I actually had a book seller trying to tell me the other week that Twilight was a modern interpretation of Wuthering Heights. This was in the context of a conversation about why I didn't think these books were really ideal reading for my 11 year old niece (although I wouldn't try and discourage her from reading them - just wanted some ideas for other books that might appeal but have a bit more literary merit, eg, something like Margaret Mahy's The Changover which I have blogged about previously and which Madame Smartypants Bookseller had never even heard of). Anyway, I am sure we will see plenty more Masters theses (is this the plural of thesis?) on this phenomenum before the Next Big Thing comes along.
Yes, I know I have been AWOL for quite a while - and I can't really guarantee that I will be back to posting regularly anytime soon. In the meantime, here are a couple of photos of some close encounters of the bushwalking kind (from last weekend when my son and I went for an early morning walk before the rest of the bushwalking hordes started scaring everything into hiding).
As well as these creatures, we also saw a swamp wallaby but it was too far away to photograph. I had to get the lizards identified later - they are lace monitors (also known as tree goannas). The education officer from the park also said we were very lucky to see the echidna as they are notoriously shy. I have only ever seen echidnas in the wild three times in my life and twice have been while walking with my son.
I don't know why I put a smiley face there, I'm not happy about having to say I'm 32 now, but life has always got better with age so I'm not gonna dwell on it. And people still think I'm mid twenties, so that's kinda good.
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.
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.
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!