Not sure why I never read this before. Couldn’t put it down. May go down as one of the best books I have ever read. A true bildungsroman for all ages.
Currently Reading:
The Bridge
Author:
Before this one I was reading The Running Man.
The Outsiders (S.E.Hinton, 1967)
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Accordion Crimes (E. Annie Proulx, 1996)
An account of the life of an accordion through modern Nth America. Whilst it may sound dry, it was an entertaining read and is a well written novel by the Pulitzer Prize winning author.
- Shortlisted for the 1997 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction.
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Animal Farm (George Orwell, 1945)
An oldy, but a goody. Using an allegorical fable, Orwell systematically derides Stalin and his followers over there abuse of power following aftermath of the Russian Revolution and Stalin’s takeover. Still taught in High Schools around the world it is a great example of the power of literature.
- No.31 on the Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels
- Time magazine chose the book as one of the 100 best English-language novels (1923 to 2005)
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So Far from the Bamboo Grove (Yoko Kawashima Watkins, 1986)
Another alternative semi-biographical perspective of WW2. This time from a young Japanese girl, living in Nth Korea. Has been banned in Korea, as well as many schools in the USA. Blowed if I can see why!
Chinese Cinderella (Adelaine Yen Mah, 1999)
The story of an unwanted daughter, a wicked step mother and father who’s allegiances towards all of his children are questionable at best. This book offers a very different perspective to the events on China of WW2. Worth a look.
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English for the Natives: Discover the Grammar you don’t know you know. (Harry Ritchie, 2013)
Ok, so this site is supposed to be about fiction, but a few non-fiction titles have slipped in. This is one of them. It explains where our language has come from, and how we know what we know. We may not all be able to discuss the various types of demonstrative pronouns or explain what a gerund is, but most of us know how to use them correctly. Another great read about our language.
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The fault in our stars. (John Green, 2012)
One of my year 8 kids recommended this to me saying, “its Sick Lit; the current rage, books about dying kids! Don’t be put of by this, it’s a story of hope and courage and well worth the effort. Made me go to the library and pick my next book, Wil Grayson, Wil Grayson.
The best advice from old people.
“Books. Read them. All the cliches apply (sunblock, flossing, travel). But don’t stop reading books, lots and lots and lots of books. Crappy ones, disturbing ones, difficult ones, fun ones. You can only live your one tiny life, but with books, you can live thousands more”– cipherdexes
From news.com.au – The only good thing I’ve read in it lately!
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The Rosie Project – Graeme C. Simsion (2013, Text Publishing)
This is one for the aspies, those with any tendencies towards social awkwardness, OCD, or Aliens of Unusual Abilities. You will laugh out loud, unless you are reduced to tears. Possibly one of the best Australian novels of 2013, you must read this. Currently subject to a waiting list in our school library – that should say something for its word of mouth popularity.
Taronga – Victor Kelleher (Viking Kestrel, 1986)
More post apocalyptic fiction, this time by an Australian author and set in Australia after the “Last Days”. It traces a young boy’s journey from the bush into the city, via his unusual ability to “talk” to animals. A very enjoyable read suitable for ages 10 and up.
The book was nominated for the 1987 Ditmar Award for “Best Australian Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel”.
Catch-22 – Joseph Heller (1953, Simon & Schuster)
The first time I read this I struggled. Then I came back at it. Third time and it has sunk home. It is full of wonderful satirical and humorous observations about the US military and WW2. (Ok, I thought it took its title from the problematic situation “a catch 22 – in fact it gave its name to this conundrum.)
Ranked as one of the 20 greatest books of the 20th Century (Modern Library) and top 100 by Time Life Books of the 20th Century.
The Road – Cormac McCarthy (2006, Alfred A. Knopf)
A post apocalyptic road story about a father and son’s journey. Bleak and dark, it does however end on a reasonably bright note after a sad resolution. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Inferno – Dan Brown (Doubleday, 2013)
Look, I may be going out on a limb here (or not), however I feel that it in 200 years time this book may not be considered a classic like some past texts. Despite this, Brown takes us on an action packed romp over a few days through Florence and Istanbul with more twists and turns than a roller coaster carriage full of conger eels. On the way, the reader some discovers interesting facts about Dante, his death mask and many other famous (related and otherwise) artefacts residing in the old world. A great, but lite and fluffy, read.
