I guess I'm just not a Thorn Birds person. All those decades ago when it was first published and became a best-seller, I dipped into it and very quickly decided it was boringly bad writing. I didn't bother going any further.
Just recently a friend asked why it wasn't on Australia's list of top ten books (recently decided by poll) and enthused about its romanticism and drama. I wondered if I should reconsider; maybe I'd missed something. Then I saw it in the DVD shop and thought maybe I'd like it better on screen.
It was the old series with Richard Chamberlain and a number of other renowned actors, in a three-disc version. I watched the interminable Part 1 on the first disc. I'm not sure why I lasted so long. Even good actors couldn't redeem that material from being the most ridiculous melodrama, though Lord knows they tried. It wasn't their fault; it was the way the characters were written. I can't bear the thought of persevering through the other two discs, not even to find out the rest of the story. I can't care about those unconvincing characters. Yes, I know both book and series were incredibly popular. I guess I'm just not a Thorn Birds person.