Corrugated Roads comments

Sheila Allison gave me a copy of Corrugated Roads, which I read many weeks ago. I have been meaning to give you this feedback ever since.

What a striking and memorable book.

In the beginning, I was laughing out loud over your vendetta with your brother and baby sister.

My heart went out to the small you, and your experience after your rape, you certainly have a strong will to survive and overcome obstacles.

Your description of the Aborigines, and they way they were treated, returns to me every time the recent events in the Alice Spring Camps are in the news.

Even after many weeks, your book is still talking to me.

I hope it is successful and that you are able to write much more.

Thank you for sharing your experiences in this way.

Yours sincerely

Jocelyn Head

6 June 2012

**

The West Australian Newspaper. 17 August 2010

This collection of 27 stories (though they seem to be just chapters) forms a bleak, sometimes funny, and sometimes harrowing novel about women and men, black and white, and the rough journey of a young girl in a drought-stricken Queensland town in the 1950s. It comes from a former Neighbours story editor who created the characters of Charlene – which helped make Kylie Minogue a star – though some of its dialogue evokes another soapie stalwart – Home & Away’s ocker Alf Stewart. “You’ve salted the flamin’ water you bloody drongos” is what the country child hilariously exclaims on her first trip to the coast.

Lowndes is an accomplished writer and editor whose evocative prose makes for a charming read.

(Ginny’s note: Ray Meagher/Alf Stewart comes for Bollon, about twenty-odd miles from Mitchell. Both towns are in Queensland. My book got three stars from the unnamed reviewer).