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By: CHCH 563
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2025-05-07 10:24:28 |
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Interesting but jumped around a lot. Great discussion topics though. |
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By: INVER 002
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2025-04-30 14:55:11 |
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A powerful book about domestic violence that is very uncomfortable to have voiced. Also general racism. An indictment on Australia. |
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By: AUCK 277
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2025-03-06 10:03:25 |
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Opinion quite divided on this book. Ratings ranged from 2-4. We felt the content was shocking. It was tough to acknowledge the events recounted. However, we felt it was important to read of others' life experiences and reflect on these. |
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By: NORTH 003
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2024-12-12 09:44:12 |
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Mixed reaction to the book content. Very graphic at times. Very traumatic life story. We admire the author for what she she has achieved in her life and winning the book awards. Quite amazing to us all. We felt the genealogy was a bit unclear and confusing. The title was very much admired. |
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By: TEKUI 002
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2024-11-27 14:02:18 |
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A wide ranging set of opinions on this book. It was enlightening and sad - the story of a 'dispirited' people, encumbered by alcohol and drugs as a result of being displaced. |
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By: MATAM 003
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2024-08-05 10:05:04 |
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A thought-provoking read. While no-one in our group said they 'loved it' most said they couldn't put it down. Created a good discussion. We thought there were many parallels with N.Z. regarding racism past and present. When will we learn? We are all human beings and deserve the same amount of respect. |
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By: WHANG 003
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2024-06-24 12:12:24 |
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Not an easy topic to read about although the language was easy to understand. It is truly horrific to learn about how the Aborigines in Australia were treated by the Western colonisers, and continue to be treated today. It's almost as if they were regarded as less than human. |
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By: CHCH 194
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2024-05-22 11:01:19 |
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The group admired what the main character had managed to achieve, but we found the evidence of the discrimination she faced for her race, gender and ethnicity was far greater than we would have expected in modern Australia. Our discussion had the positives of her determination, but the realisation that she, the main character, and society have further challenges ahead. |
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By: NELS 084
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2024-03-13 14:29:19 |
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Majority found the book hard to read, due to narrative style as well as content. However this prompted a really robust conversation at our meeting, including racism, colonialisation, intergenerational trauma and law and order. We felt the editorial team had used a light touch in order to allow the reader to hear the author's voice. Some felt it could have been better edited to give the reader a more cohesive experience of reading the story. |
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By: AUCK 009
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2024-02-26 11:46:16 |
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Horrendous, a hard read, but most of our group were glad they had persevered and finished the book. |
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By: HOKITIK 001
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2024-01-11 09:41:25 |
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The complicated relationships through the generations was interesting reading. A great deal of back and forth in time at times was 'confusing' reading. There is a good ABC-Australia interview with V. Gorrie. |
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By: WHANGA 002
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2023-11-16 11:21:14 |
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All agreed that 'Black and Blue' was not an 'easy' read, because of the 'no holds barred" descriptions of racism, violence and sexual assault. Despite this we were all pleased to have read it. There was no doubt that Veronica Gorrie is a resilient, brave, much to be admired woman and 'whistle blower'. The notes were useful and our discussion vibrant. |
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By: OMAR 001
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2023-11-15 10:00:11 |
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Most members really enjoyed this book, especially the second half. |
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By: CHCH 145
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2023-09-25 11:58:27 |
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Everybody agreed that Veronica Gorrie was a truly amazing and inspirational person whose background was horrendous, but she still came through everything. |
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By: ASHB 016
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2023-09-25 09:47:30 |
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We talked about this book for so long, so great discussion. We all agreed that we are very lucky to live in the times and where we do and most of us have no idea. It was very confronting and real but told her way because it was her story. Felt very sorry for her that her time in the police left her so shattered and disillusioned when she only wanted to try and make change. Is it any better now? We thought she was very forgiving towards her mother. Although at times it was hard to read, we were all pleased that we had done so. A lot of talk about the generation of lost children.. |
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By: WHANGA 004
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2023-08-03 12:14:17 |
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Very confronting, not particularly well-written, but it did generate plenty of discussion. |
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By: PIOPIO 001
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2023-07-28 10:37:12 |