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The Caine Mutiny – Hermann Wouk (1951, Doubleday)
Thought that I would re-read this, having first read it in the 70’s as a young man. What a book. Whilst it is about WW2 and the trials and tribulations of life at sea during war, it covers many themes including; despotic ruler, madness, the loneliness of command and a plethora of relationship issues. Definitely worth the time and effort.
Winner of the 1952 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson (Allen & Unwin, 2012)
What a great story. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Forest Gump. One of the most engaging stories I have read in a while and a wonderful premise for a novel. Cover most of 20th Century history. As a famous Australian once said; “Do yourself a favour”. Read this book. Now.
The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness (Walker Books, 2008)
This series should have been bigger than the Hunger Games. Well written post apocalyptic fiction that make you think about what could be. Like most opening titles in a series, it has a cliff-hanger ending that make you reach for the next book in the Chaos Walking series, The Ask and the Answer.
Winner of many awards for youth fiction, including; Booktrust Teenage Prize, the Guardian Award, and the James Tiptree, Jr. Award.
The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha – Miguel de Cervantes (1605)
Listed by many book-lists as the greatest novels ever written, this tale of an old man and his faithful sidekick was written (in Spanish) in two volumes between 1605 and 1615. It has been described as a founding work of modern Western literature, and one of the earliest canonical novels.
There have been many translations into English, the earliest in 1620 and from experience, they vary widely in readability. If your first copy seems tedious, try another one. It is a fascinating story with varying interpretations on the underlying meaning of the work.
BTW, from its central protagonist we get the adjective, quixotic,
- ( sometimes initial capital letter ) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.
- extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
- impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children’s Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death – Kurt Vonnegut (1969)
Listed as one of the greatest English language novels of all times, (#18 on the Modern Library 20th Century top 100) this satirical anti-war novel cover many genres including dark comedy and sci-fi. It re-tells some of Vonnegut’s experience in Dresden towards the end of WWII, linked together by time travelling and observations about post war America.
This work has been the subject of much controversy, banned by many High Schools and libraries in the USA. I would like to think that my readers are capable of seeing past the vulgar language and irreverent black humour in order to appreciate the deeper meanings. But, so it goes…
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Travel books by Bill Bryson (Various)
I have lumped a bunch of these together. His best books include; Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe (1991), A Walk in .the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (1998), Down Under (UK) / In a Sunburned Country (U.S.) (2000) and The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America (1989).
His tongue in cheek style, along with his American background that has been tempered with a Euro-centric view distilled from living in England for many years, means his books are eminently funny and very readable. They have a tendency to make you want to get of your bum and see the world, or fall of the couch laughing.
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The Harp in the South – Ruth Park (1948, Penguin)
Once a staple of school reading lists, this title had all but disappeared from view until its reappearance thanks to “The First Tuesday Book Club”. (Well, it hadn’t really – I don’t think it’s ever been out of print!) Listed as one of the top ten Australian books you should read before you die, it deserves it place – a well written tale of the down and out of Sydney between the wars. Find it, read it, and savour it – it is deserves its special place in Australian literature.
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The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway (1926)
As colleagues depart for travels around Europe this month, it was time to revisit one of the great travel stories of the 20th Century, Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”. A thinly veiled frictional account of his travels from France to Spain, it is credited with making the running of the bulls in Pamplona a “must see” tourist attraction.
Written in Hemingway’s unique style it covers a range of themes, including; the lost generation of Americans in Paris in the 1920’s, women, love, the fiesta, nature and bullfights, as well as the touchy issue of anti-semitism.
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How the Scots Invented the Modern World – Arthur Herman (2001, The Rivers Press)
For anyone who has Scottish ancestry, this book follows the “Great Man Approach” and outlines the contributions Scotland, and in particular its people have made in moulding the modern world. Well referenced and very readable it is a scholarly volume well worth the time.
