The Reef

Jennifer grew up on a farm in the outback until tragedy took her father and brother when she was a child. After this her bitter and difficult mother uproots her from the farm and takes her to a small rural town to grow up, a location Jennifer escapes by going to Uni in Sydney. Before she has finished uni she marries her boyfriend, who works in hospitality and before long is forced to follow him to a gorgeous, remote Great Barrier Reef island when he is given a job managing the eco-friendly, expe [...]

I called this a beach book, One you can read while making sure the children do not drown as I never became connected ( I found the main character painful and weak)

What to say about this? At first it felt like a poor woman's Rebecca. Then it became a half-assed Michael Crichton on vaction kind of thing. Most of the characters were abysmal and I wanted to punch them. Jennifer was annoying. Blaire was a shit. Christina was a bitch. The mother was at least somewhat consistent and was the closest to being believable. She reminded me of my grandmother. The plot was just random. Nothing of much excitement happens, and then the ending bizarrely turns into an Tint [...]

It’s my first read from this author and won’t be my last. An easy read while lying by the pool on holidays ☺️

Fairly pedestrian.

I am finding the last two stories a bit some old, same old. The Islands and this one have a classic case of women marrying the wrong man, someone they have nothing in common with and spend the first half of the story complaining about it. Move on please. Some of Di's stories have been great but I am reluctant to read another in case it has a similar storyline.You could tell that Jennifer and Blair were not a good match from word go. For me too it got a bit too much into saving the environment wh [...]

Di seems to assume most of her readers are stupid. When the main character is a "scientist" and asks how the Great Barrier Reef is formed, and we get an detailed explanation, who does she think is reading this drivel!

I enjoyed every minute of this book. Would like a sequel if possible.

I'm clearing my books out so read this only so I could give it away. And it is a painful slog. Characters are weak, especially the main character. For someone once at university Jennifer seems to have no ecology knowledge or self motivated interest in it. Everyone else has the knowledge. to be continued. Thank goodness this book is done. It's put me off this author. Even as a holiday read this was not credible.

Die Ökologin Jennifer Towse folgt ihrem ehrgeizigen Mann Blair widerwillig auf eine kleine Urlaubsinsel am Great Barrier Reef, wo dieser die Leitung eines Hotels übernehmen soll. Jennifer fürchtet das Meer, denn als kleines Mädchen musste sie miterleben, wie ihr Vater und ihr Bruder ertrunken sind. Bald nach ihrer Ankunft zeigt sich, dass Blair in üble Machenschaften um das Hotelmanagement verstrickt ist. Noch schwieriger wird die Situation, nachdem Jennifer feststellt, dass sie ein Kind er [...]

Enjoyed this right from the first cover. This novel presents the conflicts experienced by a young girl whose father and brother are drowned on a visit to the beach having been a farming family and that of her mother. The mother is possessive. The young girl marries a young man in the hope of a better life only to find he is ambitious to get ahead rather than accommodate her growing desire to be a Marine Biologist. This scenario takes place on a lovely island in Queensland where all seems idealic [...]

The Reef is the story of a young girl's maturation process, which just happens to occur on a peaceful resort on the Coral Reef. We watch Jennifer learn to deal with her dominant mother and male chauvenistic husband. Through her new social set, Jennifer realises that although her husband and mother do not believe she should use her studies, or even pursue them further, this is exactly what she would like to do, and her friends help her to achieve her goals.Not the most exciting of Di Morrissey's [...]

Three stars. Yes some of the characters were annoying but they are meant to be. Jennifer is frustrating at the beginning but grows throughout the book. I love the setting of this book being of the island and the reef. I even enjoyed the likeable characters that study and want to preserve it. Although I had to wonder how Jennifer's baby didn't end up with foetal alcohol syndrome with her drinking in the early stages of pregnancy. Good easy light read even though it is predictable.

Es ist ein wunderschönes Buch, was mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite sehr fasziniert hat. Ich habe es geliebt, mit Jennifer am Strand entlang zu wandern, ihre abende mit ihren neuen Freunden zu verbringen und zu sehen, ob sie jemals wieder ins Wasser steigt. Denn sie hatte als kleines Mädchen ein traumatisches Erlebnis. Ein tolles Buch!

I have been meaning to read a Di Morrissey book for some time just to see what the fuss is about. I bought this one at an op shop while on holiday and having run out of reading material. Lots of things happened in this book much of which was not believable, and the story is shallow and undeveloped. There was a bit of everything and a lot of nothing. A really boring holiday read.

I really love audio books, but the value I get out of this format is very much dependant on the narrator. In this case I felt the voice of the main character was very hard to take "Squeaky and high pitched like a little girl instead of a woman in her 20's." Other than that a very enjoyable story. One of her best.

Was a bit disappointed again with Di Morrissey. There is not much excitement or much happening in this story. It was bland and the sort of story that could be shortened to appear in a womens magazine. Won't recommend as one of her better novels.

Very likable story. The end drags a little, then suddenly picks up speed and before you know it, it's over. I really wanted to punch some characters in the face, so in that respect Morrissey succeeded.

I rated 4 for a holiday read, probably a bit generous but seemed appropriate given I read it in Bali by the beach

lovely description of the great barrier reef but pretty lousy story line.

Ran out of steam halfway. Interesting beginning and then the story became hard work.

Ok story- easy enough to to read, but not one that will stay with me.

Interesting

Can't stand the mother in this book. Have never read this author before but thought I'd have a go Don't think I'll bother with it

Nancy 3 stars; Ron didn��_t read

I actually read the book instead of the audio version. Not that great of a story, kinda leaves you hanging.

It just seemed to go on and on and the characters were a bit painful. Tackled too many issues. Not her best effort.

Excellent!

Enjoyed the story, but the main character frustrated me with her weakness and not standing up to her husband and mother. Reading about the reef was interesting.

Surprisingly enjoyable. That sounds mean, but her style is not my favourite. I liked the setting and characters.