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The Laughing Willows Stories - ( Illustrated )ISBN: 0 949693-41-3
The characters span the previous century, but they inhabit spheres that are largely controlled either by nature or man; they encounter drunken shearers, flash floods, rabbiters, real estate developers, fawning offspring, bucking horses, doctors too busy to tend the sick, and war-damaged incestuous brothers. The Laughing Willows estate is central to the network of stories; the estate is their home, their prison, and their provider. The women may be bold, spoiled, manly, or even murderous wallflowers. The stories describe generations of astonishing women who surreptitiously make butter and jam, create delicate embroidery samples and infants' clothing; they tend to the sick with home remedies, and arrange flowers or make jellies for communal events. Others study teaching or painting to escape the shackles of domestic life at Laughing Willows-but fail. It is a world that is both bizarre and perhaps superficially dull; but the unexpected consistently raises its merciless head. These stories show, rather than tell, the resourcefulness of women in the pre-feminist era, when women had to make choices-sometimes underhand, but always deliberate-in order to maintain their dignity and dexterity as resourceful members of the fair sex. The short stories are told from a range of perspectives; they contain both social commentary and the Fabulous, a multidimensional mix that works well to explain motive and possibility. Wheeled huts are carted through snowy mountains, old men roam deserted roads to seek revenge for hit and run killings, and there are Hoffmanesque (Struwwelpeter) episodes with children burning, and madmen fire-balling. Laughing Willows is full ofmayhem.- the surreptitious exorcisms of deeply disturbing psychological determinism. The stories have been very well received; an excerpt from 'Tree Ladies' was shortlisted in the national Glen Eira Literary Awards. 'The Peacock Reunion'was shortlisted in the national Todhunter Literary Awards and published in the Victoria Park Journal. 'Female teaching certificates annuiled' was selected for inclusion in Memories of the 20th Century (an Arrow Publications anthology). The short story collection would particularly interest female readers,
young and old. They are lyrical, but subtly edifying, and could
serve a historical educational purpose, in critical literacy, or
comparative studies. Some Opinions of The Laughing Willows Stories'Firstly, the stories portray the inner life of rural women, their relationship with the land and the conflicts between their sense of destiny and inner truth against the constraints of life, the land, life events, history, hardship and their dreams and characters. There is a powerful feeling of life lived in these portraits, with the total avoidance of platitudes and comforting philosophies, indicating that the writer had a mature and complex view of life. She had clearly spent a long time observing rural people, characters on the margins, working women shouldering society's expectations with suppressed but ironic, subversive and rebellious views. I was impressed by how Christina successfully portrayed often harsh and bittersweet conflicts of mature people, 'women of a certain age'. The wry sharp intelligence of the writing reminds me very much of Olga Masters. It also impressed me that Christina's portraits of a range of very different rural women were revealed by metaphor, using trees and plants in the natural environment, a metaphor that was subtly used and well sustained. I was also impressed by the fact that her writing never patronized or pitied. Christina sees life through idiosyncratic highly intelligent ways and identifies strongly with people who learn and think in ways different from the norm. Hence she has become passionately involved with assisting children with learning difficulties, dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, including among these many highly gifted but socially 'different' children. I believe that many years of looking at life through the eyes of people who are marginalized for their unusual view of the world has given Christina both her subject matter and a perspective of considerable depth. She has developed powerful and original work.'
Anna Maria Dell'oso Review in The Country Woman Magazine August 2005 IssueWritten by Christina Ann Alexander who grew up in the country, the book relates stories of the inner strength of rural girls and women in the pre-60's era. It was a time when 'family respectability' was everything and when 'the sacrificial daughter syndrome kicked in.' The stories depict the frustrations of women who looked beyond the traditional expectations of family and society, set about fulfilling their inner intellectual and emotional needs each in their own unique fashion, and were compelled to become secretive in order to do so. The Laughing Willows estate is placed at the core of these remarkable short stories. Each character portrayal is as delicate as a miniature painting, with great attention to vivid detail. At the same time it is a larger-than-life representation, and each character is metaphorically linked to a tree, flowering plant or creeper. The rural environment is always present with the bush, flash floods, horses, shearers and rabbiters. Domestic chores are central to the women's lives - women who are 'set apart' in that they look at the world differently. A most absorbing collection of stories presented in simple and
vividly descriptive language, dealing with situations and feelings
every woman would empathise with. The book will only be marketed
through the Internet at: www.turkeytrackspress.com.au or via the
link: www.dyslexia-australasia.com and delivered by mail order. Visit the magazines website at :- www.cwaofnsw.org.au 
“Reading the stories was a most enjoyable
experience. They show wonderful originality and understanding of
human nature.” An unusual collection of stories about extraordinary women whose common bonds are the land, and a sense of women's rightful purpose. The characters span the previous century, but they inhabit spheres that are largely controlled either by nature or man; they encounter drunken shearers, flash floods, rabbiters, real estate developers, fawning offspring, bucking horses, doctors too busy to tend the sick, and war-damaged incestuous brothers. The Laughing Willows estate is central to the network of stories; the estate is their home, their prison, and their provider. The women may be bold, spoiled, manly, or even murderous wallflowers. The stories describe generations of astonishing women who surreptitiously make butter and jam, create delicate embroidery samples and infants' clothing; they tend to the sick with home remedies, and arrange flowers or make jellies for communal events. Others study teaching or painting to escape the shackles of domestic life at Laughing Willows–but fail. It is a world that is both bizarre and perhaps superficially dull; but the unexpected consistently raises its merciless head. These stories show, rather than tell, the resourcefulness of women in the pre-feminist era, when women had to make choices–sometimes underhand, but always deliberate–in order to maintain their dignity and dexterity as resourceful members of the fair sex. The short stories are told from a range of perspectives; they contain both social commentary and the Fabulous, a multidimensional mix that works well to explain motive and possibility. Wheeled huts are carted through snowy mountains, old men roam deserted roads to seek revenge for hit and run killings, And there are Hoffmanesque (Struwwelpeter) episodes with children burning, and madmen fire-balling. Laughing Willows is full of mayhem: the surreptitious exorcisms of deeply disturbing psychological determinism. The stories have been very well received; 'Tree Ladies' was shortlisted in the 2004 Glen Eira Literary Awards. 'The Peacock Reunion' was shortlisted in the national Todhunter Literary Awards and published in the Victoria Park Journal, and 'Female's teaching certificates annulled' (previously entitled 'Marriage Annuls Teaching Certificates') was selected for inclusion in Memories of the 20th Century (an Arrow Publications anthology). The short story collection would particularly interest female readers, young and old. They are lyrical, but subtly edifying, and could serve a historical educational purpose, in critical literacy, or comparative studies. Dr Anna Kassulke
Review in The Country Web
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Laughing
Willows is an unusual collection of stories about extraordinary
women whose common bonds are the land, and a sense of women's rightful
purpose.