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Goodnight Mister Tom – Michelle Magorian (1981, Penguin)
Wonderfully written young adult fiction about England during WW2. It tells the story of Will, who is sent to the country to live with Mister Tom, an elderly childless widow. Moving, affectionate and entertaining it shows how both characters grow through the experience.
- Winner of the annual Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize
- A commended runner up for the Carnegie Medal from the British librarians, recognising the year’s best children’s book by a British subject.
- Twice adapted as a musical and once as a film, Goodnight Mister Tom (1998).
- The novel was listed at number 49 on the BBC’s survey The Big Read (2003).
Surrender – Sonya Hartnett (2005, Penguin)
Dark, sometime disturbing, but very readable Australian fiction about two disparate characters in a small country town as told from each individuals perspective. Grapples with some series subject matter in an interesting fashion.
- 2007 Best Book for Young Adults from the American Library Association
- Michael L. Printz Honor Book.
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian – Marina Lewycka (2005, Penguin)
A fantastic piece of writing, telling the story of an elderly father and his new pneumatic younger bride. For those of us with elderly parents it is both funny and strikingly poignant.
Winner of numerous awards for fiction, including; the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize at the Hay literary festival, the Waverton Good Read Award 2005/6.
The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros (1984, Arte Publico Press)
A coming of age novel, presented as a series of first person vignettes, this novel focuses on the day to day tribulations of of a young latina girl growing up in Chicago.
Beautifully written and falling somewhere between poetry and prose, this is another gem, one that everyone should read for a different perspective of the “Bildungsroman ” genre.
Moll Flanders – Daniel Defoe (1722)
Originally published as “The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders”, it is presented as a true story detailing the life of the protagonist, Moll Flanders. Whilst now not as well known as “Robinson Crusoe’, it provides an insight into the trials and tribulations of London’s lower classes, as well as the opportunities that arose in the colonies of America.
Candide – Voltaire (1759)
A deeply satirical work, originally intended to “bring amusement to a small number of men of wit” (Aldridge, 1975 pp 251-254), it still rings true over 250 years later. It is dominated by its sarcastic tone and is the story of an eternal optimist, Candide.
Originally banned for sedition, blasphemy and hostility, it is an insightful portrayal of human character as seen by one of history’s great philosophers. A must read for all students of life and literature.
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I Know You Got Soul – Jeremy Clarkson (Penguin, 2005)
If you like Top Gear, and Jeremy Clarkson’s opinionated, but tongue in cheek style, then you will enjoy this book about the best man made “things”. It covers a wide range, from the Hoover Dam to the ubiquitous Spitfire, the Ford GT40 to the submarine.
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The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemmingway (1952)
Hemmingway’s last major work of fiction is a simple, yet compelling story about conflict. It can be read on may levels, from that of a simple fishing story through to an allegorical commentary on all his previous work.
It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and was cited by the Nobel Committee as contributing to the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature to Hemingway in 1954.
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Power without Glory – Frank Hardy (1950)
Frank Hardy’s cleverly disguised biopic on John Wren, a notorious Melbourne underworld figure. Hardy was sued by Wren, not over the concept or general contents, but over an affair Wren’s wife was allegedly involved in. At least once in his life, Wren lost (the case).
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The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger (1951)
J.D. Salinger’s seminal coming of age novel. One of the most taught, and most banned books of the 20th Century. Two days in the life of Holden Caulfield as he is thrown out of yet another school and is not happy about the prospect of facing his parents just yet.
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Text Publishing, 2001)
A fantastic book with more twist and turns than the running of the bulls. Yet another coming of age novel that starts when the protagonist discovers the remaining extant copy of an obscure author. Set in Barcelona in the 1950’s, its vivid language, thanks in no small part to the translator, shows a series of dysfunctional relationships and how a young boy grows and learns through the many tragedies.
