No 257 - December, 2003 / January, 2004

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Ian Britain reviews Germaine Greer's About the Boy
Julian Burnside reviews Don Watson's Death Sentence
Peter Rose reviews Richard Freadman's Shadow of Doubt

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    Memories of the Changing 'G'. "The Temple Down the Road" by Brian Matthews [review]
    (Australian Book Review, 2003-11) Smith, Amanda
    "The Temple Down the Road" is a book of considerable enjoyment for those who have at some time or other succumbed to the boisterous charms of the MCG. It is a meander through the history of the site and the stadium, a personal memoir of events and experiences, and a reflection on the role of the MCG in the sporting, spiritual and cultural landscape of its city, and beyond.
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    The Disappointed Man. "Shadow of Doubt: My Father and Myself" by Richard Freadman. [review]
    (Australian Book Review, 2003-12) Rose, Peter John
    Richard Feadman's first work intended for a non-academic readership is, in his own words, ‘the Son’s Book of the Father’ and thus belongs to a venerable genre. Freadman, whose contribution to our understanding of autobiography has been acute, is well qualified to draw on this tradition in portraying his own father and analysing their relationship.
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    Bad Actors. "Vernon God Little" by D.B.C. Pierre. [review]
    (Australian Book Review, 2003-12) Ley, James
    "Vernon God Little" is a black comedy and a vicious satire on the cruelty and narcissism of American society. Most of the action takes place in the town of Martirio, Texas, a small pocket of affluence ringed by decaying suburbs and populated by a collection of grotesques of varying degrees of unpleasantness. This novel is, in the end, morally ambiguous. When it concludes, the question of whether Vernon has succeeded or capitulated is left unresolved. Most likely, it is unresolvable. But that’s the Human Condition for you. Watch out for that fucker.
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    Tropical Dreams. "Geckos and Moths" by Patricia Johnson and "Forever in Paradise" by Apelu Tielu. [review]
    (Australian Book Review, 2003-12) McGirr, Michael
    "Geckos and Moths" deals incisively, yet without histrionics, with the unravelling of a dream and the fraying of an Australian colonial fiction. "Forever in Paradise" is, on the other hand, unable to deal realistically with human imperfection. The book is infatuated with its central character, Solomona Tuisamoa. The problem is that Solomona is a pompous bore. He is such an impossibly wise, just, kind, caring and virtuous man that it is difficult to relate to him at any level.
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    Not Quite Normal. [review]
    (Australian Book Review, 2003-12) Sheahan-Bright, Robyn
    This article is a review of various Young Adult Non-Fiction books, including: Bronwyn Blake, "Julia My Sister"; Jane Carroll, "Thambaroo"; Warren Flynn "Return Ticket"; Doug MacLeod, "Tumble Turn"; James Moloney, "Black Taxi"; Martine Murray, "How To Make A Bird"; Leonie Norrington, "The Spirit of Barrumbi"; and Tony Shillitoe, "Caught in the Headlights".
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    A Fine Line. [review]
    (Australian Book Review, 2003-12) Clark, Sherryl
    This article is a review of various Children's Picture Books, including: Brian Caswell, illus. Matt Ottley, "Hyram and B."; John Heffernan, illus. Freya Blackwood, "Two Summers"; Tom Keneally, illus. Gillian Johnson, "Roos in Shoes"; Sue Lawson, illus. Caroline Magerl, "My Gran's Different"; David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis, illus. Sheena Lott, "Salmon Forest"; and Colin Thompson, "The Violin Man".
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