Picnic at Hanging Rock | #ReadersInc Book Review

The May pick for the Readers Inc. book club was Joan Lindsay's Picnic at Hanging Rock - an Australian novel published in 1967, Here are some SPOILER FREE thoughts!
Readers Inc. Book Club: www.goodreads.com/group/show/183828-readers-inc---monthly-book-club
The Deckled Edge: kzbin.info

[@isobelduncan]

I recently bought a book called 'Beyond The Rock' which explains that from the mid- to the late 19th century Hanging Rock was considered one of the most terrifying and dangerous places in the country. It was also sacred Aboriginal ground where many were killed ruthless colonials. The top of the rocks were said to be haunted by evil spirits.

[@scottwilson5887]

It’s set in 1900, published in 1967

[@jessicafoster8738]

Australia represent. This film haunted me as a child. Something to do with the eerie familiar landscape that we contend with and we dearly love yet fear. It's part of the consciousness, the harsh landscape/nature. Not the best film but Woolf Creek has something of that going on, what the landscape does to people. Our culture is closely aligned with US and UK and whatever US is doing we're usually involved to keep that alliance we really do need. Love your videos Whitney x

[@alltheshelves9142]

I really wish I could experience the movie from an Australian point of view - because I fear that there is a bit lost in the translation. Maybe some key parts of the movie (and book) that I'm just not quite getting....I actually never saw Wolf Creek! Which is surprising because I watch so much horror. I'm going to now, though!

[@MarieBergCarlsen]

Yes! Great video!! I just received the book and Im going to start reading it in a couple of days - I was looking forward to it,but now I do even more!! This was a great review - and my heart stopped a little bit when you compared her writing to Marilynne Robinson, one of my favourite authors!

[@alltheshelves9142]

I hope you like it! I really loved the way she described nature.

[@alicer6786]

I got this book just last week and couldn't stop reading it. It was a huge page turner for me. I'm just glad my grandmother introduced me to the movie before passing away.

[@TheGardenofReadin]

Bloody fantastic review of one of my favourite books and movies! I've always found that the suppression of their sexuality makes everything the do (shoes, stockings off) so much more heightened, and also makes so much innocence almost sinister. I'd never though about it in terms of it's comments on society at the time, but your probably right on the money there. Great Video as always! xx

[@alltheshelves9142]

Yes! Sinister is the perfect word for it. Every action - especially those that seem confusing or vague - is just dripping in repressed sexuality. And that repression seems like a cork just waiting to explode. Thanks for watching!

[@louisecrowther1176]

The film was made in 1975 but the settings is in 1900 the book was published in 1967

[@tara2dope1]

I read this for the Reader's Inc club as well and loved it! great review Whitney!

[@alltheshelves9142]

It was so good, right? I think it's my favorite pick so far, although I did really like Sanctuary, too.

[@tara2dope1]

+All the Shelves yes it was, definitely my favorite so far. I loved the overall tone of it. and like you I'm also a little disappointed the Reader's Inc club is on hold for the summer, I've been loving Conrad's picks.

[@nowvoyaging8881]

This is a film I have heard of from time to time but have never seen and I have never read the book! Now I will have to seek both out. I love your reviews, they are so articulate and intelligent.

[@alltheshelves9142]

Like I said, I didn't love the film when I saw it, but I really need to watch it again. I think maturity is going to help me a lot with this one.

[@bosiewilder4945]

The novel is set in 1900, not in the hippy culture. Read the book carefully. It is not a satire. Convoluted plot? it's a linear narrative.

[@KathleenAnnBooks]

I'm enjoying being part of the club even though I've been terrible about interacting online with everyone. I will review this one on my channel but I hope to watch the film first. I've heard it is on Netflix. You did a great job summing up the tone of the book. I found the heat to be suffocating so credit the author for making me feel that sweat. Also the descriptions of the school were so eerie and strange. You just knew that something was "off".

[@alltheshelves9142]

I think the movie version is a really interesting adaptation, but I haven't watched it in so long. I liked watching the movie first because I felt like I had something to keep me interested in the writing when it got into some of the length descriptions. And the way she talked about the heat was amazing!

[@CuriousReader]

I watched the movie a while ago, possibly last year or the year before, and I kind of liked the themes but also didn't quite connect to it fully. But I'm definitely interested in the book, even more so after watching your fantastic review! (Hu)man vs nature is definitely a newfound interest for me - how we interact with nature, and how mysterious nature can seem when we confront the unknown sides to it.

[@alltheshelves9142]

And in this book nature is all bound up with female sexuality, which seems to be ever MORE mysterious and unknowable. Real interesting stuff!

[@tombombadill22]

Terrific review - post your film review as well 😊

[@juanitou16]

Wait, so the story takes place in the 70s? The movie makes it look it was set in the early 19th century. Or maybe Australia was too behind the Western world. lol Great review as always!

[@alltheshelves9142]

No, it's historical fiction. Written in 1967 about 1900. So Australia wasn't so far behind. :)