The Touch: A Novel

The writing and story are powerful and memorable. I just did not like the over the top emphasis on the specifics of mining, steam engines, metal composition, etc. Way too much info for me. However, I finished the book and even enjoyed it in honor of the brilliant mind and writing of the author.

As far as those of us who particularly enjoy fact-laden historical fiction, Ms McCullough has hit the mark again in The Touch. She makes one care about her characters . . . like people you'd enjoy meeting. Coming closer to her home in its Australian setting, it gives insights into New South Wales that those of us not fated to travel there can learn from and relish at the same time. This book is a page-turning treat!

A story which may be familiar in feeling to many people within the experiences of their own lives. Oddly enough due to the enormous wealth the main characters had at their disposal. I liked that they, though wealthy, used their wealth in good ways, cognizant of, and paying tribute to others who worked for and with them. It showed that truly there is a small number of people with vision and ability who do outshine many of the rest of us and are almost born to lead. And how that is a trait that moved forward with their ability to endow their kids with a wonderful education. They taught them at the same time through their example, to also become leaders. Enjoyed the dream of racial unity and women as powerful too. I guess it showed that someone can rise from nothing and become who they are meant to be through their hard work and personality traits and vision. In reality though I think that is disappearing in our world now as more become complacent and rely on goodness of others and government and maybe they were meant to be great but they never rise to become who they could. The book showed the possibility is there though. Liked that thought. By the end of the book I felt like Alexander had always been rich but looking back I remember he had to work very long and hard to realize his dreams too. Interesting. Thanks.

This is in No Way a good book like Thorn Birds! Disgusting is the word I think best describes this book. I am not a prude and I understand “salty” language has it’s place in literature but this was uncalled for. The whole story line was just sad and bad! Read something worth while instead of this trash. Shame on you Colleen!

I enjoyed this novel as much as I did "The Thorn Birds." Elizabeth, at age 16, was taken from her home in Scotland, where she toiled in drudgery & poverty to be the bride of Alexander Kinross, whom she had never met, to live in luxury in Australia. She eventually met Alexander's mistress, Ruby, with whom she immediately was drawn to and they became close friends throughout Elizabeth's marriage. Alexander ruled over his bride as he did his town of Kinross. He was an exceptionally talented and future thinking man who upgraded his town well beyond others of that era. The daughters of Elizabeth & Alexander were exact opposites of each other, one being developmentally deprived and Nell being the duplicate in talent of her father.I loved Ruby, a musically talented and acerbic wit, who could not be Alexander's wife, even though they both loved each other. But without Elizabeth, who could not articulate her desires and "buckled under" to the men (father & husband) in her life, the story would not be the same. There were many other characters in the story but these three impressed me the most.I read the novel day and night, neglecting everything else. I love Colleen McCullough's writing.

As always, Colleen McCullough has brought to life a rich tapestry of characters in this beautifully written story of a pioneer of Australia's great New South Wales. I couldn't put it down for long, and wanted it to go on and on. You won't be disappointed.

Well, it certainly doesn't hold a candle to the Thornbirds. Alexander and Elizabeth are unlikable characters with an unremarkable story.

A good family saga with lots of descriptions of the times, the characters, the settings in colonial Australia.Characters filled with personal dramas, intertwined lives and dilemas.The end comes a bit too soon compared to the length in which the story unravels.Very entertaining. Highly recommendable.

I read The Thornbirds when it first appeared and was enthralled with it. I re-read it a couple of months so as it still has me sitting on the edge of my chair.I have, this minute, finished The Touch and ,even though I could put this book down. I was consumed with it.The Characterisation was wonderful, each and every character was perfectly lived out. They got into my very being.This is an extraordinary good book. Read it and enjoy it. It is deep, fascinating, so much wonderful facts in so many completely different realms. It is not just enjoyable entertainment but very educational. I have learned so much from it and feel deeply enriched through reading it. I am looking forward to reading many more books by Colleen McCullough. Thank for your time in presenting this book to us.

I felt that this book needed better editing: there was far too much (very boring) engineering and mining information which would have been better suited to a book of non-fiction. If this had been done, the underlying story with it's very absorbing characters would have truly shone. However, all that said, the novel had sufficiently enmeshed me, that I cried buckets when Alexander died. The leading players were all well-defined and well-written so that one either loved or loathed them; and either sympathised with their situation (Alexander for me) or wanted to give them a quick boot up the backside (Elizabeth with her totally selfish and indulged personna). The only people that I really liked were Ruby and Nell: both one-offs, happy to cock a snoop at the world. The very fact that I cared about the people at all was why I gave the 5 star review: the characters lived and breathed from the pages.

Not since The Thorn Birds have I read such a beautiful book. I have a face for every character. This book is utterly compelling and quite simply, I loved it. I wanted to finish it, but, didn't want it to end. Beautifully written, descriptive passages. A truly Master author. Thank you.

I loved this book as I had ancestors of that period in Australia and lived there for a number of years.This a truly an Australian book for those interested the countries history, a very well research book from a talented author.Up there with The Thorn Birds. a wonderful author.

It's an okay book. Quite readable but not up to the standard of 'The Thorn Birds'. Nothing could be! Author's only usually writing one outstanding bestseller, and this was nowhere near it, I am afraid. If one likes the author, then read it, but don't expect a lot!