Re-reading Colleen McCullough’s novel, The Thorn Birds , after a gap of about 25 years was as much a delightful experience as the first reading. The novel that runs into almost 600 pages tells the story of three generations of the Cleary family. Paddy and his wife Fee lived in New Zealand along with their 6 children (and more would be born eventually) and managed to eke out a living until invited by Paddy’s sister to Australia. Paddy was to inherit the fabulous wealth (13 million pounds) of his aging sister after her death. Mary Carson, however, changes her will when she sees the relationship that unfolds between her young parish priest, Fr Ralph, and the little Cleary girl, Meggie. Meggie is a charming young girl. Mary knows that she will grow up to be one of the prettiest women in the parish. Jealousy, more than malice, motivates Mary to write a new will according to which her entire property will go the Catholic Church and Fr Ralph will be its manager. Mary
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