Author: Di Morrissey
ISBN: 9781760550387
RRP: $34.99
Publication Date: 16 October 2018
Publisher: Macmillan Australia
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Di Morrissey is a prolific bestselling Australian author who was inducted into the Australian Book Industry Awards Hall of Fame in 2017.
Arcadia is set in the ancient forests of Tasmania and tells a breathtaking story of love, friendship, art and science.
In the 1930 a young wife arrives at her husband’s secluded property, Arcadia, in an isolated corner of southern Tasmania. Stella is an artist who falls in love with the wild untamed forest, and finds herself saved by an unusual protector.
Two generations later and Stella’s forest secret is stumbled upon by her granddaughter Sally, and her best friend Jessica. This is a secret that sees them threatened, they will need to uncover the complete story of the past to save themselves.
A dual timeline tale that depicts the glorious wilds of Tasmania in the 1930s and the present day.
Arcadia is available now through Pan MacMillan, Booktopia, Angus & Robertson and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan 5 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading and reviewing Arcadia so I look forward to hearing what they all think.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
In ‘Arcadia’, Di Morrissey once again uses her tried and tested formula of having a current day story and a linked historical story based in an interesting location. In ‘Arcadia’ the setting is a remote part of Tasmania. There is a big focus on conservation but some of the in-depth descriptions lost me a little. This was a good read with some great characters. Thanks to Beauty and Lace Book Club and Pan Macmillan Australia for my copy (my first as a member)
4*
What a fantastic book, I just love how Di Morrisey writes about Australian history, scenery and the love of Aussie traditions. This book is written in the past as well as the present, but there is no confusion and it is very clear as to which timeline is which.
The story begins with Stella in the 1930’s who meets and marries a much older doctor, she is an artist and gets totally absorbed by the scenery and an owl. There is a build up to what happens to Stella, and her ordinary life is uncovered to be something quite the opposite.
We then have Sally and her best friend Jessica in the present, and they are the ones that start to unravel all the truthes of the past.
This was a very easy read for me and I just love how descriptive it is.
Thanks B&L and Pan Macmillan Australia for the chance to read such a great book.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review Arcadia.
I have read many of Di Morrisey’s books and have always enjoyed them. Arcadia didn’t disappoint. I loved being transported to the natural forests of Tasmania and following the lives of the characters from the past and the present.
I found the book very absorbing and easy to read.
Another great novel from Do Morrisey thank you.
Unlike the other reviewers so far, I didn’t enjoy this book at all. It had great potential at the beginning with a great mystery and flipping between present day and the past, but got more and more boring as the book continued. In the end, I found it very difficult to finish. You might enjoy the book if you have a particular interest in Tasmania’s environmental issues, or botany, but I found it way to slow in it’s sorry telling. It is such a shame as I have enjoyed Di Morrisey’s books in the past.
If you’re already a fan of Di Morrissey, then you will love this tale set in the wilderness of Tasmania with its dual timelines in the 1930s and modern day. If you’re a first time reader like me and one who doesn’t usually read books in this genre, then you probably won’t be rushing out to read her back catalogue. It’s an easy read and the reader doesn’t get lost in confusing timelines but I found it boring and sadly I just didn’t care about the characters. Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Macmillan Australia for the opportunity to read this book.