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Memoirs of a Dedicated Amateur Reader Comments
by by by by Valentine Press
A publishing partner for powerful words
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This is Jane’s (David’s daughter) daughter Rebecca. Mum was given the book on Boxing Day 2014 but as yet has not been able to bring herself to read it. I asked mum today if I could read her copy of the book… At first she was not willing to allow me to read the book implying that there was likely to be content in the book that I should not be privy to. Mum after a short time (probably helped along by a look of persuasion from me) let me bring the book home.
In just a couple of hours I have read the memoirs and I am equally pleased and perplexed by its content. As you can imagine I am reading details of my family’s life that are a touch unsavoury, I am so sad for my mum who has missed out on a relationship with her father, and who I think still to this day struggles with that. I am also very proud of David who has obviously lived a very colourful and full life.
Congratulations on your memoirs, I laughed, I cried, I cringed but at the end of the day I thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you
Xx
The book is a delight to read, and to see – “a lover of life and art”, a terrific painter, photographer and filmmaker, and a strikingly frank memoirist. David deals with all those enticing encounters and troubling decisions and consequences, from the Push days through to his fabulous 1992 film The Refracting Glasses, with disarming ‘matter-of-fact’ expression and style. The integration of stills, illustrations and text works well. Having long admired David’s films, it’s great to get a glimpse of some more paintings and drawings (in addition to those in the catalogue of the 2009 show ‘then and now and everything in between’). I found it a very moving read, and a lovely addition to the dialogue that’s developing from autobiographical chronicles of that generation of Sydney folk. Thanks David, and Lydia – I’m looking forward to reading Lyn Gain’s book too.