A Bridge Turns 80

Of a Boy was awful; 5 dead children - who needs it. So then it was onto The Great Arch which fitted in nicely with the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge just a few days ago on 19th March. The Great Arch is "A deeply moving novel linking two centuries, two world wars and two generations inspired by the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge - this is an epic story of faith, obsession and love and an ordinary man, an ordinary life, made grand".

Last night started to read Eating Lolly.

Catch Up

So I finished They're a Weird Mob. Such a good book and one that should be read by every new Australian. There is sage advice in this book: learn the lingo and fit in and everyone will be happy to call you mate. I then read the recent Booker prize winner by Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending. There was an horrendous waiting list for this book in the library so I bought myself a copy. It's a slight book and a bit midde aged-geezer-navel gazey to be perfect. But it is a good morality tale that has a knock out ending that ever-so-subtly sneaks up. Kind of cool. It would probably reward a second read.

Now reading Of a Boy, a large print edition, which is always a bit of an odd experience. This book is about 3 children who go missing on their way to buy icecreams and about an 8 year boy who lives with

his grandmother because his mother is sick, an alcoholic I think. He lived with his father for a while but now he's living with his Grandmother (not Granny or even Gran) who is feeling well past her use-by date for bringing up another child. Also at home is Uncle Rory who is housebound ever since he crashed his car and killed the mate who was his passenger. He paints at home and otherwise appears unable to bring himself to leave the house. It's sad and disturbing so far. Too many damaged people and when they are kids, it hurts especially.