Review of STURDY STUFF; Unchained!

[Rajnee Varma]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "STURDY STUFF; Unchained!" by Phillip H. Benger.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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STURDY STUFF; Unchained!, written by Phillip H. Benger, is a novel set in the early 1900s in Australia. The novel is written from the perspective of Clayton Willis Glasson, whose grandfather started a farm and family in Wailson, South Australia. Clayton’s father, Gary, joined a boarding school where he excelled in sports, math, and debating skills. Clayton describes the love story of his parents, Gary and Debra, and their marriage at a very young age. Kevin, Raymond, Albert, and Jack became very good friends with Gary, who made his career in sports, while Kevin joined his father's abattoir business. Clayton writes about his mother, Debra, her parents, and her sisters, Harriot and Elaine. The love stories of Kevin and Harriot and Harriot’s career as a successful journalist and reporter have been described in detail. The novel narrates the story of ordinary people, their ambitions, their compassion for each other, and the expansion of the family and business. It includes many love stories and the effects of the recession, the Second World War, and its aftermath.

The author has written a beautiful story of common people that revolves around the towns of Wailson, Adelaide, and Wycombe. Kevin’s father, James Hardings, is a strong character whose benevolence is evident in his actions. He accepts his employees and his son’s friends into his family, helps them, wins hearts, and develops a strong bond of love and loyalty. The author has developed every character with care, and the strengths and weaknesses are well portrayed. The game of cricket has been given ample space, and cricket-lovers will enjoy the descriptions. The famous cricketer Don Bradman has been mentioned as a hero of cricket, along with the journey of Garry in the field of cricket. The young couples in the story are sincere, loyal, and devoted in love, and strong family bonds are developed among the people not related by blood.

The story illustrates various aspects of the lives of common people—honesty, love, stealing from the employer, hard work, and perseverance. But above all, the story conveys the message of humanity—accepting and loving everybody, irrespective of their status or background. There is nothing about the book that could be disliked, but there are too many errors to ignore. I also found the explicit descriptions of sex between unmarried couples somewhat unsettling, especially because the protagonist writes about his elders and their threesome lovemaking, which he could not have witnessed. My overall rating of the book is 4 out of 5 stars.

The novel provides an insight into the norms of society, the status of women, changing economic conditions, and the effects of war on the mental health of war veterans. I would recommend the book to people interested in historical novels featuring common people.

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STURDY STUFF; Unchained!
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[Jay Lu]

This book is a compelling narrative set in early 20th century Australia, intricately weaving the lives of common folks against a backdrop of societal norms and historical events. The book shines with its meticulous character development and vivid portrayal of cricket, love, and family dynamics. While some may find the explicit content and narrative errors a bit jarring, the story's heart and humanity resonate deeply. It really deserves 4/5 stars.