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Our group enjoyed the book in spite of the confronting content and had no problem with the style of writing. We felt that Veronica Gorrie was an amazing women; intelligent, resourceful, strong but also with a lot of empathy. We had excellent discussion, with more questions than answers. Some questions did seem to imply cultural bias. A former Australian nurse in the group added further insight to discussion. |
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By: CHCH 176
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2023-06-28 10:17:53 |
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A difficult read. So confronting, shocking and sad. We could see no light at the end of the tunnel for the plight of Aboriginals - racism is endemic in Australia, not helped by the terrible effect of alcohol. A powerful, ultimately tragic story. |
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By: LOWER 002
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2023-06-22 13:09:24 |
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Most found the disjointed timeline distracting, but others felt it was relevant to the subject - dislocation and the disruption of poverty were an essential theme. A window into a life and a culture, impacted by a history of racism and deprivation. |
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By: CHCH 518
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2023-06-19 13:01:05 |
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Most readers did not enjoy this book. Some people found it traumatic, while others found the stream of consciousness writing style difficult to cope with. |
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By: CAMB 001
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2023-05-15 12:55:16 |
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This book stimulated one of the best discussions we have had this year. |
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By: NAP 005
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2023-04-17 20:27:05 |
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This was a sad story depicting a community where families were falling apart due to the colonisation of their country many years ago. It depicts how the arrival of white people to Australia has changed the aboriginal lifestyle and skills. Racism, alcohol and domination by a different culture have all resulted in a meaningless and destructive way of life for the aborigine. We thought Gorrie was brave to write this book although we wondered if, perhaps, it was really written for her family and as a catharsis for herself not for publication. |
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By: NEWP 018
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2023-04-17 14:42:50 |
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Mixed reaction. All thought it was well-written - almost conversational, but also many struggled with the content. Compared to 'Once Were Warriors' by everyone. |
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By: MOTUE 006
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2023-03-22 12:37:33 |
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Everyone felt that she had an amazing story to tell, and that she was a courageous woman telling a story many would not want to hear. But, there were differing views on ease of reading and the writing style. Some felt it was a bit muddled and confusing, stream of consciousness or inventory-like, others really enjoyed the style and felt she had told it how it was for her. We hope she is enjoying a better part of her life now. |
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By: MANGWK 001
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2023-02-27 11:49:38 |
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A book about the effects of colonisation and chaos in dispossessed societies where debt and alcohol fuel a downward spiral. Empathy with institutional racism noted. Excellent read, fun in parts (few). |
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By: WHAKA 008
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2022-11-28 13:39:45 |
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Very deep discussion. Powerful, raw writing. Not an enjoyable book we thought, but something that needs to be read. The big question we had was "Is there discrimination within the N.Z police force". |
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By: CHCH 532
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2022-11-17 14:48:05 |
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Engendered much discussion. |
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By: WHITBY 005
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2022-10-26 09:26:35 |
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Harrowing story told from the heart. Excellent discussion. Wide ranging views on the writing style. |
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By: TAUP 011
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2022-08-01 14:44:27 |
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An enlightening read - full of emotion. |
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By: WELL 213
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2022-07-21 10:30:23 |
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Our group agreed that this memoir had little literary style or value, but felt that the content and issues raised were important and generated an interesting discussion. It was particularly noted that the notes were super informative and the content was much appreciated. |
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By: TAUP 005
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2022-06-16 12:09:15 |
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Members found this a harrowing read, not helped by the repetitive, perhaps rather stilted, style of writing. |
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By: WHANG 022
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2022-06-16 11:40:55 |
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An excellent read. The way it is written was fine for readers who have a history of trauma. |
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By: AUCK 280
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2022-05-11 10:05:57 |
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Thoughtful insight into life of indigenous women in Australia. Addressed issue of racism both socially and institutionally. Story of strong women across generations and their commitment to improve life . Explored the astounding way they have been treated by governments and society. A hard read at time but generated much discussion on how NZ is, and how it has handled similar issues and is racism still a real issue However we did think it was a bit disjointed at times and the timelines hard to follow. Could have done with some better editing but it was clearly her voice. |
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