• I remember as a child in primary school, I used to take Irish dancing lessons. For competitions, we had to wear make-up and have our hair pinned, etc. Not nearly to the same extent as they do today, but nevertheless, I didn't like it. When I grimaced and complained, my mother would say (through a mouth full of bobby pins), "You have to suffer to be beautiful" . I think that I made up my mind back then that when I grew up, I would suffer as little as possible! I wear very little make up (often none), I don't dye my hair and I only shave my underarms if I really "need" to. Funny enough, I now do tap dancing, and I love all the atmosphere that exists back stage as we prepare for our annual concert, putting on make up, doing our hair. Maybe because it's more of a choice and its in a spirit of collegiality. But as for extreme lengths like tight-lacing of girdles, or foot-binding, that's just cruel and ridiculous! - Bettina
  • I agree with Robyn. 3 of my female friends and I used to attend a conference in Sydney, and to save on hotel costs, we shared a 2 bedroom room. One room had two single beds, the other had a queen-sized bed. A close girlfriend and I shared the queen bed. We actually chose not to engage in sex, and I'm not sure if the two friends sharing the room with the single beds did, or not... I just don't understand how the type of bed has anything to do with one's ability to engage in sex? - Nah
  • In 1987 my (then) fiancee and I stayed overnight at my Uncles house. We were put in separate bedrooms. We complied, their house, their rules. . Any business should clearly state their discrimination to prospective customers, to avoid the situation as above. And while I think those people are wrong in their views. They are entitled to them. - janet
  • just a demonstration of the scant regard the lnp have for voters apart from the fact of wanting their vote. They dont care about your life priorities, just their own. Get to the Lodge, end of story. They dont want what they consider to be "the great unwashed" to have a better education. That's for the priveleged few. - oldfart
  • [...] D is for Drama [...] - I IS FOR INTIMACY
  • I definitely second that motion, Sue. Religion is the most deadly disease ever to afflict humanity. The body count far exceeds even the Black Death of the 15th Century - and as for the collateral damage ... well that's beyond count. I watched that arsehole Arch Bishop being questioned the other day on ABC24. He swanned in like Christ come to cleanse the Temple, wore an air of invincible, infallible, untouchable superiority, and then sat there deflecting questions, denying knowledge, trivialising events, continued the cover-up and told outright lies. I think the "Man of God" showed his true colours when asked why it took 18 years to defrock a known paedophile priest when he made the off-hand remark "better late than never". He cared no one whit about the suffering of the victims; he cared only about the image of the "brand". What a hypocrite, what steaming pile! - Jack Richards
  • Hi Robyn, Might be different in different states, but I was an Operational Services Officer. Prior training in the area wasn't required for my role. Technical Officer would be another general position that would be applicable. Beyond that, the area I was in here in SA was Surgical Pathology, so degrees in Medical Science are the go. - Colin (Twitter: @CollyLong)
  • Ah Australia This is what we do well. This may appear ugly to Gina Rinehart but that is because plants get in the way of the mines. - liza
  • A friend just emailed me to tell me I am being accused of impersonating Australia's biggest blogosphere loon, John Jay, on this site. It is not me and I have nothing to do with his ravings here. John Jay must be suffering from serious withdrawal as Akerman is on leave and the Daily Terrorgraph has imposed a pay-wall; so he is unable to access his usual pulpit for his deranged religious rants. Insofar as Kevin Rudd is concerned, I have long held the view that he is the most narcissistic deadshit this country has ever produced. He is an "A Grade" spoiler who just cannot bear the fact that Julia Gillard is a better PM and Bob Carr is a better Foreign Minister than was he. I was unaware that he had a blog - but now that I know, I'll make sure he knows just what I think of him. On the subject of same sex marriage ... well, there are many more pressing problems for the Government to deal with. I couldn't care less what happens as marriage is an institution few young people bother with these days - it's becoming a quaint anachronism. I think it was Paul Keating who said, "Two blokes and a dog don't make a family" - and he was right - and neither does a marriage certificate. And BEL, you are completely wrong about me being bitter. Why don't you pay your money and keep commenting on Akerman and Bolt and believing every lie Murdoch and Rinehart's snivelling lackeys and bum-boys tell you to. You have a very strange idea of what makes a "kind gentleman" who has a "deep connection to God". The man, John Jay, is a raving nut case, as his words here evidence. His writings on other blogs defy description for their utter lunacy, absurd conspiracy theories, complete disconnect from cause and effect. When someone seriously thinks that Julia Gillard is a re-incarnated dark soul from Atlantis who was married to Barrack Obama in a past life thousands of years ago, then something is seriously amiss. I have long held the view that anyone who believes in any religion is a dangerous lunatic. They all claim to be about "peace" and "love" - but just have a look at Iraq and Syria today, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia; or, perhaps, the sorry history of Ireland and the break-up of Yugoslavia. That's religions for you: rivers of blood and piles of bodies - all over whose imaginary sky fairy is the real one. Just have a look at those skunks in the Catholic Church and the way they've been indulging in, and covering up, centuries of systematic child abuse - and getting away with it! Leave Kylie out of this. At 44 she's still got the world's sexiest legs and arse and it matters not that her singing voice sounds like gravel swirled in a rusty tin can. You're just jealous because you got a lousy ACGT combination and have spent your whole life being an overlooked face in the crowd. - Jack Richards
  • [...] To read more, visit The Hoopla. [...] - I put my money on O’Farrell | Gabrielle Chan
 
