If you enjoyed The White Girl by Tony Birch you will probably also enjoy Where the fruit falls. It’s a similar exploration into Aboriginal culture and the impact on the lives of First Nations people by early settler’s prejudices and their treatment of this culture. In this novel, it shows how this legacy can follow on through the generations.
Beginning in the 1950s, this story spans the lives of three generations of indigenous women, Margaret, her daughter Brigid and her twin daughters. Each search for their place in the world – this is both is an internal journey and an external one. They must find a way to fend for themselves which is particularly hard for unmarried women or those with no partner, leaving them vulnerable and exposed. After finding nothing but prejudice and danger among the colonised towns, Brigid heeds the call of a Willy Wag Tail, and begins a journey across Country with her young daughters in search of their father, looking for a safe place and a sense of belonging. Spending time in the outback connecting with women elders, Brigid’s girls are introduced to their culture and reconnect to Country.
Wyld has points to make by including many of the injustices from the history of colonisation in her story; the stolen generation, slavery, abuse, homelessness and murder which these women must navigate in the story. However, despite the dangers and their aloneness in the world, their culture and mythology anchor their lives and provide healing – a spiritual connection which is extremely important to this culture. Two worlds are evident in this story, the one of colonisation and one of connection to Country and each is experienced differently by the women. It is a strong story and at times harsh, you wonder if attitudes will ever change as each generation tries to come to terms with it in their own way.
Where the fruit falls was the winner of the 2020 Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript
Deborah
Format
Books
Reactions