not sure how to rate this, it is a particular book with a stream-of-consciousness narration that i think i am just missing a lot of context of australian history to fully grasp. i really liked the narration style and the introspection on definition of a nation, history, art, social class and so forth through a perspective of an outsider. ironically enough, i just need at least 10 scientific articles to figure out whatever i managed to glean from it and if my assumptions were even correct

seriously idk how else to describe it except it is masterfully written, the contrast between the hyperfixation on the land and minute details about higher echelons infighting over its cultural value yet no mention of any tangible interaction with the soil, no mention of animals besides those hares and birds, the chapter where he finally meets the landlords, it's incredible, i will think about it fondly, and i absolutely hated the experience of reading it LMAO

wow isn't it so awesome to read something so charming and well-written that has things like "interesting characters" and "character-driven writing" and "strong narrator voice" (although this is likely very divisive). i liked the year-based structure, and i enjoyed how the author balanced the more normal aspects of teenagehood like crushes and school plays and the more serious aspects of life like parental neglect and war. the romance lines are also all well done and fun to watch unravel, especially since you can pick up right away even if elliot is very silly and bad at understanding his own or others' feelings. the narration also helps with what aspects elliot notices and which are almost on the periphery, whether with his peers or his parents, very strong characterization. there are a few things i did not enjoy like the elven society stuff that felt too heavy-handed (and lowkey terfy with the golden stuff reading as a man-in-a-dress joke which left a bad taste in my mouth) and serene feels like a stepping stone to the main relationship line which i also was not a fan of, but overall it's a lovely and funny book and i would have liked to have read it when i was elliot's age