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Categories:  Books, Entertainment, The Book Shelf

THE HOOPLA LITERARY SOCIETY

By Meredith Jaffe
December 7, 2012

“I started writing for children because someone asked me to. I thought it was a different skill set, even though it’s really not. I asked the editor to send me a bunch of children’s books that the publishing house had published. And they were all terrible. Every single one of them. Which inspired me.”
- Daniel Handler AKA Lemony Snicket.

 

Ho! Ho! Ho! Looking for gifts for bookish loved ones? The Hoopla Literary Society brings you season’s joy and gift ideas. This week we look at children’s books.

 

Picture Books

Playbook Farm (Preschoolers)

Playbook Farm takes pop up books to a whole new level. The graphics are bright and charming and it’s interactive. Share it as a storybook and then fold it out into a play mat farm with all the pop ups popped.

There is an enveloped with farm animals, a tractor, a truck and a farmer so your preschooler can oink, moo and bark and create their own farmyard fun.

BUY THE BOOK

 

 

The Dreadful Fluff by Aaron Babley (Children 3 to 7)

Serenity Strainer is perfect in every way until the day she discovers she has belly button fluff. But this isn’t ordinary belly button fluff, this belly button fluff is evil.

Kids love icky stuff so a ball of belly button fluff that farts and eats the cat will have them in fits of giggles.

Beautifully written and illustrated.

BUY THE BOOK

 

 

The Princess and the Peas by Cheryl Hart and Sarah Warburton (children 3 to 7)

Lily-Rose May is a sweet little girl who lives with her dad in a cottage in the woods and lives a wonderful life until the day her father tries to feed her peas. Poor Lily Rose cannot swallow one and the doctor’s diagnoses a pea allergy meaning Lily-May must be a princess. She is immediately sent to live at the Royal palace, a pea-free zone, but life as a princess turns out to be not as fun as it sounds.

A delightful twist on an old fairy tale. A totally PC Princess and Peas!

BUY THE BOOK

 

Independent Readers

A Room at Guardian Angel Inn by Countess de Ségur (ages 7 to 12)

Originally written in the mid 1800s, this French children’s classic chronicles the adventures of the soldier Moutier, the completely mad General Dourakine and two lost boys.

This book is lots of fun, full of mischief making, thieves and lashings of yummy things to eat.

BUY THE BOOK

 

 

A Very Unusual Pursuit by Catherine Jinks (ages 9 to 12)

In 1870s London, children are disappearing everywhere- up chimneys, down sewer pipes. There are bogles about and everybody knows that bogles love eating children. The only solution is to call the bogle-catching expert, Alfred Bunce. His apprentice, ten-year-old Birdie, is the bait and singing with the voice of an angel lures the bogles into Alfred’s trap. Their friend Miss Eames feels sure there must be a safer way than to continuously risk Birdie’s life but there are enemies too and one particularly terrifying and deadly bogle to catch.

This is the first in a new trilogy of historical fantastical adventure with great characters and lots of laughs.

BUY THE BOOK

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2 Responses to this article

  1. Penny December 7, 2012 Reply
     
     

    What a great selection! If only I wasn’t so damn organised and didn’t already have my presents sorted I’d rush out and buy some. I love Aaron Blabey and his wacky names. That poetry book is going on my list anyway.

     
  2. Nat December 9, 2012 Reply
     
     

    My little boy is 3.5 and his favourite books are heads (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1442403799) and not a box (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0061123226) both are beautiful books to touch, read and share. This year he is getting Tell me about your day, a book I fell in love with and hope he does too http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1416990062/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
    He also liked ten little finger and ten little toes and where is the green sheep.

    I got my niece and nephews a big blue hard cover book with gold embossing a few years ago- had the name ….Australian kids/ Aussie kids something from the abc shop. It had funny and serious stories and poems including a Star Trek version of the grand old duke of York. Wish I could remember its name and find a copy for my son.

     

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Comments

  • Bettina: I remember as a child in primary school, I used to take Irish dancing lessons. For competitions, we had to wear make-up ...

    Reply|Read all

  • Nah: I agree with Robyn. 3 of my female friends and I used to attend a conference in Sydney, and to save on hotel costs, we s...

    Reply|Read all

  • janet: In 1987 my (then) fiancee and I stayed overnight at my Uncles house. We were put in separate bedrooms. We complied, thei...

    Reply|Read all

  • oldfart: just a demonstration of the scant regard the lnp have for voters apart from the fact of wanting their vote. They dont c...

    Reply|Read all

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