** OK **
Mateship : friendship & sexual relations
Birds : feathered variety & female variety
As Aussie as they come, the setting was well constructed. It breathed life into a rural landscape in the 50's. The characters were also believably written, with observations of human behaviour as accurate as Harry's observations of the birds.
There were parts I thoroughly enjoyed : Hazel's nature diary, the school dance, the field study of the birds, the development of the relationship between Harry and Betty as they tip-toe around each other testing the waters. But I found Harry's attempts to guide Micheal's sex education heavy-handed and repellent ... as was the writing of these sections.
The ending was abrupt but I was glad to have reached the end!
