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Summary: A thinking man's romance
Review: Although it is romantic fiction, The Thorn Birds is also an unusually intelligent meditation on love, fate and God. The book asks us to consider how much of life is the the result of the choices we've made, and how much of it is determined long before we are born. Something inborn (instinct?) compels McCullough's legendary birds to impale themselves upon the longest, sharpest thorns that they can find. But when we do the same, "we know, we understand, and still we do it." Indeed we do, but that doesn't stop Meggie from wrestling with God on the question, or for blaming him for many of her misfortunes. By the novel's end, Meggie concludes that she essentially lived the life she chose, much as Ralph did. She is able to make her peace with God. The same can't be said for Ralph, who has used God as instrument of his ambition. What's also interesting is the way that history repeats itself in the book. Like her mother, Meggie marries a man she doesn't love, bears a child by the man she does love, redirects her love for the father to the child, selfishly ignores her other child, and then -- as if by punishment -- loses the beloved child to a tragic and untimely death. Fate? Bad luck? Or the seeds of dysfunction passing from one generation to the next? The Thorn Birds uses the conventions of romance to as some pretty compelling questions. There's a lot more here than meets the eye.
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Summary: It will get you
Review: I cry when I even think about this book. The only way to describe this novel is huge - an unbelievable multigenerational story that conveys emotions between mother and daughter, woman and man, man and God, all so insightfully. Father Ralph deBricassart's struggle in his choice between God and Meggie is outstandingly written because he's so human it makes you want to cry for him, and so is she. There's not a cheesy word in this book. Comes extremely highly recommended from me.
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Summary: A great tear-jerker
Review: If you like books which make you cry, read this one. I loved it. The story seemed really believable and was really engaging.
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Summary: Wonderful, but often not understood
Review: I've read "The Thorn Birds" many times, and as I've matured I appreciate McCollough's reflections on God much more than the romantic aspect. We Americans are a notoriously parochial bunch, but in reading, I found that we and Aussies have much in common: we are bold and heavily of Irish descent to name a few. I think Americans and Aussies have taken all of the good qualities of the British and maxed most of the bad ones. Although many think that Ralph was a wonderful man, I think he one of the two-faced charmers that Ireland produces in abundance. I think that he emotionally took advantage of Meggie's loneliness when she was a little girl to combat his own loneliness. Considering his wit, charm and stunning looks, coupled with the fact that she saw almost no one outside the family, Ralph would have had to have been a moron not to expect that she wouldn't fall for him. But he didn't want to face up to what he'd done. He'd have been a jerk even if he hadn't swindled the Clearys out of their inheritance. While he is still a character deserving of sympathy, he's also shamelessly self-interested and I think that Richard Chaimberlain didn't capture that quality. He was also a disgrace to the priesthood since he was far more interested in moving up in the Church than in serving God. I'm not religious, but I think that every profession has a code of ethics. Even if Ralph hadn't broken all his vows, he would have still conducted himself unethically. The highly-touted mini-series was basically a bodice-ripper and is light-years away from the book.
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Summary: A great book! A definate must read!
Review: One of the best books I've read yet! You get drawn into the story and feel as though you are there. I highly suggest reading this book, you'll not want to put it down!!
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Summary: absolutely engrossing
Review: I read this book almost twenty years ago. I still remember it as one of the best love stories. The writing is so effective that the reader can feel every heartbreaking moment of Meg's life. This will even tug at the heartstrings of men!! A must -read. Loved the mini-series too
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Summary: Magnificent
Review: People say that this book is for women, and especially for those who like romantic stories. Don't believe them! I am a man and hate romances, but this one was just splendid, magnificent, superb etc.! I read it in Russian and in English, and just love both.
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Summary: I can't really decide if I like it or not...
Review: I loved the attention to detail, but it got grueling sometimes. I felt sometimes that the author was skimping on the characters themselves, but it was a great story. I was never quite sure whether or not I even liked the majority of the characters until the end of the book. This has really made me asses about what my feelings on love and God are.
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Summary: Beautiful.
Review: The Thorn Birds is one of my favorite books of all time. The forbidden love of Ralph and Meggie breaks one's heart as it inspires belief that love like their's is possible. The attention to detail is splendid. A must read.
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Summary: The most impressive, splendid book I've read
Review: Definitely a book for romantics, The Thorn Birds is vivid, exceptionally engrossing, and just an all-around captivating thing to drown yourself in. Colleen McCullough writes beautifully-absolutely beautifully-and her finished product is gorgeous-there's no other way to describe it.
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