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The Cartographer – Peter Twohig (2012, Allen & Unwin)
Well written boy’s own adventure set in Melbourne in the 1950’s. Outlines a young boys travels through inner city crime and family dysfunction. When our hero witnesses a murder, it plunges him deeper into emotional turmoil as well as placing his own life in danger. The eventual resolution sorts many of his problems out, including his guilt over the death of his twin brother.
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The Plague – Albert Camus (Penguin, 1948)
A fine allegorical novel about what happens when the plague sweeps through the Algerian city of Oran. It has been read as a metaphorical view of the Nazi occupation of France and the local resistance.
Camus demonstrates his succinct and concise writing style well in this novel and it is a great starting point for all budding writers.
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We of the Never-Never – Aeneas Gunn (1990, Arrow)
In 1902 Jeannie Gunn moved from suburban Melbourne to a station on the Roper River, about 300 miles south of Darwin. This autobiographical account of her time as the first white woman in the area has become an Australian classic. Sadly, her husband died in 1903 and she moved back to Melbourne. Written in 1908, it was the second, and last book she wrote. Jeannie Gunn died in Melbourne in 1961, having devoted much of her life to looking after the welfare of returned soldiers.
Why Didn’t they Ask Evans? – Agatha Christie (1990, Fontana)
First published in 1934, this was the first Agatha Christie novel I ever read. Whilst not the instigator of the whodunnit’s, she has been accepted as one of its finest authors.
Good starting point for discovering this genre and the works of this great author.
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Inanimate Alice – Kate Pullinger & Chris Joseph (2005- 2012)
Is this the new face of books? This is one exemplar of the digital novel. There have been four consecutive episodes created to date with a fifth in production, from a planned story arc embracing a total of 10 episodes spanning Alice’s life from age 8 through to her mid-twenties. The viewer experiences a combination of text, sound and imagery and interacts with the story at key points.
View Online
Parvana – Deborah Ellis (2002, Allen & Unwin)
Based closely on real life, this is the exciting and inspiring story of Parvana, a young girl growing up in Afghanistan, as she struggles to make a life for herself and her family under the harsh rule of the Taliban.
SHORTLISTED 2006: BILBY Awards in the Older Readers Category.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain (1876)
Classic American novel by one of the world’s greatest writers. Great example of the bildungsroman (coming of age) genre. All about a young boy growing up on the banks of the Mississippi River and his adventures.
Available as a free e-Book download from most locations.
HTML version
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The Great Arc: The Dramatic Tale of How India was Mapped and Everest was Named – John Keay (2000, Harper Collins)
Another great read in the category of Historical Non-Fiction, this time about the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. Initially planned to take five years to complete, it ended up taking more than 60.
Best for would be surveyors, engineers, cartographers or just the young enquiring mind.
A Fortunate Life – Albert Facey (1981, Penguin)
Having a bad day?
Feel like the world owes you something?
Suffering from First World Problems?
Read this and your life will instantly come into perspective. An autobiographical account of the author’s early life in Western Australia, the Gallipoli campaign of WW1 and 20th Century Australia. Should be mandatory reading for all Australians.
For the Term of His Natural Life – Marcus Clarke (1874)
Probably one of the best contenders for the “Great Australian Novel“, this weight volume was written between 1870 and 1872 for publication in the Australian Journal. It is a semi frictional account of the life of Rufus Dawes, transported to Van Dieman’s Land for a murder he didn’t commit. It shows the hardships of our early settlement and links a number of actual events back into one compelling narrative.
Available as a free e-book from many sources.
JTIM Online Site
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation – Lyn Truss (2009, Fourth Estate)
First published in 2003, this book has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. If you write anything, then you should read this. It is what it says, “A zero tolerance approach to punctuation“. From the comma to the dreaded apostrophe, it covers them all.
Lets eat Grandma
Let’s eat, Grandma!
Remember, punctuation saves lives!
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The Secret River – Kate Grenville (2005, Text Publishing)
Another great piece of historical fiction. This time it is about the colonisation of one of our local waterways, the Hawkesbury River. Told through the eyes of William Thornhill, a fictitious convict settler it demonstrates the hardships, trials and tribulations out founding fathers suffered. It also shows the dark side of our treatment of the indigenous population.
