The Time We Have Taken

The Time We Have Taken chronicles life in an outer Melbourne suburb during a pivotal period of cultural change in 1970s Australia. Set twenty years after the previous novels in Carroll's suburban trilogy, the story centers on the lives of several interconnected characters as they navigate personal and societal transformations. The narrative captures a specific moment when Australian suburbs shifted from their post-war identity into a new modern era. Through multiple perspectives, the book documents how national events and social movements ripple through the daily lives of ordinary suburban residents. This Miles Franklin Award-winning novel examines themes of memory, progress, and the passing of time in Australian suburban life. The work stands as a meditation on how places and people evolve, and what remains constant beneath waves of change.

Readers appreciate Carroll's lyrical prose style and patient character development through quiet moments and inner monologues. Reviews highlight his intimate portrayal of suburbanization and social change in 1970s Australia, with the book resonating particularly with readers who lived through that era. Readers liked: - Atmospheric depiction of time and place - Multi-layered character perspectives - Philosophical reflections on time and progress Readers disliked: - Slow pacing and minimal plot action - Dense, meandering narrative style - Some found it too contemplative and internal Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (89 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) "Beautiful but requires patience," noted one Goodreads reviewer, while another described it as "meditative to the point of stasis." Several reviews mentioned the book rewards close reading but may frustrate those seeking a more conventional narrative. The lack of broader distribution outside Australia has limited international reader reviews.

Cloudstreet by Tim Winton This multi-generational saga follows two working-class Australian families sharing a house in Perth from 1943 to 1963, exploring the rhythms of suburban life and social transformation.

The Secret River by Kate Grenville A convict settler and his family attempt to build a new life on the Hawkesbury River in colonial Australia, confronting questions of belonging and identity in a changing land.

The Great World by David Malouf Two Australian men forge a bond through their shared experiences of war, imprisonment, and return to civilian life in suburban Australia during the mid-twentieth century.

The Art of the Engine Driver by Steven Carroll Set in 1950s Melbourne, a railway worker and his family navigate their lives during one summer evening that transforms their understanding of community and belonging.

True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey Through a series of letters, legendary bushranger Ned Kelly recounts his life in colonial Australia, painting a portrait of family, class, and social transformation in Victorian-era Australia.

🏆 The Time We Have Taken won the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2008, joining an elite group of works that best present "Australian Life in any of its phases." 📚 The novel is part of Carroll's "Glenroy series," named after the Melbourne suburb where he grew up, which spans six books exploring suburban Australian life across different decades. 🌏 The 1950s-70s period depicted in the novel marked a significant transformation in Australian society, including the dismantling of the White Australia Policy and the emergence of multiculturalism. 🏘️ Melbourne's suburban expansion during this era was one of the largest in Australian history, with the city's population growing from 1.3 million in 1950 to over 2.5 million by 1975. ✍️ Steven Carroll worked as a teacher and theater critic before becoming a full-time writer, and his experiences in Melbourne's suburbs heavily influence his literary work.