Dr Amy felt like a sister when I came across her for the first time, on Twitter of all places. That was maybe a decade ago. Staunch and unwavering, socially conscientious; yet deadly clear, and academically wise. I remember that stood out on ‘Blaktwitter’ at its height.
I learned A LOT more from Amy’s amazing memoir, Tell Me Again! What a struggle, what strength. It enthralled me from start to finish. It’s equal parts upsetting and uplifting. At times I had to put the book down and just feel the feels. It’s important for everyone to read, to understand the unlimited positivity that’s possible – in seemingly impossible circumstances.
Don’t know where I even learned of this book, but I’m so glad it was on my list for so long, and that I’ve now read it.
A masterpiece from start to end, it’s my ideal type of story. Weaving a personal tale of achievement with respectable self-deprecation, and a fond recall of the history and essence of a sport – one that every uninitiated person has an opinion on. Alex doesn’t hide the unflattering and worrying side of boxing.
It’s all clearly described with balance, with the added authority of someone who has gone a few rounds, but didn’t need to.
Getting through this story may have taken me several library loans and renewals. But definitely entertaining and thrilling throughout. Loved the characters, despite their flaws – even recognised quite a few. Life is gritty, life is rarely a complete fairytale. As I say (or maybe it was Wesley Snipes): Always bet on black.
I think everyone should read this amazing book. Dark Emu is filled with fascinating well-referenced revelations, to shed light on a contrary view of pre-colonised Australia. Our Aboriginal ancestors may have been more than primitive nomadic hunter-gatherers to have survived so well for 10,000s of years. Sadly that logic and the accounts from original white settlers has proven too much of a shock to some.
It’s quite a poignant time to complete Pascoe’s book. I read it amid the Australian Federal Police’s enquiry and rejection to a (Federal MP endorsed) claim that Bruce is a fraud and no true Aboriginal. We’re also in a time of unprecedented bush fires, where Bruce has been volunteering on the front-line to save his community.
Tomorrow is Australia Day, or Invasion Day depending on your viewpoint. My wish is that the detractors, who aim to quash an Australia or history which doesn’t align with their comfortable narrative, could open their eyes and read a book like Dark Emu.
Some of the accounts brought joy, truly brightening my day with appreciation. Others shared a more solemn account worthy of reflection.
I acknowledge the strength of all the authors putting their very personal stories to paper.
It made me think deeply about my own view of growing up Aboriginal in Australia.
Reading Time: 3minutesDuring our Australian holidays, we had a chance encounter with rugby league great, Wally Lewis while walking into Brisbane Airport.
It’s interesting how sometimes you can spot a celebrity from a mere flash of them quite a distance away.
He was kind enough to pose for a photo with us.
In case he needed some convincing, to seal the deal I mentioned I did name my second son “Lewis” afterall.
I forgot to add that my first son is Myles, so we have pretty close to the famous Wally Lewis and Gene Miles combination.
Wally and wife Jacqui were lovely during our short interaction/interruption while they were on their way to the Dally M awards.
We were grateful, and it had me recounting to the boys again how inspiring he had been as a player.
A few days later at my parents’ place, the boys were flicking through some papers on the bookshelf when they came across the Wally Lewis book, “Out Of The Shadows”; by Neil Cadigan, and Wally Lewis.
We should ignore the fact that my Lewis saw the cover and excitedly exclaimed “Oh look, it’s Dr Phil!”
I decided to read the book before leaving Brisbane, as a result of our chance encounter at the airport.
When you’re like me and average reading 5 books a year, completing an entire book in just three days is what’s called a challenge.
Reading it was quite simple really. The book was a lovely and warm account. I’m probably similar to a lot of Queenslanders, who knew only some of the story of Wally’s epilepsy. The book gives great perspective. It shares the full chronology leading up to the diagnosis, and then living long-term with the disorder while still leading a busy professional schedule. I really had no idea how big an ordeal this was, and accounts from others supplemented the events along the way. It really uncovered my own ignorance around epilepsy. It’s no spoiler that the story has a happy ending. Many aren’t so lucky.
I’m glad I read this book, which I was certainly encouraged to do after seeing The King in the flesh. It made me appreciate how inspiring Wally is as a man.
A wonderful account of The King’s biggest battle outside of rugby league, epilepsy. It was nice to read more about the man who inspired so many on the sporting field, and now is arguably doing even more important work in lifting awareness of the disorder – and even taking control of your health generally.
Also, I went through our Brisbane holiday photos from 12 months earlier.
On that trip we managed to catch a Broncos home match, where the boys got their first encounter with King Wally Lewis, the Emperor of Lang Park!
At the outset, it’s probably a good idea to clarify, this book is not “True Grit“ by wee-drinking author Mr Bear Grylls. Although if you’re after a tale of desperate and deprived actions of slightly deranged people in perilous conditions, you may not be disappointed. *sound of tucker bag being zipped up*
I enjoyed this follow-up to Girt. Both books provide a great antidote to the shiny history of Australia we were taught in schools ‘down under’. Many of the key figures in founding the land became celebrated as place names, but it took a volume like True Girt to aptly describe how many of these characters were.. well.. a bunch of pricks.
Along the way, we appreciate how unique Australia is. Where else is there a such a massive convict past, a sponsored horror of injustice against the original inhabitants, an unexplorable land so enticing to work-experience explorers, and then an uprising culture of rebels who appear to this day as tattoos amongst proud pre-grownups? And then there was the discrimination against other religions and races – glad we sorted out that issue long ago.
Australia has a history that beggars belief, but it’s what a few of us call home.
Many gold nuggets were shared, like Australia inventing what became standard democratic processes (with a few oversights). And we finally learn the collective noun of Hipsters. It makes sense.
True to the author’s word, this follow-up has even more hilarious moments where I laughed out loud before looking around nervously.
The guilty laugh is what I'm going for… The guilt will ratchet up a bit more in True Girt, out end of the month
Audio books usually lack something compared to regular books. It’s not the case when you can hear the late great Carrie Fisher reading her own brilliantly funny account of the wonder days of Star Wars and its ensuing fame. It made me smile every day. Perhaps a more appropriate title would be “My infatuation with Harrison Ford”.
