Overall, what do you think of The Exiles? (no spoilers in this thread please)

Overall, what do you think of The Exiles? (no spoilers in this thread please)

I loved this book! The action is non-stop and the story takes turns that are just not predictable. I have already recommended this book to several people; this is something I only do when a book is truly interesting. The characters are strong women; something that is appreciated at this time in this country.

I REALLY liked it.

I learned so much. I never knew about this.

Love historical fiction.

I immediately started reading it when I received it and finished it in about 4 days. I always like Ms. Kline's books and this was no exception. I gave it 5 stars on Good Reads! I particularly liked the Australian history.

I enjoyed The Exiles very much. It is about subjects and a country about which I have not read enough. I also learned more about the 19th century legal system in Great Britain which has been so influential on the American system.

I thought it was great. I knew a little about British prisoners going to populate Australia, but I didn't know that included women. Very interesting & well written, like every other of Kline's books that I've read.

This is the best book I’ve read in 2020. I inhaled it in 2 days. I loved this great story built on historical facts. It was very informative about British prisoners that were sent to Australia. It is so timely in the events that are going on today. I’ve read all of Ms. Klines books and love her stories but The Exiles was the best yet!

This is one of the best books I've read this year! I didn't want it to end, since I was totally caught up in the story. I loved Orphan Train, but this is even better.

I really liked this one, I just finished last night, so I haven't written my review, but I'm definitely in the 5 star category. I just can't think of much that i would improve. It reads as historically accurate but didn't feel like nonfiction. I would love to visit some of the museums that are mentioned at the end. The characters were great and really came to life. Like pauj, I didn't know that women prisoners were sent to Australia as well. One funny note is that this is the fourth book I've read this year set in Tasmania, I think fate is telling me to go there!

Didn't like it as much as Orphan Train, but that is a pretty high bar. Knew nothing about "transit" and enjoyed learning about it. The main characters were well rounded out and it was exhausting reading about how hard they had to work. I would put it in the top 15 I have read this year. Very good read.

I put this book very high on my list. It kept me engrossed the whole time I was reading it. I will highly recommend it to anyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and relished in the excellent writing. I loved the strong female characters and the resilience of the human spirit. I relished the sense of place and character throughout this story.

While many people will feel THE EXILES is a five-star book and while I would have felt the same several years ago, my taste has evolved. I didn’t love it. I liked it, but I don’t have the heart to give it just three stars. It was such a nice, if somewhat predictable, story.

I read that this is to be made into a TV series. It is sure to make great television.

I was totally enthralled with this book! I learned so much about life in a part of the world I know little about. I will be buying this for select friends this Christmas.

I loved this book - I learned about a time period and people that I've never known anything about. The book was written and paced in a way that it kept my interest the entire time. I will be recommending it!

I never knew about it either, leslieh.

Marvelous research and book.

I know when I read a book by Christina Baker Kline that a lot of research is behind her work. I appreciate that and I learned a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed the book about Christina Olson, and I enjoyed learning more about the early populations of Australia and Tasmania

A well-done historical novel which moves well and is informative. Happy that I read it.

I loved the book very much, although it was often a bit agonizing to read. It makes me even more curious about the time period and the people who lived it, and I think that's what a good historical novel does. It makes us thirsty to know more facts.

I agree with Gloria. After reading a good book the way I decide how much I like it depends on 1) if I continue to think about it days after reading it, 2) if I want to know more about the historical facts, 3) if i recommend it to all my friends and family and 4) if I put it on my book shelf and want to keep it forever because it is a “good friend”.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and once again, marvel at Christina Baker Kline's ability to tell such a good story while incorporating a lot of history. I found myself cringing at times because the author made the smells and conditions so very realistic. Sometimes I forget that I have read a book and will buy it a second time. However, I know that will not happen with this book, just like I never have forgotten reading Kline's The Orphan Train.

Overall, I thought it was very well done but I wanted more! I just think there is so much more story to tell for Hazel and Ruby. I think a lot of detail and research went into the novel. That is what gives it its richness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I enjoy reading books by this author. Kline's historical novels always teach me something and I appreciate all the research she does to bring characters and settings to life.

I enjoyed reading THE EXILES; i found it to be both enlightening and thought provoking. Kudos to Kline for her style, memorable characters, and historical research.

I too, loved this book. I enjoy reading stories taking place in Australia and that part of the world. She incorporates her research into a very readable style. Even though she writes about heartrending situations with lots of sadness for her characters, she slso gives them strength of character that lets them grow and mature in positive ways.

I really liked this book and read it quickly. I love reading about events in history that aren't well known. I will recommend this book to my friends

The Exiles was a good story told by an author who has researched her subject well. It is a topic that not a lot is written about. I could connect with the characters and Kline's insights.

I agree that this book did not disappoint! I love the character development and the historical accounts. I had no reall understanding of Australia starting out as a penal colony and how poorly convicts were treated at that time.
I also read the book in just a few days - I empathized most with Hazel and Ruby. Even Dr. Dunne's character needed empathy!
I didn't think another novel could surpass the Orphan Train but this book surely did. Five stars+

I like to put myself in the characters of the books I read to see how I might have handled myself in certain situations. In this story, I had no good feeling. The events were very detailed and the characters very well described. The trip on the Medea to the to the "land beyond the sea" was long and difficult and heartbreaking, and were the events at the end of the journey.

I agree with the overall trend of comments. I knew nothing about the history of Australia and this book definitely shed some light on that while remaining very interesting. I think when an author can write a book that teaches people about a subject they heavily researched and keep the book readable and interesting - that's a great book.

I loved this book. It was a total surprise; I finished it in about 4-5 days. At heart, I am a history buff but knew nothing about the history of the convicts removal to Australia, except that they were sent there. I think that this is why I could not put the book down. I wanted to know more and more.
The story of the women and the way they were treated in the mid 1800's from London, Glasgow, within Australia, onboard the ship was horrendous. ..in the courtroom, jails, streets....no where to go and no way to go.
But some worked their way through it with a strong heart, depending on themselves and their strength to support each other.
Why? Why were they treated as less than their male counterparts who may have murdered , been child molesters or other vile crimes.
The women's transgressions may have and usually were much lees
such as stealing a silver spoon, 'cooking the books' of your employer...Stout hearts and strong backs were their weapon then and now.
As in all good novels, there is a story and there are peripheral stories. I recommend the whole package!

Christina Baker Kline never disappoints. Terrific historical research and likeable characters. I’m passing it along to a friend who lived in Australia for several years; can’t wait for her opinion.

I loved this book and was sorry to have it end! I love historical fiction and learning about Australia history was amazing. A book of strong women!

I enjoyed the book. I thought the characters were multifaceted and could have been real people. It had the right amount of sadness and hope and it had redemption in the end in a believable way.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre. It makes it easy to appreciate history without it being hard core. Christina Baker Kline did a thorough research about the aborigines and made the story telling intriguing to the reader. As one who has visited Australia and was luck enough to visit an aborigine village. I listened to them tell their stories of their culture and ethnicity. This came true in The Exiles as seen with Mathianna who felt displaced and stripped of her ethnicity by being forced to conform and be seen as a collectible
by the governor and his wife in Tasmania. This really jolted me how she lost everyone she knew and was forced to find a home in a place which should be home.

The penal colony was also a historical place set up by the British for petty crimes in the nineteenth century was indeed an eye opener.
Loved this book for the historical context.