Book Review – The Yield by Tara June Winch
The Yield Author: Tara June Winch Reviewed by June Young, March 2022
Three themes/dimensions/messages:
- Past indigenous stories (stolen generations, missions, massacres, land rights, mining).
- Importance of language and meaning of indigenous words (e.g., Albert’s dictionary).
- Dynamics of family relationships (e.g., solidarity of the grandparents, generation damaged by substance abuse; mystery of a missing sister).
People are a very powerful part of the book:
August (Main character and a “reflection” of Tara): A young indigenous girl in her late teens walks out of school, heads to London and becomes a writer only to later return home because of a family death.
Indigenous young girl leaves town “you just walked out of the classroom and never came back to school or town.” August and Tara (THE AUTHOR) have parallel experiences, leave school early, travel to live another life overseas as writers in London and Paris, respectively. The book is not an autobiography, but the author has drawn upon many apparent lived experiences. The Author had to “have been there” to know, understand, and deliver a powerful story through the eyes of August.
Albert ‘Poppy’ Gondiwindi (Grandfather): As a young child was “marched” by police to the Lutheran mission to receive schooling and religion. He made it in the context of white society but decided to be his own man and not be framed by white expectations. Self-educated, found words, and wrote his indigenous dictionary for the future.
Elsie (Grandmother) very much supported Albert and was the foundation for the family.
Rev Ferdinand Greenleaf (Lutheran Minister): A sincere idealistic humanitarian. Recognised indigenous injustice, established a village and a school to support the township’s indigenous population.
When? Current but Albert explored past life with indigenous stories and his dictionary. August came home for Albert’s funeral.
Where? Fictional rural setting near a river and town in Western NSW – a former Lutheran Mission and a farm growing wheat, near “Massacre Plains”. The Writer produced clear pictures of the environment and surrounds.
Why? Is it a story ABOUT Black and White Australia or is it a story FOR Black and White Australia? A story told through the eyes of a family living in the times of missionaries, massacres, stolen generations, division of a town, and tin mining.
A message about “real” lived experiences. RATING 9/10