Review: Rush Oh!
Gaby Meares
Part of the appeal of this book for me is that I’m quite familiar with Eden and the surrounding area. I could clearly picture the landscape as our very likeable narrator recounts the whaling season of 1908. Shirley Barrett has cleverly used Mary’s coming of age story to illuminate the lives of those whose livelihood relied on the annual migration of the whales, together with the unique relationship the Eden whalers had with a pod of killer whales. I must confess there are parts of this books that I skimmed as I found the slaughter scenes distressing. But don’t be deterred by my squeamishness. This is a fascinating telling of a unique chapter of Australia’s history, bringing it to life and making it not a history lesson, but a compassionate human story the reader can easily relate to. Oh, and I also recommend a visit to Eden - it’s not only beautiful but also seeped in history. Highly recommended.