I have recently joined a book club at my local library. I have yet to attend a meeting but have been reading books on the list in preparation. The first one I was able to get my hands on was this one:
The normal print copy was out on loan but I was lucky enough to find a copy in the Large Print section (which is mostly patronised by the library's older borrowers). According to a librarian friend, this generation of borrowers like to write little notes to themselves (and to others?) in the books that they borrow - partly as a memory jogger in case they can't remember reading a particular book and perhaps also as a warning to their fellow citizens. The warning in the back of Lucky Jim was quite succinct and to the point and just said "silly book" in large old lady handwriting. My husband thought it might have been her speaking notes for her book club.
I am glad I didn't heed this review though as I am finding the book hilarious. The titular character (a young academic) is sooo negative and lethargic that I feel I know him well from working in the public service. I keep telling my husband he should read it too.
Very interesting book! I like the Australian cover better though, ie, features some of the bushland creatures who narrate some of the story. Quite a bizarre touch but strangely effective. Apparently it was nominated for the Orange Prize when it was published.
It all started a free months ago when an old school friend sent me a message on facebook asking if I would like a free family pass to the Australian Wildlife Park. We went and had a fantastic day. Since then, I seem to be getting freebies all over the place. During the school holidays, the Big Issue seller near my work gave me a free family pass to go and see the Woolly Mammoth exhibition at the Australian Museum. I took the kids into that and went buy and introduced them to the guy who gave us the tickets so they could thank him. For those who don't know, the Big Issue is sold by people who are homeless or otherwise down on their luck. I think one of this guy's other customers had given him the tickets but it was still very nice of him to give them to us. I think he was pleased that the kids were so happy about it. I have also been given several packets of Lebanese chewing gum by the young guy working in the Lebanese bakery near our old place (he is actually the nephew of a friend of mine but I don't think he knows that) and the guy in the convenience store near my work keeps give me special discounts on things I buy from there. I am not sure what is going on but I am certainly not complaining!
Spotted in a backyard only a few streets away from us (I didn't want to get too close in case I scared it away):
Here is my son on another of our jaunts around the neighbourhood:
I have been trying to find a Joey Scouts group nearby so we can get more involved in outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. We did find a good one a few suburbs away but it is just too far to go on a weeknight. It is a pity as the leader there is a scientist who organises a lot of science based activities for the kids (right up my son's alley). I have one more closer group to check out this week or next week so I am hoping that will be just as good.
but this just seems wrong to me:
They are not even free range but merely cage free eggs (husband bought them). Not sure if this is supposed to send some calming message about the happiness of the laying hens. Pretty unsubtle, if so.
Oh and apparently PABBIS stands for Parents Against Bad Books in Schools. Some good books on this list. Something else that I notice about this list is that it seems to include a lot of what is termed 'multicultural fiction' in the US including important writers such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Chinua Achebe etc etc. It doesn't include the most unsuitable books I read as a 14yo which were The Flowers in the Attic series. Books like this are much more likely to be read by the average 14yo as they are written in such a sensationalist and simplistic style. I would be extremely impressed with any 14yo who wanted to read Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. This is set as a Year 11 text in Australia and you should hear the moans and groans of the students forced to read it as it is quite a difficult book. I notice Clockwork Orange is also missing. I think the film of this was previously banned in the UK although the book has been studied as a Year 10 text in Australia. No Lolita either!
I noticed that some of my vox neighbours and also my facebook friends based in the US have been posting about latest attempts to remove or ban certain books from libraries so as not to corrupt the minds of young readers. I am currently reading this novel by Tom Perotta (who also wrote Election and Little Children) which is all about attempts by a religious group to control the sex eduction curriculum in an American high school. It also touches on the issue of book banning (with particular reference to Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me Margaret). Apart from being topical, The Abstinence Teacher is also a great read.
My husband wasn't able to take any leave this school holidays so I again took the kids away on my own. This time we went to a little beach place a few hours south of Sydney. The kids chose the accommodation. The main appeal of the place they chose (a beachside holiday park) was that they could stay in something called a 'safari tent' which was like a big old tent raised up on a wooden platform. The platform was longer than the tent itself so was able to accommodate a covered porch at the front and a bathroom/kitchenette area at the rear. The tent itself was very cosy but big enough for a queen sized bed, some bunks and a little table and chairs. It had a small oil heater which kept it quite warm at night.
The weather was actually pretty amazing for winter, ie, quite warm and sunny during the day and only a bit chilly at night. We only had one full day there as we were quite late setting off on the Thursday we left and had to rush back for a children's birthday party on Saturday. On our full day, we met up with an old schoolfriend of mine and her children who had moved to the area earlier in the year. We had a great day with them and the children became firm friends. Here are a few photos I took on my mobile phone.
I keep tossing the kids outside to get them out taking advantage of the beautiful fresh air and space in our new home/neighbourhood. This morning they decided to set up an outdoor cafe and have their lunch there. My daughter made the milkshakes for the cafe (loaded with icecream, sprinkles and green food colouring!).
