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Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Custom House (2021), 400 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML: AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER OPTIONED FOR TELEVISION BY BRUNA PAPANDREA, THE PRODUCER OF HBO'S BIG LITTLE LIES "A tour de force of original thought, imagination and promise ... Kline takes full advantage of fiction �?? its freedom to create compelling characters who fully illuminate monumental events to make history accessible and forever etched in our minds." �?? Houston Chronicle The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Orphan Train returns with an ambitious, emotionally resonant novel about three women whose lives are bound together in nineteenth-century Australia and the hardships they weather together as they fight for redemption and freedom in a new society. Seduced by her employer's son, Evangeline, a naïve young governess in early nineteenth-century London, is discharged when her pregnancy is discovered and sent to the notorious Newgate Prison. After months in the fetid, overcrowded jail, she learns she is sentenced to "the land beyond the seas," Van Diemen's Land, a penal colony in Australia. Though uncertain of what awaits, Evangeline knows one thing: the child she carries will be born on the months-long voyage to this distant land. During the journey on a repurposed slave ship, the Medea, Evangeline strikes up a friendship with Hazel, a girl little older than her former pupils who was sentenced to seven years transport for stealing a silver spoon. Canny where Evangeline is guileless, Hazel�??a skilled midwife and herbalist�??is soon offering home remedies to both prisoners and sailors in return for a variety of favors. Though Australia has been home to Aboriginal people for more than 50,000 years, the British government in the 1840s considers its fledgling colony uninhabited and unsettled, and views the natives as an unpleasant nuisance. By the time the Medea arrives, many of them have been forcibly relocated, their land seized by white colonists. One of these relocated people is Mathinna, the orphaned daughter of the Chief of the Lowreenne tribe, who has been adopted by the new governor of Van Diemen's Land. In this gorgeous novel, Christina Baker Kline brilliantly recreates the beginnings of a new society in a beautiful and challenging land, telling the story of Australia from a fresh perspective, through the experiences of Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna. While life in Australia is punishing and often brutally unfair, it is also, for some, an opportunity: for redemption, for a new way of life, for unimagined freedom. Told in exquisite detail and incisive prose, The Exiles is a story of grace born from hardship, the unbreakable bonds of female friendships, and the unfettering of lega… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member phillies
This book is great historical fiction. A story about two women transported to Australia for crimes in the 19th century and a young, native Australian girl. They all suffered greatly and their experiences were often horrific. However even during their hard times they all showed courage and humanity.
I rated it a 4.5 but was on the fence for giving it a 5 which I seldom use.
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I had a hard time putting the book down and the individual stories kept a fast pace. The history described here is well worth the time to hear. Anyone interested in women studies, the history of Australia or just want a good read should grab this book. Previously I read Orphan Train also written by Kline. I liked Orphan Train and thought The Exiles was even better. I hope that Kline keeps producing meaningful historical non-fiction.I rated it a 4.5 but was on the fence for giving it a 5 which I seldom use.
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LibraryThing member sunqueen
The jumping between the main characters stories seemed clumsy to me, including so much time spent on the backstory of the nanny. I really wanted to read more about these characters and their experiences in Australia, but more attention seemed to be paid to the "lead up" to their arrival.
LibraryThing member Hccpsk
Christina Baker Kline manages to pack basically everything a reader wants in a sweeping historical novel into The Exiles. Through the central focus of Tasmania, we meet a variety of women forced into exile--mostly through not fault except being lower-class women in the mid-nineteenth century. Kline
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moves the narrative between a number of women: displaced aboriginal Mathinna, falsely accused governess Evangeline, and abandoned sixteen-year-old Hazel. Comprehensively researched, Kline imparts details about Tasmania, the horrors of female imprisonment, and the convict transport from England to Australia without losing the personal connections within the story. Kline has written a rich and deep novel about women in the nineteenth century, motherhood, and finding your way when the world is against you. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction like Phillippa Gregory, Paula McClain, and Kristin Hannah. It would be a great book club book--many themes and characters to discuss. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lisa2013
I won an Advanced Readers’ edition paperback copy of this book at LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. (Thank you to LibraryThing and to the publisher William Morrow!) I received it more promptly than I’d expected on 7/16. I read it from 7/19-7/23 early morning hours. Publication date
I enter to win only books I think I’ll like well enough to assign 5 or 4 stars. I’d read this author’s book Orphan Train and gave it 4-1/2 stars. I think I loved this book even more than I loved that one and I really liked that one too. This book did not disappoint!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beautifully written and brilliantly told. I grew attached to many of the characters, especially to the three main spirited girls/women and to one particular man, but to many others too. The book was a page turner and hard to put down. I did stay up into the early morning hours to finish it.
It was frequently grueling and grim reading but thankfully there was always a lot of heart and also some wonderful, diverting, clever, and profound humor. The many tragedies and injustices were painful to read about/witness but everything seemed completely realistic and I don’t think there were any gratuitous inclusions. There was also a lot that was inspirational and that did effectively counter the often harrowing stories. I appreciated the life affirming and hopeful parts. Everything felt realistic. Heartbreaking and heartwarming.
I did some research as I read, especially because I was curious and when I first started looking up things it was apparent that much about this book is not fiction but non-fiction. Many of the characters were real people and many places and events in the book really happened. The author did an amazing job at making the characters and their circumstances and places come vividly alive. I definitely want to learn more about the history of Tasmania and prison ships and prisons on both sides of the Atlantic and a lot more about the peoples at that time and about the places that appear in the book. I want to read more about the treatment of the Australian-Tasmanian aborigines by the British and others. I have read other books and seen films about these subjects but I want to know even more than I do, especially now that I’ve read this book.
The three main characters are memorable and how their lives converge is wonderfully done. Some of what happened I suppose is predictable but some is definitely not.
Part way through the book there is a shocking and completely unexpected occurrence I’d never have guessed was coming! There is the murder of a character I was expecting to be in the entire book. Because of that I'd advise reading this book before reading reviews with spoilers, detailed descriptions, and certainly plot summaries or much about the book's characters. It's kind of brilliant that the author did what she did. It’s impressive storytelling because it felt so out of the norm.
I enjoyed the different voices in chapters & sections. I loved every part of it, even though much of it made for painful reading.
I loved the ending, and I loved the beginning, and all of it. The narrative all the way through was perfectly constructed & told, in my opinion.
