Night fell. The red waters of the swamp grew sinister and sullen. The tall pines lost their slimness and stood in wide blurred blotches all across the way, and a great shadowy bird arose, wheeled and melted, murmuring, into the black-green sky. The boy wearily dropped his heavy bundle and stood still, listening as the voice of crickets split the shadows and made the silence audible. A tear wandered down his brown cheek. They were at supper now, he whispered—the father and old mother, away back yonder beyond the night. They were far away; they would never be as near as once they had been, for he had stepped into the world. And the cat and Old Billy—ah, but the world was a lonely thing, so wide and tall and empty! And so bare, so bitter bare! Somehow he had never dreamed of the world as lonely before; he had fared forth to beckoning hands and luring, and to the eager hum of human voices, as of some great, swelling music. Views: 606
Blackbeard: BuccaneerBlackbeard: Buccaneer Views: 450
An unabridged compilation of the bestselling and award winning trilogy The Boys from Bondi, Going Home and Joshua. A rare look at the adolescent Jewish-Australian experience filled with daring and wit. The unforgettable portrayal of the conflict between Arab and Jew is told with passion, humour and unlikely optimism. The book is a tragi-comic adventure touched with romance and growing up. Views: 66
Alan Collins' memoir successfully straddles both history and literature. It is a memoir that has wry appeal to the seasoned Jewish historical reader and the novice alike with its keen observations and its pacey narrative, detailing the life of a young Jewish boy growing up in Bondi in the 30s and 40s. Collins, who died in March 2008 aged 79, leaves a compelling story about part of Australia's rich journey of immigration, particularly its Jewish roots. Reviewed by Sally Spalding, Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader, January 2009 Collins' memoir is an illuminating look at Sydney's lively Jewish community in the 1930s and 1940s. It is also a testament of courage and resilience. Collins somehow survived his childhood and went on to become a successful businessman, writer, husband and father. - Dianne Dempsey, The Age November 2008 Views: 60
