Eucalyptus by Murray Bail

                                                        

I just finished my book club book to be discussed in June. It is Eucalyptus by Murray Bail. Looks that my independent nature protests against reading books chosen by somebody else and I feel that I am wasting my time reading things that do not really interest me. During the time I was reluctantly reading Eucalyptus I was thinking that I really want to read Macbeth by Jo Nesbo. Yesterday, I finished my “homework” book. So, I am happy that I can now continue my Shakespearean education. I am curious if the second one will absorb me than much as Shylock. I refreshed the Macbeth story and I wonder what will be done with it by the crime stories writer. It started quite well, but not at all Shakespearean.

Back to the Murray Bail and Eucalyptus. Do I like it? Not really, not my type of a story, but I must say that poetic way of the author got me eventually and I was transported into a mood that I could describe as feeling mesmerized. Or maybe it was just stupor caused by reading one silly story followed by the next meaningless story and calling it a Scheherazade style writing. Big, big stretch in my opinion. Another, rather tedious feature of the book is the writing about eucalyptus and its many, many species. They are called by their Latin and common names and often described in some details. I liked some of it but as it was repeated too many times through the book. I started to skip the botanical details just to land up reading another inconsequential story which was supposed to be a love story. At the same time the book made me think about and feel the Australian landscapes, so different to the European ones. Once again, I have realized that I am half Australian and half European (I intend to write about Polish-European issue in one of my next posts) and that I love these severe Australian landscapes that almost always feature Eucalyptus species.

                                  

So, have I liked the book? I am confused here. The story is too farfetched, but the book is not about the story that much but the atmosphere, impressions, moods and feelings. It is a poetic book and I responded to the poetry of Australia and confusion of a budding feeling of love.

So, 7 out of 10.