I also appreciated the thorough and superb Acknowledgments section by the author at the end of the book that lists books the author read to write this book and also her inspirations for writing this book and some of her previous books including the Orphan Train book,. I found it rewarding to read a bit about the rigorous research she did for this book and some of which contents were non-fiction, what was fiction, and what was partly or mostly true but tweaked for creating this historical fiction novel.
There are many quotes that I loved but because I read an ARC I can’t be certain that the exact language will stay the same so I didn’t add any quotes to the quotes section. Here are just a few that I liked:
“Holding up the cut end of a log, he showed her the rings inside, explaining that each one marked a year…Maybe humans are like that…Maybe the moments that meant something to you and the people you’ve loved over the years are the rings. Maybe what you thought you’d lost is still there, inside of you, giving you strength to carry on.”
“…that if you love something it stays with you, even after it’s gone.”
“Never again would she describe something as unbearable. Almost anything, she now knew, could be borne.”
“…past half a dozen rooms that appeared both overstuffed and strangely empty.”
“Over time, she grew deeply angry. It was the only emotion she allowed herself to feel. Her anger was a carapace; it protected her soft insides like the shell of a snail.”
Highly recommended for almost all fans of historical fiction books! I also want to say that there is so much about this story that is applicable to our current circumstances. This would make a fine book club book because it’s a great discussion book.
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is scheduled to be on 8/25. It was fun reading this book in advance of publication. It was gratifying reading a paper edition of a book given that I’ve been mostly reading e-editions during the last several months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I enter to win only books I think I’ll like well enough to assign 5 or 4 stars. I’d read this author’s book Orphan Train and gave it 4-1/2 stars. I think I loved this book even more than I loved that one and I really liked that one too. This book did not disappoint!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beautifully written and brilliantly told. I grew attached to many of the characters, especially to the three main spirited girls/women and to one particular man, but to many others too. The book was a page turner and hard to put down. I did stay up into the early morning hours to finish it.
It was frequently grueling and grim reading but thankfully there was always a lot of heart and also some wonderful, diverting, clever, and profound humor. The many tragedies and injustices were painful to read about/witness but everything seemed completely realistic and I don’t think there were any gratuitous inclusions. There was also a lot that was inspirational and that did effectively counter the often harrowing stories. I appreciated the life affirming and hopeful parts. Everything felt realistic. Heartbreaking and heartwarming.
I did some research as I read, especially because I was curious and when I first started looking up things it was apparent that much about this book is not fiction but non-fiction. Many of the characters were real people and many places and events in the book really happened. The author did an amazing job at making the characters and their circumstances and places come vividly alive. I definitely want to learn more about the history of Tasmania and prison ships and prisons on both sides of the Atlantic and a lot more about the peoples at that time and about the places that appear in the book. I want to read more about the treatment of the Australian-Tasmanian aborigines by the British and others. I have read other books and seen films about these subjects but I want to know even more than I do, especially now that I’ve read this book.
The three main characters are memorable and how their lives converge is wonderfully done. Some of what happened I suppose is predictable but some is definitely not.
Part way through the book there is a shocking and completely unexpected occurrence I’d never have guessed was coming!
I enjoyed the different voices in chapters & sections. I loved every part of it, even though much of it made for painful reading.
I loved the ending, and I loved the beginning, and all of it. The narrative all the way through was perfectly constructed & told, in my opinion.
I also appreciated the thorough and superb Acknowledgments section by the author at the end of the book that lists books the author read to write this book and also her inspirations for writing this book and some of her previous books including the Orphan Train book,. I found it rewarding to read a bit about the rigorous research she did for this book and some of which contents were non-fiction, what was fiction, and what was partly or mostly true but tweaked for creating this historical fiction novel.
There are many quotes that I loved but because I read an ARC I can’t be certain that the exact language will stay the same so I didn’t add any quotes to the quotes section. Here are just a few that I liked:
“Holding up the cut end of a log, he showed her the rings inside, explaining that each one marked a year…Maybe humans are like that…Maybe the moments that meant something to you and the people you’ve loved over the years are the rings. Maybe what you thought you’d lost is still there, inside of you, giving you strength to carry on.”
“…that if you love something it stays with you, even after it’s gone.”
“Never again would she describe something as unbearable. Almost anything, she now knew, could be borne.”
“…past half a dozen rooms that appeared both overstuffed and strangely empty.”
“Over time, she grew deeply angry. It was the only emotion she allowed herself to feel. Her anger was a carapace; it protected her soft insides like the shell of a snail.”
Highly recommended for almost all fans of historical fiction books! I also want to say that there is so much about this story that is applicable to our current circumstances. This would make a fine book club book because it’s a great discussion book.
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LibraryThing member queencersei
Evangeline, a naïve young governess in early nineteenth-century London, pregnant by her employer's son, and falsely accused of left and attempted murder is sent Newgate Prison. After months in jail, she learns she is sentenced to “the land beyond the seas,” Van Diemen’s Land, a penal colony
Then there is Hazel, a teenager abandoned the streets of Glasgow was sentenced to seven years transport for stealing a silver spoon. Though young, she is a skilled midwife and herbalist and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Evangeline.
Finally, there is Mathinna, the orphaned daughter of the Chief of the Lowreenne tribe, who has been adopted by the new governor of Van Diemen’s Land. Only eight years old, she is treated as a curiosity by the racist governors' wife and the white society they inhabit. Highly intelligent and a survivor, Mathinna is by turns ignored and then dressed up for parties to be mocked to her face for being a savage and barley human by the adults who have settled on her people's stolen land.
The Exiles does a wonderful job of weaving together the stories of these three very different females', as they try to carve out a new life in a land where all the odds are stacked against them.
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in Australia.Then there is Hazel, a teenager abandoned the streets of Glasgow was sentenced to seven years transport for stealing a silver spoon. Though young, she is a skilled midwife and herbalist and strikes up an unlikely friendship with Evangeline.
Finally, there is Mathinna, the orphaned daughter of the Chief of the Lowreenne tribe, who has been adopted by the new governor of Van Diemen’s Land. Only eight years old, she is treated as a curiosity by the racist governors' wife and the white society they inhabit. Highly intelligent and a survivor, Mathinna is by turns ignored and then dressed up for parties to be mocked to her face for being a savage and barley human by the adults who have settled on her people's stolen land.
