George Hamilton

This is the first of George's books I've read but I doubt it will be the last!  It's a classic of its genre and will stay with you if you read it.

Secrets from the Dust

Amazon.com Secrets from the Dust

My review - 

This is the stunning story of Margaret, a mixed race Australian Aboriginal girl, who is captured from her family.  She is brought up initially in a school which trains girls in domestic service but is eventually placed with an adoptive white family who have baggage of their own.  It’s a sensitive telling of a shocking tale, which respects the native Australians and their beliefs.  Margaret chooses to be baptised, seeing it as a way to marry a white person and improve her own children’s lot in life.  We see her gradually change her views and try to emulate those who are successful in society.  The change is a sad one, as she cannot be accepted, society’s views being as they are. 

This is a beautifully written, suspenseful novel and it shocked me in the same way the The Help did.  It reminded me that people of differing race and culture had treated one another this way in my own lifetime.  No doubt in places people still feel like this but thankfully it isn’t considered acceptable by most of us now.  I heartily recommend this novel.  It’s a brilliant read!