Anotehr good read. Exploring the early 20th century migration of poor Italians and others to Australia. The industrious efforts of one man to establish a fishing industry on the south coast of NSW and the family relationships that evolved. Story switches from Joe's tale in the interwar period to modern 21st century people who are variously connected to Joe's story. Drama and pathos abound. ( )

A great story and a sort of mystery combining Italian immigrants in Australia what one man did and accomplished from 1901 through multiple generations of his family and present day (2011) of a woman starting her life over in the fictional town of Whitby Point.
This author always tells a great story that sucks you in from the beginning. ( )

I got a free copy of this book from Netgalley. It is set in Italy and Australia, and has two parallel stories that end up linking up in a surprising way. Joe immigrates from an island in Sicily to Australia soon after WWI, and tries to make a life for himself as a fisherman. In contemporary Australia, Cassie moves from Sidney to a fishing village to escape a crappy marriage and a job she hates. The writing is clear and simple. The characters are somewhat unidimensional -- with a few exceptions, most them are nice and well intentioned and unusually helpful to Joe and Cassie. The story almost reads like a fable or fairy tale. This descriptions of the The Winter Sea makes it sound a bit dull and uninteresting. And it isn't the kind of book I would normally read or like, but I really enjoyed it as I read it. A bit like candy. I couldn't help rooting for Joe and Cassie. I enjoyed the setting. And trying to figure out the link between the two stories kept me reading. Candy is good every now and then... ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the Aquino family. It begins with Joe leaving Italy and coming out to Australia to make a better life for himself and be able to send money back to the family in Italy. It follows Joe's life which is sad in many places and how he sets up a fishing business.
We meet Cassie Sullivan who has left her husband and moved to the coast. The story interweaves Cassie's life and that of the Aquino family. There are many surprises. A great read. ( )