The Exiles does a wonderful job of weaving together the stories of these three very different females', as they try to carve out a new life in a land where all the odds are stacked against them.
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LibraryThing member catfan69
3.5 Stars. I received this book as an Early Reviewer title. Having loved this author's previous novel, The Orphan Train, I may have come into the reading experience with my expectations too high. The Exiles did not meet my expectations. It was a 3.5 star read for me. This historical novel is about
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three female characters who face many challenges and hardships. Two of the main characters, Evangeline and Hazel, are sent from England to the penal colony in Australia known as Van Diemen's Land. The third main character, Mathinna, is an aboriginal Australian who also ends up at Van Diemen's Land. The positive aspect of this book is the historical perspective. I learned a lot about the history of Australia and found it both fascinating and infuriating. What disappointed me about this book is mostly the pacing. There is too much time spent with Evangeline's story prior to the voyage to Australia and too much of the story is also spent on the voyage itself. The events in Van Diemen's land are rushed and not fully fleshed out in comparison to Evangeline's back story and the voyage. Mathinna's story is given less attention and was not fully developed in my opinion, and how her story intersects with the other main characters is thin. There is an unexpected twist, and how characters responded to this unexpected event did not ring true to me. The premise of the book and the historical perspective make it worth reading but it is not a story that will stick with me like The Orphan Train did. Show Less
LibraryThing member sallylou61
The Exiles richly describes the horrendous life of women in the notorious Newgate Prison in the nineteenth century and the conditions of their lives on ships carrying prisoners from Great Britain to Australia, which was largely colonized by prisoners. Two of the main characters, Angelina and Hazel,
The British colonists were very cruel to the indigenous population of Australia. Mathinna, the third main female character, had been stolen as a young child from her village on an Australian island by the British governor and his wife. She was also an exile since she was taken to a place she had never known and was treated as if she was an inferior being, and displayed as an object. After she refused to adapt to the British ways, the governor’s family abandoned her.
When the story began Angelina was twenty one, Hazel a teenager, and Mathinna a child.
As seems to be a custom when currently writing fiction, Ms. Kline goes back and forth between Angelina and/or Hazel and Mathinna. She often switches at an exciting part.
I was disappointed Ruby's story near the end of the book. By the end of the story we know what happened to the two women of British descent but not to Mathinna. There were many other characters in the book; I could only like the personality of one of the men.
In my opinion, The Exiles does not come up to the standard of the author’s Orphan Train or A Piece of the World although I have not read either one recently.
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who had both been imprisoned for stealing, met on the ship, Medea, going to Australia. Angelina had had a very unfair trial in which only her accusers were allowed to say anything about her. On board the ship the female prisoners were at the mercy of the male crew and male prisoners. Life was not much if any better for the women once they got to Australia and were imprisoned there. Violent males, some of whom were murderers, were let out in the same communities. Relatively little of the story actually occurs in AustraliaThe British colonists were very cruel to the indigenous population of Australia. Mathinna, the third main female character, had been stolen as a young child from her village on an Australian island by the British governor and his wife. She was also an exile since she was taken to a place she had never known and was treated as if she was an inferior being, and displayed as an object. After she refused to adapt to the British ways, the governor’s family abandoned her.
When the story began Angelina was twenty one, Hazel a teenager, and Mathinna a child.
As seems to be a custom when currently writing fiction, Ms. Kline goes back and forth between Angelina and/or Hazel and Mathinna. She often switches at an exciting part.
I was disappointed Ruby's story near the end of the book. By the end of the story we know what happened to the two women of British descent but not to Mathinna. There were many other characters in the book; I could only like the personality of one of the men.
In my opinion, The Exiles does not come up to the standard of the author’s Orphan Train or A Piece of the World although I have not read either one recently.
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LibraryThing member ErickaS
I love books that make me forget where I am . . . that leave me stupefied when I look up and remember that I'm sitting on the back porch and not on a slave ship bound for Australia.
Gripping historical fiction set in the 1840s: A young woman, Evangeline, falsely accused of theft, is sent to Van
Kline's writing is compelling. She adroitly moves the plot along while also engaging the reader in the atmosphere. She has skill in weaving in succinct, apt description into the events. I was completely taken in with the stories of these women, and would read for long stretches of time without realizing how much time had passed. There is some predictability, but there were also some surprises, and I looked forward to sitting down with the book every chance I had, which can be a rare thing! The pages flew by and I was satisfied with the ending.
Perfect for fans of Kristen Hannah and Ruta Sepetys.
I'm looking forward to reading Kline's other novels.
Many thanks to LibraryThing for the advance copy!
Gripping historical fiction set in the 1840s: A young woman, Evangeline, falsely accused of theft, is sent to Van
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Diemen's Land. A young Aboringinal girl, Mathinna, is taken in as a pet by Lady Jane Franklin and is overwhelmed trying to navigate the strange English expectations in her new home while desperately missing her family.Kline's writing is compelling. She adroitly moves the plot along while also engaging the reader in the atmosphere. She has skill in weaving in succinct, apt description into the events. I was completely taken in with the stories of these women, and would read for long stretches of time without realizing how much time had passed. There is some predictability, but there were also some surprises, and I looked forward to sitting down with the book every chance I had, which can be a rare thing! The pages flew by and I was satisfied with the ending.
Perfect for fans of Kristen Hannah and Ruta Sepetys.
I'm looking forward to reading Kline's other novels.
Many thanks to LibraryThing for the advance copy!
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LibraryThing member bymerechance
In 1840 London, young governess Evangeline Stokes finds herself imprisoned and sentenced to exile halfway around the world on the island of Van Diemen’s Land (now the Australian state of Tasmania), where the British colonists have recently killed most of the native Aboriginal people in the Black
While a bit slow to start and suffering from some uneven pacing throughout, the story is full of historical details, beautiful writing, and sympathetic characters. The advanced reader’s edition did not include a map, which I think would be a useful addition to show the journeys the characters undertake, especially given how much space is dedicated to Evangeline’s voyage on the Medea with other convict women and ex-convict male sailors.
