Let's be clear from the start: if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, this isn't it. Such Is Life is the literary equivalent of a long, dusty journey by wagon. It follows Tom Collins, a good-natured and highly educated bullocky, over seven seemingly random days. Each chapter is a new day, and Tom just... wanders. He meets other travelers—swagmen, squatters, teamsters—gets into debates, helps people out of scrapes, and observes the harsh, beautiful, and often absurd reality of bush life.

The Story

The book is built on a clever trick. Tom presents his diary as a true account, but he's an unreliable narrator who loves to philosophize and digress. There’s no single plot. Instead, you get a series of vignettes and encounters. A bullock team gets bogged. A man searches for a missing horse. Friends argue about religion and fate over a billy of tea. Through it all, Tom questions whether life is governed by a grand plan or is just a series of random events—"such is life," as people say to explain both good and bad luck. The joy isn't in where the story goes, but in the people you meet and the ideas you chew on along the way.

Why You Should Read It

I fell in love with the book's voice. Tom Collins is brilliant company—funny, kind, and endlessly curious. Furphy’s real triumph is capturing the sound of Australia. The dialogue crackles with authentic slang and dry bush humor. You can almost feel the heat and hear the flies buzzing. It’s a powerful, unromanticized portrait of a vanished world, built on hard work, mateship, and making do. The themes of chance versus destiny feel surprisingly modern. It asks big questions but never takes itself too seriously.

Final Verdict

This book is for a patient reader who loves character and place more than plot. It’s perfect for anyone interested in Australian history, fans of classic, voice-driven literature like Moby-Dick or Tristram Shandy, or someone who just wants to get utterly lost in a different time and mindset. It’s a challenging, rewarding, and uniquely Australian experience. Just pack your patience and a sense of humor—you're in for a memorable trip.