This is a solid book, at over 400 pages, but is designed to be fun to read rather than a dense academic work. After his earlier book “Lost for Words” about phrases from his own childhood, the author was inundated with letters from people wanting to share their own memories. He has managed to categorise all this material into chapters like “Wisecracks”, “Name-Calling” and “Parenting” then into sub sections within each chapter. There are photos in each chapter, with added speech balloons, and the text includes both lists of words and phrases and excerpts from letters with personal stories.
I’m not sure I would ever read this cover to cover, but it is a great “dipping” book. Some of the material is poignant but most is entertaining. Australians have a wonderful turn of phrase! I always like the creative nicknames, such as the carpenter called Lightning, ‘cause his hammer never struck in the same place twice… or the thieving workmate called Hydraulic… always lifting things.
I have seen books of Australian slang and phraseology that are rife with the most horrendous foul language and vulgar and demeaning epithets. Lunn has taken a gentler approach, and the worst of the language has been left out. There are still sections on “the dunny” and things inside it, as well as milder swear words, so this is probably not for the younger readers.
I must say one of the reasons the book appealed to me was the discovery of a lot of language from my own childhood home… such as saying after dinner one was “full up to Dolly’s wax”. I’m also collecting great Dad jokes such as “What is the hardest thing in the world to do… Shell Petrol or Milk Arrowroot Biscuits?”
This is an engaging collection of language and stories that will bring back memories for many of us. Just remember before reading it out loud at the table there is a good smattering of mild swearing and references to a range of body parts and functions.
Andrew Lack
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