In the detailed Acknowledgements section, Kline traces the inspirations that led to her interest in Australia and imprisoned women. Crucially, as part of her extensive research, a professor and descendant of Tasmanian Aboriginal people critiqued the sections about Mathinna. I still felt Mathinna’s sections were underdeveloped, but her sense of being out of place no matter where she went seemed very realistic, compared to some convenient happy coincidences in the white characters’ narratives.
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War, forcibly relocating the survivors to the outskirt island of Flinders. Eight-year-old orphan Mathinna is uprooted again by the governor and his wife, who take her in as a cruel experiment in whether the natives can be “civilized.” While a bit slow to start and suffering from some uneven pacing throughout, the story is full of historical details, beautiful writing, and sympathetic characters. The advanced reader’s edition did not include a map, which I think would be a useful addition to show the journeys the characters undertake, especially given how much space is dedicated to Evangeline’s voyage on the Medea with other convict women and ex-convict male sailors.
In the detailed Acknowledgements section, Kline traces the inspirations that led to her interest in Australia and imprisoned women. Crucially, as part of her extensive research, a professor and descendant of Tasmanian Aboriginal people critiqued the sections about Mathinna. I still felt Mathinna’s sections were underdeveloped, but her sense of being out of place no matter where she went seemed very realistic, compared to some convenient happy coincidences in the white characters’ narratives.
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LibraryThing member mzonderm
Women do not have an easy life in Kline's new novel. Unless they're rich. But this novel has very little sympathy for the rich. Instead, the focus is on the marginalized. Evangeline is a naïve governess, who finds herself pregnant and accused of stealing a ring (she didn't). After a stint in
Methinna, an Aboriginal girl who is adopted by the governor's wife to be essentially a talking pet, rounds out our group. At 11, she's old enough to be somewhat independent, which is good, since no-one exactly takes care of her. But she learns French and learns how to dance, and is generally considered a marvel of civilization, until, suddenly she isn't. Unfortunately, she learns the hard way that you can't go home again, although in her case, it's as much to do with the depredations of the British on the Aboriginal way of life than with anything she does.
Evangeline and Hazel are well-realized characters, although in some ways they are mere stand-ins for the idea that women had no power in that era. But they fill that role more than adequately, not being shy with their desire to be treated with common decency. Methinna's inclusion in the novel is more curious, as her story barely intersects the other, and her impact on their lives isn't as dramatic as it could be, or vice versa. It almost seems as though Kline felt she couldn't write a story taking place in Australia at the time without including an Aboriginal voice, a sentiment which I applaud, but I don't think she does that voice much justice here. For the a fully-told plight of women prisoners sent to the colony, I recommend this book. For the same of the Aboriginals, one might want to look elsewhere.
A note on the audio: Narrator Christine Lee does a competent job with her narration, with one major flaw. Two of the characters are described as being quite young, and their youth is such a character trait that it is mentioned repeatedly throughout the narrative. Unfortunately, Lee's doesn't modulate her voice to reflect that youth, and I constantly had to remind myself that they were both young girls.
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Newgate, Evangeline is sentenced to 14 years labor in Australia. On the months-long voyage, she meets Hazel, a fellow prisoner, and the two become unlikely allies. Kline does not soften her descriptions of the conditions they faced. One can almost smell it.Methinna, an Aboriginal girl who is adopted by the governor's wife to be essentially a talking pet, rounds out our group. At 11, she's old enough to be somewhat independent, which is good, since no-one exactly takes care of her. But she learns French and learns how to dance, and is generally considered a marvel of civilization, until, suddenly she isn't. Unfortunately, she learns the hard way that you can't go home again, although in her case, it's as much to do with the depredations of the British on the Aboriginal way of life than with anything she does.
Evangeline and Hazel are well-realized characters, although in some ways they are mere stand-ins for the idea that women had no power in that era. But they fill that role more than adequately, not being shy with their desire to be treated with common decency. Methinna's inclusion in the novel is more curious, as her story barely intersects the other, and her impact on their lives isn't as dramatic as it could be, or vice versa. It almost seems as though Kline felt she couldn't write a story taking place in Australia at the time without including an Aboriginal voice, a sentiment which I applaud, but I don't think she does that voice much justice here. For the a fully-told plight of women prisoners sent to the colony, I recommend this book. For the same of the Aboriginals, one might want to look elsewhere.
A note on the audio: Narrator Christine Lee does a competent job with her narration, with one major flaw. Two of the characters are described as being quite young, and their youth is such a character trait that it is mentioned repeatedly throughout the narrative. Unfortunately, Lee's doesn't modulate her voice to reflect that youth, and I constantly had to remind myself that they were both young girls.
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LibraryThing member alekee
A book that captured my attention and kept me riveted right to the end, a read that you need to expect the unexpected.
Living in England in the 1800's was not an easy time, seems like the littlest offense and you ended up in the Jail, or the famous Newgate prison.
The author has us traveling with
While in Australia, we are with some of the same women we met on the ship, but we also meet a young aboriginal orphan, and see what happens to her as she is more or less being made into a pet.
This is a story that will linger with you, and I found myself rooting for revenge, but there is so much going on here.
A book you really don't want to miss, it is that good!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher William Morrow and was not required to give a positive review.
Living in England in the 1800's was not an easy time, seems like the littlest offense and you ended up in the Jail, or the famous Newgate prison.
The author has us traveling with
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these poor woman, on a prison ship to the then country of Australia, which was know as the "Prison Colony", but the mistreatment and life of these poor people was atrocious.While in Australia, we are with some of the same women we met on the ship, but we also meet a young aboriginal orphan, and see what happens to her as she is more or less being made into a pet.
This is a story that will linger with you, and I found myself rooting for revenge, but there is so much going on here.
A book you really don't want to miss, it is that good!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher William Morrow and was not required to give a positive review.
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LibraryThing member susan0316
The Exiles is about the early history of Australia. It's a well researched and beautiful written novel about female friendships and the way women were treated in the mid-1800s. The story is told through the eyes of two female prisoners transported to Australia -Evangeline and Hazel and one
These three women represent different parts of the culture of Australia in this time period. All three of them were treated as less than human - the prisoners were treated terribly. They were poorly fed and made to work hard and Marthinna was put into an entirely different life at the whim of the governor. While life in Australia is punishing and often brutally unfair, it is also, for some, an opportunity: for redemption and a new way of life. The Exiles is a story of grace born from hardship and the bonds of female friendship.
