The Harp in the South, Ruth Park

[sharplittlteeth]

We spent the weekend up in Ballarat, at my sister's house. One the train back, I was down to the last few pages of The Harp in the South when we started to approach Southern Cross Station, and I had to decided whether to race through to the end or wait until I could savour them.

I choose to savour. Because I loved this book. Absolutely loved it.

It's

Comments

[greylock]

Other than the fact there was a mini-series, and a sequel (Poor Man's Orange?), I know nothing about this, but I did read Playing Beatie Bow at school and I recall enjoying it. I seem to remember the movie being reasonably faithful too. But 14-year-old me was also taken with Imogen Annesley too.
Until I saw The Howling III.

[sharplittlteeth]

Howling III: The Marsupials, I believe you mean.

I never saw it. I suspect my feelings for Ms. Annesley were driven by my teenage proto-goth obsession with sad girls in white lace dresses. (See also: Sarah Patterson, The Company of Wolves and Jennifer Connelly, Labyrinth.)

[sharplittlteeth]

[greylock]

I believe the version I saw was simply Howling iII, but it was the 1980s. Although I was keen on keeping up with The Howling films at that time.

I really need to rewatch all those non-Howling movies.

[frou_frou]

Imogen Annesely is so gorgeous in "Playing Beattie Bow".

I loved "The Harp in the South" too. I was born in Surrey Hills and know the area well so it particularly resonated - it's set in the '20s. A very bleak, and yet rich life.

[sharplittlteeth]

Ah, the '20s. Thank you.

I don't know Surry Hills, except that these days it's a bit posh. So there was an extra layer of irony there, in reading Park's descriptions of how poor and run down the neighbourhood is. But gentrification didn't happen until the '80s, didn't it?

[frou_frou]

I can't imagine Surry Hills as being posh but the location is so great, I'm not surprised. I was born at the Crown St Women's Hospital - they knocked it down in the '80s, or rather, started to knock it down and there was an uproar so there's one corner of it left.

I was house-hunting there in the mid '90s and it was still pretty rough, so I think the gentrification is pretty recent.

[seedy_girl]

My sister-in-law lives there now. It's a mish-mash of the old and the new currently, kinda like Collingwood. Upmarket cafes, with junkies in the lanes.

[sharplittlteeth]

Yeah, Sydney. I'd forgotten Melbourne had a Surrey Hills, even though I pass the train station every time I go to my parent's house.

Hm. It's right near to Box Hill. I'm planning my next novel at the moment. The main character lives in Box Hill. Maybe I could move him to Surrey Hills and prove you wrong. :)

[kitling]

Have you read Poor Man's Orange?

I too, love these books.

I've also got a non fiction book called 'The Sydney we love' written by Ruth Park and Cedric Emanuel - talks about Sydney, has pictures - is lovely and evocative.

[sharplittlteeth]

I've only just read Harp. It's one of those books I'd heard about, but never read, until I was inspired by the First Tuesday Book Club's review of it in their roundup of Australia's favourite books.

I want to read Playing Beatie Bow next from Ruth Park, because time travel. And I've got a to-pile to get through before I can start that.

To be honest, I'm hesitant to read Poor Man's Orange, because I thought Harp ended in such a satisfying way. I don't feel like I need more about what happens to the Murphies.

But you love it, and I trust your judgement. So I'll get around to it.

[frou_frou]

I read "Poor Man's Orange" after Harp, but you're right - Harp finishes so nicely, you don't need to read more. It's a very different book.

[sharplittlteeth]

I grew up in Heatherdale, just a few stops down the line.