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John Morrow's Pick of the Week Not Like My Father Nancy Lacey Sid Harta If you have ever read Albert Facey's 'A Fortunate Life' you will find the same appeal in this book by Nancy Lacey. The book spans over three generations and tells us about hardships, happiness and the endurance needed to live life in the bush. The book begins during the 1890s and ends with the 1950s. It?s storyline covers the everyday daily grind of those intrepid bush dwellers. Nine year old Pat has just got a whopping from his father with a whip. He is left near death. Pat decides that at his young and tender age he is able to go out into the world and make a living for himself. His adventures begin in New South Wales and extend through the majestic jarrah forests of Western Australia. He also gains a taste of suburban life in Adelaide and moves to the cattle country in the Northern Territory. His travels end in Northern Queensland. The beautifully described flora and fauna of Australia is just one aspect of this novel which catches the reader. However, the magnificence of this book is the range of characters and their way of life. It's a book that will make you laugh most of the time; will bring a tear to your eye at the hardships endured by the people; but most of all it will really grab your attention with characters beautifully and realistically portrayed. Many readers will have read books about the tough life in the bush but this book goes that little bit further. It describes how small triumphs can be outstanding tests of strength and that ordinary folk can be anything but ordinary. Well done Nancy Lacey. 'A book is a private companion' John 'Ordinary folk can do some extraordinary things - a triumphant look at life in Australia from the 1890s to 1950s
Together they rushed to the back steps where they could see over the dividing fence of corrugated iron. Joe was playing the whip like a man gone mad while Pat lay writhing on the ground, his Sunday shirt covered in dust and blood. Read more about “Not Like My Father”