REVIEW Playing Beatie Bow

Playing Beatie Bow is an Australian novel, written by Ruth Park, and initially published in 1980. This book, revolving around a 14 year old girl by the name of Abigail Kirk, is set in Sydney, Australia. More specifically, it is set the most frequently in the Rocks, and around George Street.

If you are unfamiliar with the Rocks, it is often considered one of the earliest settlements in Sydney. It is an old, much changed yet preserved area of our history. Which makes it the perfect setting for Playing Beatie Bow.

You see, after meeting a strange girl, who doesn't seem to fit in, Abigail accidentally follows her into 1873. All of a sudden, Abigail is the strange girl that doesn't fit in. And she has no idea what to do.

The strange girl's (Beatie Bow) family, take her in, seemingly out of kindness. It does not take Abigail long though to realise that there is something more motivating their kind smiles and sweet generosity.

Abigail learns much in the time she spends with this family. She learns about the history of her country, with her own experiences. She learns about adventure, and peril, and love, and magic. Most importantly however, she learns about herself. Before this experience, she was sure that she knew so much, and yet she came away wiser, gentler and more patient.

The writing itself is quite enjoyable. Ruth Park uses interesting language, and while I feel it suits the parts of the book set in 1873, some of Abigail's own language is a little awkward, considering the age that she grew up in. And, sometimes reading the Bows' dialogue can be difficult, as the Scottish accent is written in. However, these are minor grievances.

What Ruth Park can achieve with language far outweighs the clumsy moments. She can make her readers see vividly in front of them the scenery (especially if you are as familiar with it as a Sydneysider such as myself would be), feel that which Abigail feels, and even forget to breathe as they read. There was one point, later in the book, where my heart felt like it had fallen. All because of the way she wrote one sentence. It is a difficult thing to describe, but very few books manage to effect me on a physiological level.

After I finished the book, I needed to take a moment to really let it all sink in. And I felt an immediate desire to read it again. It may fast become one of my favourite books.

Even with some of the small issues I had reading the book, I would happily give Playing Beatie Bow a 5/5 especially if you are interesting in historical fiction, fantasy, time travel and romance.