Jasper Jones – Craig Silvey (2009, Allen and Unwin)
All about a socially awkward 13 year old boy living in a small mining town who is witness to a terrible discovery. Great reading by another fantastic Australian author.
Winner 2009 Indie Book of the Year award.
Winner 2010 NSW Premier’s Literary Award – Christine Stead Prize for fiction.
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Our Sunshine – Robert Drewe (1991, Pan Macmillan)
A standard (related) text for the HSC AOS, History and Memory.
A fictional account of Australia’s well loved anti-hero and villain, Ned Kelly. (Also became a song by Paul Kelly – no known relation!) It’s a stream of consciousness account about how he turned into the man we have come to love, and possibly hate.
Does My Head Look Big In This? – Randa Abdel-Fattah (2005, Pan Macmillan)
This was a great read. I engaged with it as it was set in my old stomping ground of Camberwell in Victoria. An engaging story about a young Muslim woman who makes the decision to wear the hijab, leading to some very different reactions from her friends, family and peers.
Alpha Beta – John Man (2001, Headline)
Ok, so as an English teacher I have an interest in how our language was formed, evolved and transformed. This book traces how our alphabet evolved and was organised and is much more than just an academic text.
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Batavia – Peter Fitzsimons (2012, Random House)
I am a big fan of of Fitzsimon’s style, although if you read too many back to back it can get a little tedious. This book is about one of the great stories in Australia’s history, told in an easy to read and compelling fashion. Who said football players can’t write?
If you like this, try And Their Ghosts May Be Heard (1994, Freemantle Press)
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Captain Bullen’s War: The Vietnam War Diary of Captain John Bullen – John Bullen & Paul Ham (2009, Harper Collins)
Interesting and different story about a non-combatant during Australia’s time in Vietnam. Offers a behind the lines perspective for anyone interested in the other side of warfare.
Suitable for students of Modern History or Biography.
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins (2008, Scholastic)
First book in the series of three. It captured the minds of many of my students and accordingly I had to read it. Loved the first book, but felt let down by the last two.
Interesting story about post-apocalyptic nation of of Panem and the annual games that feature a battle to the death of the 12 combatants.
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Tomorrow, When the War Began – John Marsden (1993, Pan Macmilllan)
I just had to post this after watching the film last night. The book is much better, not to say the film was bad, just abridged.
It is the first book in the series about the invasion of Australia by a foreign power. A group of teenagers on a camping trip miss the opening shots and then are forced to engage in guerrilla warfare in order to survive capture.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon (2003, Doubleday)
Narrated by a “15 year old mathematician with some behavioural difficulties”, this book “is a novel about difference, about being an outsider, about seeing the world in a surprising and revealing way“. Easy to read YA detective story that embraces and acknowledges these differences.
Winner 2004 Boeke Prize
Winner 2003 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize
Winner 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year
Creepy and Maude – Dianne Touchell (2012, Freemantle Press)
Sick of books where the main characters come from central casting? This book is for you.
Creepy and Maude shows a developing relationship between two very different misfits. Dark, funny, sad, inspiring. Great book from a new Australian YA author.
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The Surgeon of Crowthorne – Simon Winchester (1998, Penguin)
Have you ever wondered how the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) was compiled – probably not. This answers that question with an amazing tale of perseverance and madness.
This book started me on the non-fiction biographical path. many others have followed, but this is an amazing read.
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When it Happens – Susan Colasanti (Scholastic, 2012)
Sara wants two things: To get into a top university and to find true love. Tobey wants two things: To win the Battle of the Banda and to make Sara fall in love with him. Then there’s Dave. He just wants Sara.
Interesting twist on a love story, told from both perspectives. Does contain the odd (in context) rude word and some young adult themes.
Don’t let the cover put you off, despite the dominant pink theme it’s a book for all genders and tastes.
