Description
On her first day at a new school, Lily befriends one of the daughters of infamous avant-garde painter Evan Trentham. He and his wife are trying to escape the stifling conservatism of 1930s Australia by inviting other like-minded artists to live and work at their family home. Lily becomes infatuated with this wild, makeshift family and longs to truly be part of it. As the years pass, Lily observes the way the lives of these artists come to reflect the same themes as their art: Faustian bargains and spectacular falls from grace. Yet it's not Evan, but his daughters, who pay the price for his radicalism. An engrossing story of ambitions, sacrifice, and compromised loyalties. --
Genres
Collections
Publication
[Australia] : Legends Press, 2016
Pages
256
User reviews
LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
Lily narrates this story which goes back into her childhood in the 30's when she met Eva, the daughter of the first modern painter in Australia, Evan Trentham, his wife, Helena and her two sisters. Their household is very bohemian with other artists moving in and little attention paid to the
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children. Again, another book that was beautifully written but slow moving in some sections. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
3.5 Melbourne, Australia, the 1930's and 40's art scene, Lily is eight when she first meets Eva and is introduced to the Trenthams. An only child, Lily considers her own family boring while Eva and her two sisters live a life that seems exciting, their father an Avant garde artist, their mother a
This is an addictive story about a young intense friendship, a time when one's best friend meant everything. Joining the Trentham's exposed Lily to alcohol and drugs at too young an age, to undercurrents as the girls age that she didn't understand. She is a watcher, an onlooker and ii's addicted to their lifestyle, the excitement, the drama without realizing what it all means. These parents basically let the girls raise themselves, and obliviously thought everything would just turn out fine.
Although I found the story interesting it is very much a story that needs to be taken as a whole. It is the scene, the lifestyle and what ultimately happens that is the draw. I didn't find, except for the art, that there was anything to place this in the time frame it is said to take place, it could take place during any time period, in essence I found the atmosphere lacking. Also character development could have been better, I never really felt I saw inside these people, even Lily we only know because of her connection to Eva and the family. The ending when Lily is narrating in the future probably gives the reader the best look into the characters and so for me it did end on a high note. A first novel and definitely a readable and interesting one, definitely a good first start.
ARC from publisher.
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glamorous if neglectful hostess. Trying to create an atmosphere where this new type of art can flourish they open their home to other artists, with disastrous results down the years. Our narrator is Lily, now a married woman with a grown daughter of her own, looking back on how something that seemed so exciting went so wrong.This is an addictive story about a young intense friendship, a time when one's best friend meant everything. Joining the Trentham's exposed Lily to alcohol and drugs at too young an age, to undercurrents as the girls age that she didn't understand. She is a watcher, an onlooker and ii's addicted to their lifestyle, the excitement, the drama without realizing what it all means. These parents basically let the girls raise themselves, and obliviously thought everything would just turn out fine.
Although I found the story interesting it is very much a story that needs to be taken as a whole. It is the scene, the lifestyle and what ultimately happens that is the draw. I didn't find, except for the art, that there was anything to place this in the time frame it is said to take place, it could take place during any time period, in essence I found the atmosphere lacking. Also character development could have been better, I never really felt I saw inside these people, even Lily we only know because of her connection to Eva and the family. The ending when Lily is narrating in the future probably gives the reader the best look into the characters and so for me it did end on a high note. A first novel and definitely a readable and interesting one, definitely a good first start.
ARC from publisher.
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LibraryThing member emmsbookshelf
Despite being a debut novel this seemed to be a very polished work with excellent characterization and deft maintenance of the suspense that kept it all going. The story spans 40 years of the characters' lives in Australia, from the early 1930s until the 1970s, and showed some of the societal
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changes that affected family interrelationships and which most of us have felt. With its focus on women and their relationships I would highly recommend the book to reading groups. Show Less
LibraryThing member chrisblocker
This is why I hate getting behind on reviews. On one hand, a little time to reflect on a book is great for processing. On the other, too much time is simply too much. It's been more than six weeks since I finished Emily Bitto's The Strays, and now I'm struggling to remember what I liked and didn't
I remember that I loved the atmosphere. There was a quaint tension underlying the entire story. It was a place where I as a reader wanted to physically go to, and yet I couldn't wait to leave. Something was wrong, yet I couldn't help but enjoy the stay. It reminded me of Ian McEwan's Atonement. In the first part of McEwan's novel, there is a celestial quality to the Tallis house and the grounds surrounding it that reminded me of innocence; yet underneath it all was this horrible feeling of dread. It was an intriguing place to find oneself. That same feeling populates The Strays in its entirety.