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Aboriginal girl Mathinna who was taken from her home to live in the capital.These three women represent different parts of the culture of Australia in this time period. All three of them were treated as less than human - the prisoners were treated terribly. They were poorly fed and made to work hard and Marthinna was put into an entirely different life at the whim of the governor. While life in Australia is punishing and often brutally unfair, it is also, for some, an opportunity: for redemption and a new way of life. The Exiles is a story of grace born from hardship and the bonds of female friendship.
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LibraryThing member Christiana5
I received this book for free through the Early Reviewer's program, in exchange for an honest review. I really appreciate how quickly the publisher sent it, though that didn't influence my review.
The Exiles is a story of the early days of the English in Australia, told from the view of a young
While this was a very readable book that easily swept me in (I finished it in two evenings during a work week), it was also shocking, disturbing, and very sad. I say this as a fan of historical fiction who, while not an expert on this era or Australian history, is not entirely unfamiliar with the harsh treatment of native peoples and those subject to the English penal system. Ms. Baker Kline is an excellent writer, and does not shy away from showing the horrors her characters had to face. Recommended for those who are up for an easily readable story that's not an emotionally easy read.
The Exiles is a story of the early days of the English in Australia, told from the view of a young
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aboriginal girl taken from her people and home by an English couple, as well as several English women who were transported to Australia for their "crimes" under the English justice system of the 1840's. While this was a very readable book that easily swept me in (I finished it in two evenings during a work week), it was also shocking, disturbing, and very sad. I say this as a fan of historical fiction who, while not an expert on this era or Australian history, is not entirely unfamiliar with the harsh treatment of native peoples and those subject to the English penal system. Ms. Baker Kline is an excellent writer, and does not shy away from showing the horrors her characters had to face. Recommended for those who are up for an easily readable story that's not an emotionally easy read.
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LibraryThing member Sbojo32
The Exiles is considered contemporary historical fiction. This book is set in Australia, which is interesting because I don't often read historical fiction from Australia!
However, I started this book and it was a little slow for me. It is nearly 400 pages, and reading about the Aboriginal people
However, I started this book and it was a little slow for me. It is nearly 400 pages, and reading about the Aboriginal people
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was interesting, but there wasn't a lot of action. I had a hard time getting into this book, but it is certainly something that I would pick up again at a different time. Often books need to be read at a certain time or when the reader is a in certain mood, and I think this was the case for me. If you are looking to read a semi-heavy historical fiction, this seems like a good one, but I needed something lighter right now. Show Less
LibraryThing member tangledthread
Christina Baker Kline has written another historical fiction piece on a disadvantaged group being trafficked by those in power (sic The Orphan Train) and she's done a great job with it. Britain populated Australia by making it a penal colony in 1788 and began transporting male convicts there. By
All three women are first disadvantaged by their gender, compounded by their poverty and thus are powerless against the penal system of the day. The prison conditions and treatment of the women in London, on the ship, and at the Cascades prison in Hobart Town are deplorable and graphically described in the novel. The core of the story is the relationships which develop between the women as they deal with being uprooted from everything that they knew, never to be returned. It's hard to reveal more than that without spoiling the story.
The narrative is compelling and the characters are sympathetically drawn while the historical aspect is the back drop.
Thanks to Wm. Morrow Publishing for the advanced readers edition, though this did not influence my opinion of the book.
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the 1840's the need to have females as part of the population caused the crown to begin transporting female convicts as well. The Exiles covers the transport experience three such women: Evangeline, a vicar's daughter who became a governess upon being orphaned and was seduced by the adult son in the household; Olive, a pregnant sex worker in London; and Hazel, a 15 year old daughter of an alcoholic midwife convicted of stealing a silver spoon. Added to the story is a young Australian native girl, Mathinna, whom the governor's wife adopts (abducts?) with selfish intent.All three women are first disadvantaged by their gender, compounded by their poverty and thus are powerless against the penal system of the day. The prison conditions and treatment of the women in London, on the ship, and at the Cascades prison in Hobart Town are deplorable and graphically described in the novel. The core of the story is the relationships which develop between the women as they deal with being uprooted from everything that they knew, never to be returned. It's hard to reveal more than that without spoiling the story.
The narrative is compelling and the characters are sympathetically drawn while the historical aspect is the back drop.
Thanks to Wm. Morrow Publishing for the advanced readers edition, though this did not influence my opinion of the book.
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LibraryThing member tamidale
Christina Baker Kline never disappoints and her newest release is no exception. Set in Australia, this story focuses on the early days when the country was being settled. England shipped prisoners over to serve out their sentences and help settle the land. At some point, they realized the area was
The story focuses on Evangeline, Hazel and Olive, who are each imprisoned for very different reasons, but become friends on the long voyage from England to Australia. When Evangeline gives birth to a little girl while still on the ship, the woman grow an even stronger bond that lasts for years afterward.
Another part of the story focused on a native child named Mathinna and her struggles with losing her family and way of life as Australia becomes populated by the English. I was hoping Kline would expand a bit more on Mathinna's storyline as I would have liked learning more about her tribe.
I found this to be informative and engaging historical fiction, with a bit of suspense and romance to add just the right amount of tension to the story.
Many thanks to the Early Readers Giveaway for the advanced copy that I was happy to read and give my honest review.
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overpopulated by men, so they began to ship over women prisoners as well.The story focuses on Evangeline, Hazel and Olive, who are each imprisoned for very different reasons, but become friends on the long voyage from England to Australia. When Evangeline gives birth to a little girl while still on the ship, the woman grow an even stronger bond that lasts for years afterward.
Another part of the story focused on a native child named Mathinna and her struggles with losing her family and way of life as Australia becomes populated by the English. I was hoping Kline would expand a bit more on Mathinna's storyline as I would have liked learning more about her tribe.
I found this to be informative and engaging historical fiction, with a bit of suspense and romance to add just the right amount of tension to the story.
Many thanks to the Early Readers Giveaway for the advanced copy that I was happy to read and give my honest review.
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LibraryThing member dgmlrhodes
The Exiles was a story beautifully written with a powerful story line by the author of the Orphan Train. The story is about women prisoners sent to Australia from Great Britain as well as the relocation of the aboriginal people in the countryside. There are three women who narrate the story and
Mathinna is an Aboriginal girl who is adopted by a wealthy British couple. Her story is sad, yet powerful and without giving away the story line it is infuriating.
