The Bark Cutters

This is a dual timeline family saga by debut Australian author Nicole Alexander. The story moves between Hamish Gordon in Scotland and rural Australia in the 1850s, and his great-granddaughter Sarah in the 1980s. A central concern is the land itself. Hamish works hard, often in none too ethical ways, to acquire the Wangallon property in rural New South Wales, and his son Angus schemes to ensure its succession is taken care of by the later generations. Sarah herself is torn between on one hand her love of the land, working on the property and her attraction to gifted station hand Anthony and on the other, her life in Sydney as a photographer with the stability of her boyfriend Jeremy and freedom from the family tragedies and show more responsibilities.

This was a pleasant enough read which creates the feel of life on a property in Australia. My personal peeve was the use of some anachronistic “un-Australian” terms which don’t feel authentic in this genre. For example, when did an Aussie ever wear a “sweatshirt”, “hunker down” or call a flour and water mix cooked over the coals “bread” and not “damper!” I also did not find the characters in either timeline particularly likeable or relatable. Hamish was an ruthless old rogue, his wife Rose had an awful life, as did some of the Indigenous women on the property. Sarah clearly couldn’t work out who she was or what she wanted, which although it was fair enough in the context did eventually make me want to shake her. The only agreeable person was Anthony who was a fairly one-dimensional akubra-wearing cardboard cutout. Although the cover suggests this is a rural romance, it isn’t really. The romantic elements take second place to the land and family saga and were not overly convincing. And lastly if there was a reason for the title I must have missed it. I can only think of one example of any bark being cut. Despite those issues the story was enjoyable enough and I would probably try another book by this author. 3.5 stars. show less