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Jay's Reviews > The Riders
The Riders
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Jay's review
bookshelves: literature-english-language, favorites, booker-listed
Jun 17, 2010
bookshelves: literature-english-language, favorites, booker-listed
Read 2 times. Last read June 17, 2010 to June 27, 2010.
I first read The Riders in 1996, shortly after its publication. Tim Winton had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and I was anxious to try a new author. At the time, when I finished the book, I was disappointed in the story, frustrated by the ending and found Schully’s search for his wife tedious. The writing left me cold. I shelved the volume and forgot about Winton.
At least I thought I had forgotten about him. Actually, the story and Winton’s writing stayed not on the shelf but in the back of my mind, playing out at unexpected times. In 2009, with The Riders yet rambling in my mind, I picked up Breath, Winton’s then new publication and became hooked. After completing Breath and then Dirt Music, I decided to re-read The Riders.
My second reading of The Riders some 15 years later opened up an entirely new appreciation of the work both in terms of its language and Fred Scully’s world. One reviewer labeled it as a modern masterpiece and I agree. Winton needs to be read carefully and with reflection. His words move poetically and dynamically across the page, creating images and visions that weave themselves into your soul and mind. And the story after 15 years of quiet reflection and a second reading is clearly more than a journey in search of a disappeared wife. It’s a study of obsessions, personal relationships, the complexities of commitment—rich explorations of the human condition.
Tim Winton has emerged for me as one of my favorite writers.
At least I thought I had forgotten about him. Actually, the story and Winton’s writing stayed not on the shelf but in the back of my mind, playing out at unexpected times. In 2009, with The Riders yet rambling in my mind, I picked up Breath, Winton’s then new publication and became hooked. After completing Breath and then Dirt Music, I decided to re-read The Riders.
My second reading of The Riders some 15 years later opened up an entirely new appreciation of the work both in terms of its language and Fred Scully’s world. One reviewer labeled it as a modern masterpiece and I agree. Winton needs to be read carefully and with reflection. His words move poetically and dynamically across the page, creating images and visions that weave themselves into your soul and mind. And the story after 15 years of quiet reflection and a second reading is clearly more than a journey in search of a disappeared wife. It’s a study of obsessions, personal relationships, the complexities of commitment—rich explorations of the human condition.
Tim Winton has emerged for me as one of my favorite writers.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
June 17, 2010
–
Started Reading
June 17, 2010
– Shelved
June 27, 2010
–
Finished Reading
December 31, 2010
– Shelved as:
literature-english-language
August 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
favorites
August 12, 2016
– Shelved as:
booker-listed
Comments Showing 1-9 of 9 (9 new)
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Mary
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Jul 05, 2010 10:41AM
Wow. I applaud you for giving it another shot. Sounds like there was a gift in it for you. I am not famikliar with Winton, but will check him out!
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Tim Winton's "the riders" was very disappointing.
What a great review. :) It's rare when a book you think you don't like haunts you, so to speak. You've piqued my interest, so I'll add this one to my to-read list.
Mark wrote: "This book sits firmly on my favourites shelf. Winton is known for Cloudstreet especially in Australia but I still think this is his best"Winton is certainly one of my favorite writers. And I do think The Riders is anextraordinarily strong work. From Winton, I began to explore other Australian writers and have discovered other authors such as Daisley, Flanagan and Tsiolkas, whose novels mesmerize me. And in the process I have developed a hankering to see Western Australia. Indeed ,Australia. But you seem so distant from Kansas.
I also read this just after it's release and was angrily disappointed, always rating it as my least favourite book by my most favourite author. But having just finished "The Boy Behind The Curtain", I've had the slow burn realisation that perhaps the problem lay with me, not the book, and that I probably lacked the maturity and life experience to appreciate it properly at that time. So I've jumped onto Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to check out the reviews, and first one I read is yours Jay, confirming my suspicions that perhaps "The Riders" deserves a second reading. Here's hoping I am more nourished from it this time, rather than proven to be the literary dullard I suspect I might be!
My experience also.my experience also
Jay, I had the exact same experience. I rarely re-read a book, as there is just too much out there to get through. But this book stayed on my shelf after reading it when it first came out in 1994 and I remembered it as a fast paced story with a frustrating main character and ending. I picked it up again for the fast paced break from a lot of heavy reading, and I couldn’t put it down. The depth of emotion, going on the colorful ride when he loses it and his daughter has to take care of him, and then The Riders themselves...I missed their significance altogether the first time. We have choices in life � always looking or turn away and appreciate what is. When he awakes one time and his daughter is looking right at him and says “Me� - well, my heart just melted. This would be a great movie � I am surprised it hasn’t been made. I will keep this book and who knows, may even read it again some day.
Excellent review Jay! It seems i've just hit the tip of the iceberg with Shepherd's Hut. Will be very excited to read more of his work soon.
Angry and dissapointed. All questions and no answers. I need somebody to explain it to me because I was left frustrated.