Evangeline Stokes, a young naive girl falls trap to a wealthy family and is ultimately exiled on a prisoner ship with an offense that is contrived and minor compared to today's justice system.
Finally, there is sixteen year old Hazel who can use her skills as a midwife on the prison ship and in the destination prison in Tazmania.
All of these women must adjust to the harsh reality of their plight and make the best of circumstances and the story told is powerful and not always pleasant. It is hard to believe that women were treated this way during this time period and certainly makes one appreciate the equality that we have today.
Each of these women contribute to a powerfully told story that falls into a section of history where there is not much written. This was an interesting read that keeps the reader engaged throughout.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for providing an advance readers copy of an awesome read!
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each has their own voice and story.Mathinna is an Aboriginal girl who is adopted by a wealthy British couple. Her story is sad, yet powerful and without giving away the story line it is infuriating.
Evangeline Stokes, a young naive girl falls trap to a wealthy family and is ultimately exiled on a prisoner ship with an offense that is contrived and minor compared to today's justice system.
Finally, there is sixteen year old Hazel who can use her skills as a midwife on the prison ship and in the destination prison in Tazmania.
All of these women must adjust to the harsh reality of their plight and make the best of circumstances and the story told is powerful and not always pleasant. It is hard to believe that women were treated this way during this time period and certainly makes one appreciate the equality that we have today.
Each of these women contribute to a powerfully told story that falls into a section of history where there is not much written. This was an interesting read that keeps the reader engaged throughout.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for providing an advance readers copy of an awesome read!
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LibraryThing member thebooklover2
As the story begins, Evangeline is a young governess in early nineteenth-century London. She is seduced by her employer's son and when she becomes pregnant she is let go from her position and sent to prison. She is sentenced to Australia's penal colony and her child is born on the journey to a
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beautiful and wild new land. From there this book takes off and is full of interesting characters that make Evangeline's life in Australia exciting and different. The book offers a fresh perspective on life in a mostly uninhabited continent during a time when life was difficult, friendships and relationships were important to your very survival, and you had freedom imagined in today's society. This was a wonderful story and I thank the publisher for my early copy. What a treasure! Show Less
LibraryThing member hammockqueen
Quite informative and entertaining. I knew nothing about aborigines before this and will delve more. Good language skills. Well worth reading. Thank you
Pretty
Pretty
LibraryThing member brangwinn
I’ve been a fan of Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train. She doesn’t disappoint in her new book which looks at Australia through the eyes of thee women who were all forced to leave their homes by the British. First there is young aboriginal who is made into a “pet” by a local governor’s
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wife who wants to see if the aboriginals could be domesticated. The other two are a naïve British governess who believes the son of her employer when he says he loves her, only to find herself convicted for the theft of a ring he gave her and loaded on a transport ship to Australia. The third is a Scottish girl who stole a silver spoon and is transported to Australia. Kline makes great use of her research in telling their stories. While there is sadness and horror, there is also hope in the story of the women brought by transport and forced to help settle a new country. Yet, Kline, makes clear in the story of the aboriginal chief’s daughters, great damage was done by English interference. In the audiobook, the narrator, Caroline Lee, does great justice to the voices of the three women. Show Less
LibraryThing member fredreeca
Oh my gosh! There is so much I want to say about this read. The history, the characters, the drama…Everything is rolled up into one package.
Evangeline has a new job. She is a governess. But, she is falsely accused of stealing a ring. She ends up in Newgate Prison. Never before has she seen
Mathinna is an orphaned aboriginal. She is taken from everything and everyone she has ever known to be on display for the new governor’s wife. How do these two connect…very creatively by the author.
This story follows two story lines, Evangeline and Mathinna. Both are tragic and captivating. Both happen on opposite sides of the world.
Well! Christina Baker Kline did not disappoint! This story is excellent! I read it in one day. I was mesmerized from start to finish. Do not miss this one folks! So good!
Do NOT miss this one! Grab your copy today!
Evangeline has a new job. She is a governess. But, she is falsely accused of stealing a ring. She ends up in Newgate Prison. Never before has she seen
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anything like this, let alone…live this. She is set for transport to Australia. She knows she will never see England again.Mathinna is an orphaned aboriginal. She is taken from everything and everyone she has ever known to be on display for the new governor’s wife. How do these two connect…very creatively by the author.
This story follows two story lines, Evangeline and Mathinna. Both are tragic and captivating. Both happen on opposite sides of the world.
Well! Christina Baker Kline did not disappoint! This story is excellent! I read it in one day. I was mesmerized from start to finish. Do not miss this one folks! So good!
Do NOT miss this one! Grab your copy today!
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LibraryThing member GrandmaCootie
“A London governess and a Scottish midwife’s neglected daughter are sent to a penal colony in Australia, where an Aboriginal girl is in another sort of captivity.” From the description The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline sounds like it will be another interesting book of historical fiction.
If this is what you expect from The Exiles, you are in for a pleasant surprise, because in author Kline’s more than capable hands this book brings this history alive. It’s detailed and colorful and moving and haunting.
Yes, Evangeline and Hazel and Olive and the others did commit a crime. But Christina Baker Kline gives us a peek behind the curtain, into the circumstances of their lives to see why and how this could have happened. How they were duped or ignorant or frightened or just born into circumstances that put them on a path that could led nowhere but to prison in Australia. The treatment they receive every step of this journey is horrific, truly inhumane. They are not people, they are property. And as women apparently they are held to a higher standard and therefore must deserve to receive even harsher punishment.
As for Mathinna, the little Aboriginal girl, her crime seems to be having been born in the wrong place and the wrong time. The Governor’s wife has a collection, a bizarre and thoughtless collection, and is conducting an experiment – take one of those savages and give them every opportunity to be just like her. Nature versus nurture. Can she erase their wild, willful natures if they are given the right opportunities? Along with the right clothes to wear and the right food to eat of course? Mathinna, too, is sadly on a path of no return.
The Exiles is not an easy book to read. The arrogance of the British in feeling it was their right, their duty, or maybe just their sport, to try and change or eliminate an entire people is breathtakingly cruel indeed. Again, we already know this history but when reading about it through the eyes of a small child who doesn’t even have the warmth of human contact is heart-wrenching. Mathinna is such a bright, spirited little thing, once so happy and free.
