'Lillipilly Hill' by Eleanor Spence

(Note: Although this is not a lilly pilly flower, I still liked the image too much when I took it not to use.) 

Here's my January selection for my 2025 Aussie Book Challenge.  I've chosen it for my Nature in the Title category. Even though she's spelt it as one word, Eleanor Spence makes it clear within the story that the titular homestead is named after the lilly pilly tree. It's a great story to kick off the challenge with. If you're interested, there is an Amazon kindle version and it's available on Kindle Unlimited.

MY THOUGHTS:

It's the late nineteenth century. The Wilmot family has just moved from England to live at an Australian homestead, Lillipilly Hill, which their father has inherited from his uncle. But their mother can't imagine how they'll manage to maintain the civilised lifestyle they're used to, or provide educations with a British tick of approval. The studious daydreamer, Aidan, and dainty, nervous Rose-Ann don't seem to fit their new environment either. Only Harriet longs to support their father in his new, radical farming venture. 

Yet they've never imagined anything quite like it. She finds it a huge challenge to reconcile the others to dusty tracks, prickly blackberry bushes, piercing sunlight, shrill rosellas, leathery goannas, and pesky mosquitos. There is also the ever-present threat of snakes, not to mention a lurking fear of bunyips and bushrangers. And they simply can't wrap their heads around the notion of a platypus. 

Harriet's efforts to help Aidan fit in are particularly thorny. She's anxious for her brother to be happy for her own sake rather than his. Her ulterior motive is funny. Since he's the eldest, and the only son, she senses that in their parents' eyes, his opinions may carry more klout. Yet her good intentions tend to backfire. 

Reading between the lines, there's an Aussie persona already in place, and those who don't have it are regarded as oddities and relegated to the outskirts of all the action. It's a social sort of natural selection. Harriet is lucky enough to be adaptable. Aidan and Rose-Ann can't help feeling like failures, or that they must apologise and feel sheepish for their personalities. It is good to see Aidan especially come to realise that there is more than one form of courage. 

The landscape itself helps shape people's characters, since they have adventures which would be impossible in other settings. And it's described very appealingly. How could Aidan, Rose-Ann, and even Mother not come to love great things such as kookaburra laughter, sheer views, and billy-tea? 

My only quibble is that some of the chapter titles are a bit plot-spoilerish. 

It leaves me wanting more. I'm curious to know what becomes of all these characters, who are on the cusp of young adulthood. That, after all, is the sign of a good book. I must look up more of the works of Eleanor Spence, even though they sadly won't be about the Wilmot family.

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