Ice Station – Mathew Reilly (1998, Pan Macmillan)
The boys love this. The antics of Scarecrow, whilst towards the end become a little unbelievable, are very engaging. Follow this up with Area 7 (2001), Scarecrow (2003) and Hell Island (2005).
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On Shakespeare – John Bell (2011, Allen and Unwin)
Ok, so you are over Shakespeare I hear you say. Well think again. This gives an actor/directors perspective on Will’s greatest works, both plays and poetry. Well worth a read as Bell intertwines his story (as founder of Bell Shakespeare) with the works of Shakespeare.
Contains insightful analysis and interesting anecdotes about some of the worlds greatest actors and directors he has worked with.
People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks (2008, Penguin)
Another great book about books. Recommended for everyone.
About the history of the still extant Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the oldest surviving Jewish illuminated texts. Brooks creates a fictional account of the book from its creation through to its restoration and the people who saved it from disaster at the hands of the Nazis.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep – Phillip K. Dick (1968, Doubleday)
I was never a great fan of Science Fiction, until I read this. This was the book that became Blade Runner, and although the story has been changed, READ THIS BOOK first (or after – up to you).
A favourite text for the topic of Dystopia, it shows the aftermath of World War Terminus, one possible result of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction).
Filed in Classic, Ethical understanding, Science Fiction
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Everyday – David Levithan (2012, Random House)
The story of A, who wakes up in a different body everyday. It’s like Dr Who meets Romeo and Juliet, a love story with a big difference. Well worth the read.
Author’s Website
NY Times Review
A Straight Line to My Heart – Bill Condon (2011, Allen & Unwin)
Coming of Age novel, (also known as a Bildungsroman) about life after high school. Like all great reads, funny, sad, moving and well written.
This would be a great related text for many Areas of Study, including Belonging,
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When We Were Two – Robert Newton (2011, Penguin)
Wow, what a great book. Dan and Eddie head for the coast looking for their mother. Funny, sad, moving.
Has great links to the Cooee marches of World War I.
The Yalda Crossing – Noel Beddoe (2012, UQP)
Great story about the grim history of white settlement in Narrandera. Engaging story and easy to read. Well written, as one would expect from a former teacher! One of the first accounts of this sad chapter in our history written by a member of our indigenous community.
Once – Morris Gleitzman (2006, Puffin)
First book in a series of 4 (Once / Now / Then / After). Not only can Morris Gleitsman write humour, he can deliver poignant. Very clever use of chapter openings.
The Story of Tom Brennan – JC Burke (2006, Random House Australia)
Set as a NSW HSC text for the AOS, Belonging, it is a book everyone should read. Tragic but with a strong message for all young people.
- 2006 Winner, CBCA Book of the Year, older readers.
- 2006 Winner, Family Therapist Literary Award.
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Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad (1899)
Classic novella. When I first read it (1978) I was confused and found it hard going. Then I watched Apocalypse Now which is loosely based on Conrad’s story, with some possible reference to the true story of Australian soldier, Capt. Barry Peterson (see here). Then I got it. Well worth the effort.
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Thai-Riffic – Oliver Phommavanh (2010, Penguin)
Very funny story about a young trouble maker with a twist. Suitable for 10+
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Tuck Everlasting – Natalie Babbitt (1975, Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Standard early high school text, usually set for stage 4 (Aust years 7 & 8), but suitable for most ages. The age old theme of the fountain of youth. Easy to read and well written.
Don’t Call Me Ishmael – Michael Bauer (2008, Scholastic)
OMG – I laughed until I fell of the couch. So did my mum. First book in a series of three(?).
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Moby Dick – Herman Melville (1851)
One of my favourite all time books. Melville uses a lot of obscure and defunct vocabulary, but it is worth the effort. Try to find a copy with footnotes, as opposed to endnotes, makes the experience more worthwhile. Also, available as a free download for most E-Book readers.
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The Book Thief – Markus Zusak (2006, Picador)
If you like books, then you must read this. Whilst it is classified as young adult fiction, it would appeal to all ages. Destined to become a classic OzLit work.
Took a couple of chapters to work out who the narrator is, but once I did it was almost an epiphany.