I remember that I didn't quite understand the relationship Lily had with her family. Did they really care so little that they would let their only child live completely apart from them? Was she so bored with her family that she so easily forgot about them? It was actually jarring when Lily's parents made an appearance: oh yes, she has a family, I almost forgot.
I remember anticipating the ending with great zeal. It was obvious that The Strays was building up to something big. The ominous present-day reflections, the increasing tension underlying the slowly building story, these contributed to several nights of going to bed long after my bedtime. This is a wonderful quality to have in a novel, but it can lead to a bit letdown. And despite the enjoyment I had reading The Strays, I did feel that the “big reveal” was anything but big. I remember the letdown, but I also remember the wonderful ride getting to the top.
That, for what it is worth, is what I remember about The Strays.
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like. I guess what remains in my mind is what was most impactful, whether if provides a full assessment or not. So what do I remember...I remember that I loved the atmosphere. There was a quaint tension underlying the entire story. It was a place where I as a reader wanted to physically go to, and yet I couldn't wait to leave. Something was wrong, yet I couldn't help but enjoy the stay. It reminded me of Ian McEwan's Atonement. In the first part of McEwan's novel, there is a celestial quality to the Tallis house and the grounds surrounding it that reminded me of innocence; yet underneath it all was this horrible feeling of dread. It was an intriguing place to find oneself. That same feeling populates The Strays in its entirety.
I remember that I didn't quite understand the relationship Lily had with her family. Did they really care so little that they would let their only child live completely apart from them? Was she so bored with her family that she so easily forgot about them? It was actually jarring when Lily's parents made an appearance: oh yes, she has a family, I almost forgot.
I remember anticipating the ending with great zeal. It was obvious that The Strays was building up to something big. The ominous present-day reflections, the increasing tension underlying the slowly building story, these contributed to several nights of going to bed long after my bedtime. This is a wonderful quality to have in a novel, but it can lead to a bit letdown. And despite the enjoyment I had reading The Strays, I did feel that the “big reveal” was anything but big. I remember the letdown, but I also remember the wonderful ride getting to the top.
That, for what it is worth, is what I remember about The Strays.
Show Less
LibraryThing member NeedMoreShelves
This was a stunner of a novel. Bitto perfectly captured, through gorgeous language, the languid beauty of childhood, where wonder can be found around every corner. Her fuzzy use of narrative details at times felt frustrating, but also stayed incredibly true to the experience of a child recounting a
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story that she doesn't fully understand. This will absolutely be one of the best I read this year. Show Less
LibraryThing member GirlWellRead
A special thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Strays follows the Trentham family and their other live-in artists in 1930s Melbourne. Bitto draws the reader and narrator, Lily, into the art world through Eva. Lily meets Eva, one of
Bitto explores the Australian art scene in this story which is loosely based on the Heide Circle. The artists make their own small alternative commune that offers Lily a lack of rules and more fluid way of life. Unfortunately, their radical lifestyle comes at a staggering psychological cost to the sisters.
Fast-forward 30 years, Lily is leading a vanilla life compared to her past. She realized that when the moth flies too close to the flame, it will burn its wings. But it doesn't stop her from going back to the flame, only this time, she won't get to close.
The Strays follows the Trentham family and their other live-in artists in 1930s Melbourne. Bitto draws the reader and narrator, Lily, into the art world through Eva. Lily meets Eva, one of
Show More
the three daughters of the infamous avant-garde painter Evan Trentham, on her first day of school and is mesmerized. Bitto explores the Australian art scene in this story which is loosely based on the Heide Circle. The artists make their own small alternative commune that offers Lily a lack of rules and more fluid way of life. Unfortunately, their radical lifestyle comes at a staggering psychological cost to the sisters.
Fast-forward 30 years, Lily is leading a vanilla life compared to her past. She realized that when the moth flies too close to the flame, it will burn its wings. But it doesn't stop her from going back to the flame, only this time, she won't get to close.
Show Less
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2016)
New South Wales Premier's Literary Award (Shortlist — 2015)
Reading Women Award (Shortlist — Fiction — 2017)
Dobbie Literary Award (Shortlist — 2015)
The Indie Book Award (Longlist — 2015)
Stella Prize (Winner — 2015)
NPR: Books We Love (2017)
Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice (Literary)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014
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