A FAR-FLUNG LIFE by by M.L. Steadman

5 stars

On a million-acre outback Western Australia sheep station named Meredith Downs, Phil MacBride mistakes a tall kangaroo for a person and while swerving flips his jeep in which he’s traveling with his older son, Warren, next in line to take over the station, and his younger son Matt who’s free to pursue his own calling. It’s 1958, and the MacBrides have been sheep farming this dry, arid, red-earthed sweeping land for generations.

Turns out that both Phil and Warren have died, with only seriously injured Matt surviving. Lorna, Phil’s lovely and intrepid widow, takes over the station’s management and its 20,000 sheep while nursing Matt back to health and still raising her 20-year-old daughter Rosie. She relies heavily on her community of eclectic and caring neighbors, who each touchingly rally to her aid. This includes Pete, the station’s kangaroo hunter to protect the sheep, who’s traumatized himself as a surviving prisoner of war in Japan.

From an optimistic, intrepid, pioneering family, the MacBrides fall into grief and depression after the accident. Matt never fully recovers, both physically and mentally as he suffers deep memory loss and significant cognitive processing issues. Along the way, cascading other serious tragedies occur, and one involves Matt holding onto a dangerous secret. Meanwhile, his sister Rosie abandons the station, has a son Andy out of wedlock, who ultimately Lorna and Matt end up raising on the station.

Matt eventually falls in love with Bonnie, an intrepid surveyor for a large mining company who’s come to seek any valuable minerals under Meredith Downs. The land use rights of the surface versus mining claims makes fascinating reading. As does Bonnie’s bond with Andy who’s a budding, passionate rock collector.

Despite all the tragic story lines, this sweeping saga ends up uplifting, as each character slowly figures out their destiny and forges a struggling, imperfect path to happiness.

Profoundly moving and unforgettable.

Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.