It’s not easy to read about the treatment and prospects of the women prisoners, either. Whether or not they deserved some punishment becomes almost irrelevant when they are subjected to such cruelty, such caprice at the hands of brutal sailors and jailers and government officials, when their lives are in danger every single second and no one cares, usually not even their fellow prisoners, because it really does boil down to survival of the fittest. And receive punishment that seems so out of proportion to the crime.
But even though The Exiles was not easy to read, it was a book I could not put down and feel fortunate to have read. I became so involved with these characters, knowing at times in advance what would happen but hoping for another outcome, being surprised at some of the unexpected twists and turns, feeling my anxiety level rise at the danger that just didn’t seem to abate and was always just around the corner.
Christina Baker Kline is a talented author, masterful, skilled at building word pictures or people, sights, sounds that will engage and haunt you. The story moves smoothy from place to place and advances in time so that you feel a part of the journey. Thanks to the author and William Morrow Books for providing an advance copy of The Exiles in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a strong, thrilling, moving book I am happy to have read and proud to recommend. All opinions are my own.
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We all know a bit of the stories about how criminals were shipped off to penal colonies and how the native people in many countries were “civilized” by uninvited visitors.If this is what you expect from The Exiles, you are in for a pleasant surprise, because in author Kline’s more than capable hands this book brings this history alive. It’s detailed and colorful and moving and haunting.
Yes, Evangeline and Hazel and Olive and the others did commit a crime. But Christina Baker Kline gives us a peek behind the curtain, into the circumstances of their lives to see why and how this could have happened. How they were duped or ignorant or frightened or just born into circumstances that put them on a path that could led nowhere but to prison in Australia. The treatment they receive every step of this journey is horrific, truly inhumane. They are not people, they are property. And as women apparently they are held to a higher standard and therefore must deserve to receive even harsher punishment.
As for Mathinna, the little Aboriginal girl, her crime seems to be having been born in the wrong place and the wrong time. The Governor’s wife has a collection, a bizarre and thoughtless collection, and is conducting an experiment – take one of those savages and give them every opportunity to be just like her. Nature versus nurture. Can she erase their wild, willful natures if they are given the right opportunities? Along with the right clothes to wear and the right food to eat of course? Mathinna, too, is sadly on a path of no return.
The Exiles is not an easy book to read. The arrogance of the British in feeling it was their right, their duty, or maybe just their sport, to try and change or eliminate an entire people is breathtakingly cruel indeed. Again, we already know this history but when reading about it through the eyes of a small child who doesn’t even have the warmth of human contact is heart-wrenching. Mathinna is such a bright, spirited little thing, once so happy and free.
It’s not easy to read about the treatment and prospects of the women prisoners, either. Whether or not they deserved some punishment becomes almost irrelevant when they are subjected to such cruelty, such caprice at the hands of brutal sailors and jailers and government officials, when their lives are in danger every single second and no one cares, usually not even their fellow prisoners, because it really does boil down to survival of the fittest. And receive punishment that seems so out of proportion to the crime.
But even though The Exiles was not easy to read, it was a book I could not put down and feel fortunate to have read. I became so involved with these characters, knowing at times in advance what would happen but hoping for another outcome, being surprised at some of the unexpected twists and turns, feeling my anxiety level rise at the danger that just didn’t seem to abate and was always just around the corner.
Christina Baker Kline is a talented author, masterful, skilled at building word pictures or people, sights, sounds that will engage and haunt you. The story moves smoothy from place to place and advances in time so that you feel a part of the journey. Thanks to the author and William Morrow Books for providing an advance copy of The Exiles in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a strong, thrilling, moving book I am happy to have read and proud to recommend. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
This novel has two different stories, which of course, come together in the end. It begins with Mathinna, an indigenous child, taken from her island to become the pet or the experiment of Jane Franklin, wife of Lieutenant Governor John Franklin of Van Diemen's Land. She was a real child, actually
But the story quickly shifted to Evangeline, a governess in mid-century 1800s England. I mentally rolled my eyes as this part of the story began. Has there ever been a Victorian novel that didn't have hired help seduced and abandoned by a spoiled rich son of the manor? It felt like such a trope, such a cliché. But this story is supposed to be about Australia, Van Diemen's Land, when convicts were routinely shipped there, and I find that sad part of history fascinating.
I thought the convicts would never get off that dang boat. But I admit, something happened on the voyage that most authors don't do. To tell would be a spoiler.
The historical aspect of this novel kept me engaged, and the book was a heart tugger, the more so because it is based on real conditions. I did enjoy it. I believe it could have been a little less predictable for the most part, but it's entertaining for anyone interested in the convicts and settlers who moved to Australia, willingly or not.
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taken to be raised by the Franklins in an attempt to “civilize” her. Something of a pet, something of an experiment. Heartbreaking.But the story quickly shifted to Evangeline, a governess in mid-century 1800s England. I mentally rolled my eyes as this part of the story began. Has there ever been a Victorian novel that didn't have hired help seduced and abandoned by a spoiled rich son of the manor? It felt like such a trope, such a cliché. But this story is supposed to be about Australia, Van Diemen's Land, when convicts were routinely shipped there, and I find that sad part of history fascinating.
I thought the convicts would never get off that dang boat. But I admit, something happened on the voyage that most authors don't do. To tell would be a spoiler.
The historical aspect of this novel kept me engaged, and the book was a heart tugger, the more so because it is based on real conditions. I did enjoy it. I believe it could have been a little less predictable for the most part, but it's entertaining for anyone interested in the convicts and settlers who moved to Australia, willingly or not.
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LibraryThing member CAS2199
Evangeline is working for a wealthy family in London as a tutor. While working for this family, she has an affair with the eldest son, who gives her a family heirloom. When someone reports this to the head of the house as having the family ring, they, of course, accuse her of stealing it. Off she
Kline introduces us to three very different, but very strong female character in The Exiles. Evangeline is a character that I feel badly for. She got played by the eldest son. She is a bit naive and you can tell she has lived a sheltered life. She gets accused of stealing, has no alibi, freaks out about this, and she is also pregnant. I mean it can't get much worse. For the time period, this is social suicide. Evangeline can't even ask her father to vouch for her character, as he is dead. So, obviously things are looking pretty dreary for Evangeline. She spends some time in Newgate Prison, which is a version of hell, and then finds she is selected to be transported by ship to Australia where they have a penal colony. This isn't some quick voyage though. It's long, arduous, dangerous, and not to mention, there's tons of brazen sailors set on tormenting the female prisoners. Could you imagine being pregnant in this situation? It's truly a nightmare. The one good thing that comes out of all of this is her friendship with some of the other women, such as Hazel.
