A book review on my book on 22 December 2006 by The Star, Malaysia's national newspaper
A book by a Malaysian-born Australian on the settling of Australia as a penal colony in 1793 definitely piqued my interest. The author, who was born in Alor Star and graduated from Universiti Malaya in 1968, now makes her home in Sydney.
My concern was whether someone who had not grown up in Australia would be able to capture the nuances and details of its early history in a novel. Admittedly, the first few pages were not terribly gripping. The beginning, where a woman is herded onto a ship for a journey into an unknown land, seemed rather commonplace. There didn’t seem to be anything that set it apart from other novels of its kind. The characters and dialogue, meanwhile, seemed contrived.
Persevere, however, and you will be richly rewarded. Meet Kate O’Neal, A Family of Strangers’ protagonist and strongest feature. Sanchona’s depiction of Kate is arresting, and you just cannot get enough of reading about her. While appearing helpless and dispirited at first, Kate soon shows herself to be a determined and intelligent young woman who seizes control of the misfortunes that beset her. You will be awed, moved, annoyed and amused by Kate, but never bored.
This story is a feminist’s dream. Kate is sent to the Australian penal colony for turning against her abusive employer, and in the convict settlement, women are little more than chattel. There, they only have two options: to be sold as a mistress to the highest bidder or to prostitute themselves. The first scenario, which befalls Kate, while not ideal, at least offered her the protection of a man.
Bought by the alcoholic and abusive Lieutenant Kendrick, it first seems that Kate is back in the mire she left behind. Far from being retiring and subservient, however, she refuses to be resigned to the harsh hand fate has dealt her. She dreams of one day being free and in control of her own actions.
It is at Kendrick’s farm that Kate meets her “family of strangers”, the convict workers bought by him to work on the property. Her times spent with the workers are some of the most delightful scenes in the book, and are described vividly by the author. I do wish, however, that these secondary characters were given more scope, for some of them do not have much of a presence.pp
Following a series of events, Kendrick gives up Kate’s ownership to the dashing Captain Spencer. While still not free, Kate sees a glimmer of hope. Spencer is a far cry from Kendrick, and dotes on her. She, in turn, starts to hope that she will one day be married to him, and be free of the stigma of being a mistress. The path to her happiness, however, is not that simple.
The story is used as a lens to capture life in early Australia and Sanchona does this well. The misery of the convicts, the challenges faced by the British forces, and the uncertain relationship of the settlers with the unfamiliar landscape and Aborigines is described well. The author also manages to humanise the situations, giving the reader a sense of connection.
Furthermore, the struggles faced by the women living in those times are harshly underscored by the story. Thus, we rejoice along with Kate for every little triumph, as she fights against the unjust treatment.
The author indicates in her notes that this will not be the last we see of Kate O’ Neal, as she will be used to take us through the history of Australia in subsequent books. I personally cannot think of a better way to learn about the country’s rise than through the eyes of this spunky, engaging heroine.
1) December 26, 2006 Harriet Klausner — * * * * *
Deep Late Eighteenth Century Historical Tale
In 1793 fifteen year old Kate O'Neal is convicted of stealing the silk hanky of her employer's wife. She is being transferred on the Merry Mersey to the Botany Bay penal colony for seven years. Kate knows the charge is unfair, but cannot do anything about this injustice just like when her dad sold her to the Rustands in the first place. However, she has some satisfaction having castrated Lord Oliver, the son of her employer, for molesting her.
On the ship she begins to learn how to survive until she reaches her new home Australia. There the frightened teen becomes mistress to Lieutenant Kendrick, but his beating almost kills her. She soon becomes Captain Spencer's mistress, who is much nicer and kinder to her; he even helps her open up a store. As she dreams of marrying him, he leaves his convict behind for England. Merchant Bert Rowley helps Kate stay afloat even as they fall in love; but Kendrick is back claiming he owns her possessions while Spencer offers to make her his mistress in England.
A FAMILY OF STRANGERS is a deep late eighteenth century historical tale starring a young woman trying to survive in a world in which she has no rights. Kate is terrific as she adapts to her situations starting with the vividly described ocean voyage and at the fully envisioned penal colony. In every case, she is forced to play by the rules of men who often lack scruples. Fans will root for this brave heroine as she proves survival of the fittest even when the rules are rigged for her to fail.
