1. Give a brief summary of the plot in about ½ to 1 page. Tell the story and describe what happens at the end.
‘The Winds of Heaven’ is about the lives of two contrasting girls, Clementine Southey and Francesca Lancie. It portrays their bond of friendship and sisterhood through love and faith and describes their life experiences starting from the beginning of their childhood to their adulthood. Although they have opposite personalities, they have wild imaginations and by having this simple similarity, it is this that keeps them standing firm and bonded. While Clementine envisage the taste of ambrosia at Griffiths Tea, a location that the train passed by, Fan dreams of magical countries in the Blue Hills. Together they promise each other that one day their dreams will come true. Whilst Clementine’s family background is privileged and stable, Fan’s family is unstable and separated. However, it is Clementine who is the shy, ordinary and typical girl and Fan who is confident, beautiful and unique. They are separated because they live in two very different societies; Clementine in the city whilst Fan in dusty Lake Conapaira. These circumstances leave them unbearable as they long to see each other again after each couple of years. As the story continues to the girls’ teenage lives, there are bigger decisions and responsibilities to take upon. When they become adults, things have changed dramatically; Fan ends up marrying a fellow just what her mother had dreaded for her to, carrying two children all by herself as her husband left her for no good reason. Clementine had grown more mature both physically and mentally, although she still has the same wild imaginations. She also got herself a boyfriend, Gary. In the end, when Clementine finally realises the fakeness in her relationship with Gary and what she really wanted to do all along was to visit her cousin, it was all too late because Fan had made her decision to enter Heaven, leaving her children with her neighbour and sister.
2. Explain the significance of the title (3 or 4 sentences). Authors do not choose a title randomly. Usually the title is symbolic in some way.
The significance of the title, ‘The Winds of Heaven’, means a sudden occurrence of blowing wind, according to Francesca’s descriptions in the book. I personally believe the author created this title from her own creativeness. For example, the sudden strong wind could be caused for the transformation of clouds into different shapes. Hence, the people below can feel the strong current and also see the amazing transformation of clouds.
3. Describe the setting and genre – time period, location, etc. (5-10 sentences)
The sceneries are set in Australia; one in the dusty outback, the other in the modern city. The time period starts from 1952 during the women’s childhood to 2009 when Clementine grows old and rephrases the story of Fan. The genre is realistic fiction as it portrays the five senses strongly; sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. It conveys the strong feelings of Clementine and Francesca by descriptive words and metaphorical phrases. In addition, Clarke made the novel relate to real life people and feelings in an extraordinary manner.
4. Write a few sentences about each of the main character(s). Answer what you like or dislike about them and why they are worthy of praise and/or criticism.
Both Clementine and Fan are extremely romantic dreamers. Although they contrast in their personalities and characteristics, they share the same caring values and unique interests. For example, Francesca is a young, confident, warm hearted girl while Clementine, on the other hand, has low self esteem and is influenced by mean girls at school. However, she is very thoughtful toward others and is a very determined girl who is willing to do anything for her loved ones. Although the two girls were determined that Francesca would always be confident of who she was and chase after her fascinating dreams, they realised, when they grew into young women, that no one is perfect and everyone has their weak spot. I dislike the fact that Francesca and Clementine had parted and she Fan wasn’t living a life she wanted.
5. Write a paragraph identifying what caused a major change in the main character and explain how the character changed. These changes may have been due to a choice, a conflict, a display of some outstanding trait like courage, or even a result of events that occur during the novel.
Francesca Lancie changed dramatically from the results of events that occurred as she grew into an adult. The girl who use to be confident, bright and beautiful became an ordinary tired, typical mum. One change was the golden plaited hair Fan always had and that Clementine always admired. A second change was that the bright spirit had vanished and left her just like any other typical woman. Thirdly, Fan no longer had hopes and dreams and without these two major obstacles, she was a different person. As the marriage ended up as a failure just like her mum’s, she was left loveless and had to carry their child alone.
7. Choose one sentence from the text and tell why this sentence embodies the theme of the story. Illustrate the theme/sentence using text images that you feel bring the theme to live.
On page 193, “…Sometimes I feel like I didn’t get through into the world properly, like other people. I left a bit behind, up there.” I really like this sentence because it explains Fan’s problem quite frankly.
8. Write a general review of the book. Would you recommend the book? Why or why not? Would you have changed any element of the story (plot, characters, setting, resolution, conflicts, point of view, etc)?
‘The Winds of Heaven’ is about Clementine Southey rephrasing the lives of Francesca Lancie and herself. It portrays a real life situation where stereotyping, bullying and depression occurs to a normal teenager. Both Clementine and Fan knows that Fan is seeking for something left out of her soul but they do not know what it is until she made a fatal decision at the end of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading sensible and mature stories. Part of me wants Clementine to save Fan just in time from suicide but part of me thinks that if she didn’t die, then the novel wouldn’t be as moving and stimulating.
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