The second half of Ruth Park's autobiography, begun with the recollection of her New Zealand childhood in "A fence around the cuckoo", tells the story of Ruth's years as a writer, wife and mother in Sydney working in tandem with her writer husband Darcy Niland. It could be depressing as there's a precariousness about a writers existence and the initial poverty, and the need to provide for a growing family, it could also be sentimental as it's also a love story - however it is neither. Instead it's a clear eyed retelling of a life of struggle and joy and sadness and a stunning evocation of place. It makes me want to go and re-read what I've read of Park's writing, read what I haven't and also read Darcy Niland's works. I gulped this down in one sitting and can highly recommend it. ( )

Second book of Ruth Park's autobiography (following on from A Fence Around the Cuckoo) which follows her life after she moves from New Zealand to Australia to make a living as a writer. Despite the attitude towards women in the workforce during the 40's & 50's, and the continued poor circumstances of the early years of her marriage to writer D'Arcy Niland, together they managed to raise a family and establish writing careers.
Her story, although one of hardship, is also one of courage and strength. Her legacy to the reader is her writing. Excellent novels such as "The Harp in the South" and " A Poor Man's Orange"
Her story is worth reading. ( )