Ice

Ice tells the story of Malcolm McEacharn and Andrew McIlwraith, two Victorian-era British entrepreneurs who undertake an audacious venture to transport an Antarctic iceberg to colonial Sydney. The narrative tracks their perilous journey across treacherous seas, while exploring the complex dynamics between the two business partners and the crew they command. Through their ambitious quest, the novel paints a portrait of Sydney during a transformative period in its history. Set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century maritime exploration and colonial expansion, the story follows McEacharn's trajectory from daring businessman to influential figure in Australian society, culminating in his role as lord mayor of Melbourne. The novel examines themes of ambition, progress, and the human drive to conquer nature, while questioning the costs of pursuing seemingly impossible dreams in an age of rapid technological advancement.

Readers found this coming-of-age story about adolescent relationships in 1960s Sydney to be raw and authentic, though some felt the metaphorical elements were heavy-handed. Positive reviews highlighted: - Vivid depictions of teenage dynamics and social hierarchies - Strong sense of time and place in 1960s Australia - Complex family relationships - Integration of ice skating as both plot device and metaphor Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some characters felt underdeveloped - Ice metaphors became repetitive - Abrupt ending left questions unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (421 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.1/5 (38 ratings) "Captures the awkwardness and intensity of first love perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer "Started strong but lost momentum" - Amazon reviewer "The ice rink scenes transported me back to being a teenager" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 The real Malcolm McEacharn did become Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 1897 and was known for introducing refrigerated shipping to Australia. 🌟 In the 1890s, several serious proposals were actually made to tow icebergs from Antarctica to Australia for fresh water and cooling purposes. 🌟 Louis Nowra wrote this novel while battling cancer, completing much of his research during treatment sessions. 🌟 The book's setting coincides with the Federation Drought (1895-1903), one of Australia's worst recorded droughts, which made ice an especially valuable commodity. 🌟 The concept of iceberg towing remains relevant today, with modern scientists and engineers still exploring it as a potential solution for water scarcity in arid regions.