Debut novelist, Cheryl Adam’s Lillian’s Eden takes the reader on a journey through rural post-war life in the midst of a family attempting to survive on a pittance. Lillian is confronted by her impecunious, philandering and violent husband but agrees to move from the farm that she has built up from scratch to the coastal town of Eden to look after Aunt Maggie. Aunt Maggie is a wonderfully drawn eccentric character but Lillian has to work out just how to make this relationship work. Cheryl Adam’s novel is a powerful working-class story told with raw richness.

Review:

I have to admit, I put of reading Lillian’s Eden as the blurb of the book just didn’t appeal to me. I regretted that decision. Lillian’s Eden was wonderful, funny, warm-hearted and I was taken by surprise. Again, never judge a book by the blurb, you never know what is inside.

Lillian’s Eden reminded me very much of The Dressmaker, in multiple ways. It was edgy, smart, funny and somewhat relatable and yet brutally blunt and honest.

Based in 1950’s in a small town in Australia where we meet Lillian and Maggie, who are both strong minded and broadminded woman, you see that Lillian’s daughters have taken after their mother as well. In the small town where everyone knows everything about one another and all secrets are hard to keep hidden you see our characters strive and make the best out of any situation, no matter how funny or serious it is.

Amongst the flies, dust storms, ragged clothes, old furniture you learn to strive with what you have, even if you do have the constant need to get more money. It shows our character Liilian wants to make a change and tries to change the expectation of the local people and their view of a working class woman.

You almost forget how different it was back then for woman and how less of a choice they had compared to the woman of today. A prime example of that was when Lillian was trying to deal with her pathetic husband who is a gambler. Today any woman would have thrown up their hands, said fuck this and left. Lillian knew that a part of her relied on him, no matter how sad their life together was.

This book was entertaining from start to finish with brutal honesty and striving times. Adam’s definitely hit a banger with this one and since it is her first book, I am gobsmacked. Cannot wait to see what Adam’s writes next.

Rating: 4/5

Publisher: Spinifex

ISBN: 9781925581676