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Drummond recounts her experience of spending time on the now abandoned Breaksea Island, formerly a seal-hunting station in the early nineteenth century.
Jess, in her search for Billy, flies on the back of a large seabird to an island, where she allows the sea to swallow her. Across the seabed she travels, searching the strange underwater world until she hears Billy's voice. Reunited, Billy and Jess once again share blissful times above and below the water. However, Billy explains to Jess that she does not belong there and insists she must return to the surface.
Martin French discusses the processes and intricacies involved in autobiographical writing and draws upon the works of Hungarian-born writer, Arthur Koestler, to illustrate the use of metaphor in relation to history and life.
Jordan explores the Palmers' response to Green Island during and after the nine months they spent there, particularly their 'search to understand the meaning of the island ... as well as the surrounding reef, and its relationship to the ocean.'
(p. 142-158)
Note: Includes portrait photographs, and facsimiles.
Palmer describes the islands and cays of the Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland. His descriptions detail the landscape, vegetation, and wildlife of the area, as well as human activity.
(p. 159-162)
Half-Liferi"Looking out, he could see half the screen and hear",Ron Pretty,
single work poetry
(p. 162)
Palmer describes the natural environment of the Whitsunday Passage, and speculates that the islands, with a bit of development, could one day become a viable tourist attraction.
A largely favourable review of Lohrey's first collection of short fiction in which, says Spencer, the theme that speaks most strongly 'is that life can be enhanced by literature that helps us live our lives like characters in books.'
Connelly suggests that this re-release of Astley's fictional work may have been inspired by the publication of Hooper's The Tall Man, a topical work of non-fiction, as both books deal with tragic events on Palm Island. Astley, says Connelly, 'creates an artistically thoughtful critique that addresses ... some of society's most controversial sore spots.'