Harriet Klausner
A fine historical novel
Sanchona has written a captivating novel about Kate O'Neal, a spirited woman shipped in 1793 from England to distant Australia for commission of a petty crime. Men will protect her, but at what price? Will she become mere chattel, a tool of privileged men? As a convict in a strange new land, she shows intelligence, compassion and increasing independence. Kate is a courageous, principled woman, the type of person you always want to have on your side.Sanchona writes with grace and skill. A FAMILY OF STRANGERS is a strong historical novel that demonstrates her detailed knowledge of Australia's days as a destination for whatever convicts England didn't choose to hang. I look forward to more of Sanchona's work.
3) February 5, 2007 by Lynda. Fitzgerald — * * * * (Atlanta, GA) *Excellent story of Australia in the early days
I began this book with trepidation, even though the subject matter interested me. After all, Sanchona was an unknown commodity. What I got was a delightful surprise.
A Family of Strangers is the story of a young farm girl, Kate, who is transported from England for daring to resist rape. The story details the hardships of the one-year ship's journey to Australia and the challenges she finds once she lands. During the span of the novel, Kate goes from a near child, trusting and innocent, to a sharp business woman. The people she meets along the way are her family of strangers, the only family she has in this strange and savage land.
I read that Sanchona spent many years researching her novel, and her hard work shows. Well done, Sanchona.
Australia's history comes alive in this novel
A Family of Strangers is a sound, well-researched historical novel that brings history alive by focusing on the people who lived it. Great read!
Good read!
I met Sanchona on MySpace and read a bit about "A Family of Strangers" there. After I checked out the reviews on Amazon and found that a number of people had enjoyed the book, I decided to purchase a copy. I wasn't disappointed.
Kate's story is the story of Australia. It brought to life all the things I'd learned in history about how Australia was populated by convicts. Kate's story allowed Sanchona to make real the way people lived, worked, and spoke, the hardships they encountered, and their hopes, fears, and heartbreaks. The action moved along so nicely, that I kept thinking that someone should base a movie on 'A Family of Strangers". So if you're a movie-maker, pay attention!
I highly recommend this book. :)
Exciting and Engrossing Debut Novel,
Family of Strangers, the debut novel by Sanchona, has it all: lust, love, despair, hope, injustice, justice, hardship, and ease. Kate O'Neal, an innocent girl, matures into a woman through a series of incredible hardships. Only her determination to survive allows her to endure life as a convict shipped to the penal colonies of Australia.
Reduced to being a sex slave, she begs to be sent to a remote farm when her abusive owner nearly kills her. He agrees only because he thinks she is dying and doesn't want to be bothered with a body to dispose of. But instead of dying, Kate forms her new family with the convicts assigned to the farm and regains her strength.
Her second owner chooses to not abuse Kate physically, but eventually leaves her an emotional wreck.
Sanchona expertly pulls together all the elements of Kate's story with intriguing secondary characters, continuous action, and vivid descriptions, all the while maintaining historical accuracy.
Family of Strangers is a "must-read" for fans of historical fiction.
A Delightful Debut Story
Sanchona's debut novel is a wonderful "sneaker," meaning it is like a secret that is both entertaining and one to be cherished by all ages. Kate O'Neal, because she is a moral young woman with survival instincts is subjected to a life as an outcast, a convict; as the pages turn, we see Kate's life, thanks to Sanchona's clever writing, proceed in rapid order; a chronology of events depicting Kate's growth that will charm the reader. It is this quality of Sanchona's writing that also will capture and transport the reader into the 1793-1802 period. This delightful story is a gift for the reader. Thank you, Sanchona.
A Heart Filling Historical Tale of one Girls Life...
, April 3, 2007After finally receiving my first copy of "A Family of Strangers" I could not put it down. For such a young woman going through what she had to survive was terrifying and exciting. Page after page as the ships swam out to sea so did my own mind.
This book takes you to places you could never dream about or even would like too. You will go through many emotions at once feeling ever moment out that our dear main character Kate O'Neal, goes through.
I can say that Ms. Sanchona has out done her self in this very book. Feeling the environment as if you were almost their. Sometimes not knowing or knowing what's there but unable to stop the scenes that are written out already.