Hazel is an incredible character in The Exiles. Her lousy mother pretty much is the reason why she finds herself on this prison ship and right away you can tell she is much more than just a naive teenager. She knows much more about the world than even Evangeline. Her mother was a midwife, so Hazel has picked up many skills, which is helpful to the women aboard the ship. At first the ship's doctor is hesitant to utilize her, but once she proves herself, she makes herself invaluable. I adored her friendship with Evangeline and I loved that they got each other's back.
Kline gives us glimpses into Mathinna's life as an aboriginal young girl living amongst the white colonists. I appreciate Kline doing this as it gives readers a different perspective of what it must have been like to have her world taken away from her. Her story is heartbreaking. She is, essentially, Lady Franklin's little experiment. Can Lady Franklin make the heathen civilized enough to attend tea parties and other events? Lady Franklin shows her off to her friends as a pet in a way and it's humiliating for Mathinna, not to mention disgraceful. Mathinna has so much to offer, but no one gives her a voice. She feels so lonely amongst the colonists and longs for her former life. It was hard to see how Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna's story would collide, but trust that Kline makes it happen.
The Exiles is a powerful story. I learned a lot about nineteenth century Australia and the penal colony. I loved meeting these strong female characters and appreciated the novel's overall positive message of hope, the importance of female friendships, and the power that resides within us all. If you love historical fiction that is memorable, moving, and smart, look no further. The Exiles is one of my top ten favorite books of the year.
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goes to infamous Newgate Prison. The eldest son is vacationing in Italy, so the chances of him saving her are slim. To top it off, she is pregnant with his child. This is a major scandal, especially in the 1840s. On the other side of the world in Australia, there is an orphan, Mathinna, who is being kept by one of the dignitaries. She has lost her parents, her world to white colonists, and the only life she has ever known. She has become a "pet project" for Lady Franklin. Once Evangeline is transported via a slave ship to a prison colony on Australia, she meets fellow prisoner, Hazel. Hazel comes from Glasgow and was caught stealing a silver spoon. She is only sixteen years old and was only stealing, because her mother put her up to it. Now her life has been irrevocably changed. Evangeline and Hazel become friends aboard the dangerous ship, Medea, and find solace in each other amidst all the horrific things that happen out at sea. All three females' stories come together once they reach land and Christina Baker Kline ties their stories together expertly. The Exiles isn't a story I will forget easily; it's one of my favorite historical novels of the year.Kline introduces us to three very different, but very strong female character in The Exiles. Evangeline is a character that I feel badly for. She got played by the eldest son. She is a bit naive and you can tell she has lived a sheltered life. She gets accused of stealing, has no alibi, freaks out about this, and she is also pregnant. I mean it can't get much worse. For the time period, this is social suicide. Evangeline can't even ask her father to vouch for her character, as he is dead. So, obviously things are looking pretty dreary for Evangeline. She spends some time in Newgate Prison, which is a version of hell, and then finds she is selected to be transported by ship to Australia where they have a penal colony. This isn't some quick voyage though. It's long, arduous, dangerous, and not to mention, there's tons of brazen sailors set on tormenting the female prisoners. Could you imagine being pregnant in this situation? It's truly a nightmare. The one good thing that comes out of all of this is her friendship with some of the other women, such as Hazel.
Hazel is an incredible character in The Exiles. Her lousy mother pretty much is the reason why she finds herself on this prison ship and right away you can tell she is much more than just a naive teenager. She knows much more about the world than even Evangeline. Her mother was a midwife, so Hazel has picked up many skills, which is helpful to the women aboard the ship. At first the ship's doctor is hesitant to utilize her, but once she proves herself, she makes herself invaluable. I adored her friendship with Evangeline and I loved that they got each other's back.
Kline gives us glimpses into Mathinna's life as an aboriginal young girl living amongst the white colonists. I appreciate Kline doing this as it gives readers a different perspective of what it must have been like to have her world taken away from her. Her story is heartbreaking. She is, essentially, Lady Franklin's little experiment. Can Lady Franklin make the heathen civilized enough to attend tea parties and other events? Lady Franklin shows her off to her friends as a pet in a way and it's humiliating for Mathinna, not to mention disgraceful. Mathinna has so much to offer, but no one gives her a voice. She feels so lonely amongst the colonists and longs for her former life. It was hard to see how Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna's story would collide, but trust that Kline makes it happen.
The Exiles is a powerful story. I learned a lot about nineteenth century Australia and the penal colony. I loved meeting these strong female characters and appreciated the novel's overall positive message of hope, the importance of female friendships, and the power that resides within us all. If you love historical fiction that is memorable, moving, and smart, look no further. The Exiles is one of my top ten favorite books of the year.
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LibraryThing member melaniehope
This is a gorgeous novel that centers around three women in the nineteenth century. Evangeline, Hazel and Mathinna. Evangeline is a governess in England who is seduced by her employer and finds herself accused of a crime she did not commit. Eventually she is sentenced to a transport ship that will
The story is beautifully written. The characters were so very resilient and inspiring. The novel flowed effortlessly and was at times heartbreaking yet full of hope and strength. Loved every bit of this story! I received a complimentary book as part of the Librarything Early Reviewers.
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deliver her to Australia. While on board she meets a young girl Hazel who is skilled with herbs and midwifery. Hazel's crime was stealing silver spoon. Mathinna is an aboriginal girl who is taken from her home and adopted into a household. Once there, the lady of the house treats her like a pet and forces Mathinna to change her name, dress up and act like a civilized lady. She is cruel and dismissive to poor Mathinna.The story is beautifully written. The characters were so very resilient and inspiring. The novel flowed effortlessly and was at times heartbreaking yet full of hope and strength. Loved every bit of this story! I received a complimentary book as part of the Librarything Early Reviewers.
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Awards
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Historical Fiction — 2020)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Fiction — 2020)
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — August 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020-09-15
Physical description
400 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
006235633X / 9780062356338