If you do truely love to read historian novels I highly suggest this wonderful novel. Filled with compassion, horror, love, survival, and one girls life in Australia set around 1793. The Family of Strangers.
9) July 5, 2007 by A. Richards — * * * * * (Quitman, Texas)A Gripping Historical Piece!!
Sanchona has done it!!!
This historical novel follows young Kate from a prison cell in England, to an uncompromising ending.
I cringed in horror at the brutality she suffered and i cheered her triumphs. I also now wonder what kangaroo meat tasted like. ;-)
This novel reads quickly, is intertwined with full and interesting characters, and opened up a whole period in time I had only vaguely heard of.
I am anxiously waiting for more of Sanchona's work!
Characters to care about!
I found Sanchona's first book "A Family Of Strangers" to be an engrossing and enthralling read...I found myself caring deeply about the characters and their travails to the point that I wondered still about those characters who left the story. Kate is but a teenager when she is falsely accused by a British Nobleman who has her shipped off to a penal colony in Austrailia...how she wends her way and carves a life for herself and those for whom she cares proved to be a story that left me hoping that Sanchona will quickly supply us with another fine tale and another, and another....
A Family of Strangers
I couldn't put this book down, and finished it in less than 2 days. Sanchona has a captivating writing style that pulls you in as the characters grow and develop. There are plenty of reviews that sum up the story for you, so I will suffice it to say that I eagerly await the next book in this series. And the next... and the next.
a keeper,
This book was very good. I enjoyed reading it very much. Kate is only 15 years old when she is sentenced and convicted because her employers son raped her. So she is sent to Botany Bay. Which almost assurdly means death. The long journey on the ship is horrible. It takes almost a year many die on there way there. Once getting there she finds herself the mistress of Jeremy Kendrick and when he drinks he beats her. Kate does make good friends but her many years are filled sad and dark days. Does she ever find true love and a good life for herself? This book was well written and I found myself liking this brave young woman Kate and wanting only the best for her. I would recommend it."
Wonderful historical fiction
I must say this book was extremely well written and was an uncomplicated read. The reader feels the emotions of the characters. I felt sadness at all the difficult situations presented to Kate and relief when she was blessed with good fortune and luck. I hated to finish the book. I learned a lot about the early settlers in Australia and the harsh elements endured during and after the cruel ocean crossings. I always enjoy learning history with a fictional cast of characters. I look forward to reading the sequel.
I would describe Sanchona's novel as interesting and engaging. It is easy to read, the plot is straightforward and uncomplicated.
Each scene was set perfectly; the conditions and way of life on the boat and those out in Australia were made easy to picture by the authors' descriptions.
I found it easy to empathise with the main character, Kate, for her strength, courage and canniness. Her shrewdness is displayed throughout the novel as are her recognition of the ways of life and how to play the game in order to stay afloat, despite her youth and naivety. Kate is a very warm, likeable heroine who has the ability to turn her own life around and inspire others.
All in all, a good read.
From Newgate to Botany Bay
Sanchona has succeeded in evoking the atmosphere of a bygone age with her story, A Family of Strangers. Kate O’Neal, a young woman transported to Botany Bay in 1793, is a strong character. She is determined to survive her ordeal. On the voyage to Australia, living amongst the prostitutes on board, Kate learns how to use sex to her advantage. In choosing to become Lieutenant’s Jeremy Kendrick’s mistress, Kate gains a so-called protector. Unfortunately, he is often brutal towards her. She takes refuge amongst the workers clearing his land, and gets to know her ‘family of strangers.’ Amongst them is Nellie, a simple-minded woman who is cared for and shared by nine ‘husbands.’ Used to settle a gambling debt, Kate is passed on to Captain Nicholas Spencer, a gentler man with whom she falls in love. In his household, the servants look down on her recognising her as being no better than they. Kate uses her skills to run a store. Distraught, when her lover leaves to return to England, Kate’s strength of character comes to the fore. Her determination to survive sees her win out over male prejudice among the local store suppliers, who believe a woman has no place in the business world. She finds herself a champion in Bert, a truly amazing character. Kate’s seven year term is up. But, will Bert’s love be enough for Kate when she hears her former lover is asking her to join him in England? In a rollicking story, with skilful twists and turns, Sanchona develops some memorable characters and a glimpse into life in the early days of the Australian convict era.