That's a great story about the children enjoying my book so much they refused to leave the room at big lunch and little lunch. t reminds me of the primary school teacher at Stafford who wrote to say, "when I read Over the Top with JIm to my class they purr". I'm glad to have had such an effect on school children.
You certainly came up with a great answer for that overly concerned father!
Author and newspaper Editor Peter Thompson sent this today from his home in London after reading this story:
Great piece, Hughie. 'Over the Top' did more than 'give people back their childhood', although that was one of the gifts. You actually gave South Brisbanites an identity that we could be proud of and an arena in which we could become successful people in our own chosen fields. You deserve all the kudos you have received over the years.
Well the first review of your book Over the Top with Jim has certainly been proved wrong. The great success of the book and your achievements is a testament to its success.
Well done Hughie to have had the courage at 48 years of age to resign from your job to write books full time. If you hadn’t of done this we would not have the joy of reading about your life growing up at Annerley Junction in the 1950’s. Life is certainly different for children growing up these days. 🌺
I'd be interested to know if Stephen M ever contacted you and made amends? We all make errors of judgement, but the important outcome is to recognise you may be wrong and attempt to rectify the situation.
We have most of your books in our home library they have always been and always will be a source of enjoyment. You evoke so many fond memories from the past as well as wonderful insight into being a foreign correspondent in war zones and travelling through countries in a time most would never have considered. Then to share so much about Ken's life and behaviors that we would never have known. Many years ago I praised your writing on Sally Ann which is a subject many men are well familiar with.
It is pleasing that you are still publishing articles that jog our memories, allow us to appreciate the early days of our life and importantly smile or have a laugh. You truly have captured living in a past era and bought it to life as opposed to a historical representation. Well done for the pleasure you have given to so many.
No David that reviewer never made contact o make amends for th awful things he said about over the Top with Jim. And why would he? They have all the power, not the author.
Thanks for the lovely things you said about my books David -- here and in earlier emails,
A funny story, Hughie. I read the cut down kid's version of Over the Top - Jim and Me to my Year 4/5 class at East Brisbane State School. I read one chapter just before little lunch and big lunch. The kids refused to leave the room, begging for the next chapter. Even in the early 90s kids related to your story. I had a Dad come to see me complaining about your description of "spin the bottle"- he thought it was inappropriate for his year 4 son to hear that. Luckily, I was able to point out to the father that his son had written about watching "Terminator" a few days before and I considered that more inappropriate than a game of spin the bottle.
"I lent it to someone and never got it back!" -- from an earlier 'reply'.
At least the friends who gave it to me to read said "Take it with you". That was in 1995. I spent a couple of nights with them in Chermside and read a couple of chapters. Returned to the US and added the book to the collection. It was about 10 years later that I tripped over it and finished reading it.
(I moved to the US in 1970. Back to Australia for six weeks in '95. After 25 years in the States I had changed, and Australia had changed. I was saying 'bye to friends and relatives, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The old saying, "You can't go back", is all too true. )
Hope so Hugh - shall look for it in Book Shops and if readily available- will put it forward for Book Club when it is my turn to choose in the NY. I know it is on iBOOKS! Don’t want to loan my copy out as did once and never got that one back so naturally bought another one.
Yes Gay, six of my books are on eBooks with ABCBooks -- (including Over the Top with Jim) -- and one, "Working for Rupert" https://www.amazon.com.au/Working-Rupert-Written-inside-trying-ebook/dp/B08YNKJKHR I put up as an eBook myself so anyone interested could get to read about him -- particularly now (tonight) he has announced his retirement aged 92!
The most common thing readers say to me about OTTWJim is "I lent it to someone and never got it back!" There's a lesson there for all of us.
A great story on how critics reviewed your book, but the readers got it right! I would be careful about posting a review about lawyers though, Hugh. They can be very sensitive to perceived slurs especially if they think they can get dollars out of you for the anguish and reputational damage you caused them. Changing their names slightly might help.
Over the Top with Jim was cult hit in Allora, my hometown, because it was real and resonated with real people. A story told by a genuine writer. The cream rises.
Criticism is so easy, isn't it? But what readers and film-goers and audiences really deserve from a critic is not the critic's personal opinion. Better to give us the circumstances surrounding the artwork, what sort of a thing it is, who would enjoy it, as well as all those details of length, price. And actually, how come artists are the only workers whose output is publicly held up to ridicule every time? What if each of us were "reviewed" every working day, or week, or year? A sort of a Choice Magazine, where we all cop it. I really want to know the answer. If anyone can explain, why artists?
Sounds like you've read George Orwell's book of book reviews where he always said something positive -- even if it was only the price was cheap!
The reason artists are attacked mercilessly in reviews is not "to keep standards high" but because they are powerless ... and don't have enough money to sue! Plus the organisations publishing reviews want something (someone?) for the readers "to get their teeth into".
I'd love to review aa couple of doctors I've had -- plus a few lawyers.
That's a great story about the children enjoying my book so much they refused to leave the room at big lunch and little lunch. t reminds me of the primary school teacher at Stafford who wrote to say, "when I read Over the Top with JIm to my class they purr". I'm glad to have had such an effect on school children.
You certainly came up with a great answer for that overly concerned father!
Author and newspaper Editor Peter Thompson sent this today from his home in London after reading this story:
Great piece, Hughie. 'Over the Top' did more than 'give people back their childhood', although that was one of the gifts. You actually gave South Brisbanites an identity that we could be proud of and an arena in which we could become successful people in our own chosen fields. You deserve all the kudos you have received over the years.
Well the first review of your book Over the Top with Jim has certainly been proved wrong. The great success of the book and your achievements is a testament to its success.
Well done Hughie to have had the courage at 48 years of age to resign from your job to write books full time. If you hadn’t of done this we would not have the joy of reading about your life growing up at Annerley Junction in the 1950’s. Life is certainly different for children growing up these days. 🌺
Thanks for that Sheryl, it helps make up for that awful review.
I'd be interested to know if Stephen M ever contacted you and made amends? We all make errors of judgement, but the important outcome is to recognise you may be wrong and attempt to rectify the situation.
We have most of your books in our home library they have always been and always will be a source of enjoyment. You evoke so many fond memories from the past as well as wonderful insight into being a foreign correspondent in war zones and travelling through countries in a time most would never have considered. Then to share so much about Ken's life and behaviors that we would never have known. Many years ago I praised your writing on Sally Ann which is a subject many men are well familiar with.
It is pleasing that you are still publishing articles that jog our memories, allow us to appreciate the early days of our life and importantly smile or have a laugh. You truly have captured living in a past era and bought it to life as opposed to a historical representation. Well done for the pleasure you have given to so many.
No David that reviewer never made contact o make amends for th awful things he said about over the Top with Jim. And why would he? They have all the power, not the author.
Thanks for the lovely things you said about my books David -- here and in earlier emails,
Hugh
A funny story, Hughie. I read the cut down kid's version of Over the Top - Jim and Me to my Year 4/5 class at East Brisbane State School. I read one chapter just before little lunch and big lunch. The kids refused to leave the room, begging for the next chapter. Even in the early 90s kids related to your story. I had a Dad come to see me complaining about your description of "spin the bottle"- he thought it was inappropriate for his year 4 son to hear that. Luckily, I was able to point out to the father that his son had written about watching "Terminator" a few days before and I considered that more inappropriate than a game of spin the bottle.
Good point: we judge ourselves in Australia much more harshly than all the stuff that arrived from the USA,
Congratulations Hugh! "Over The Top with Jim" is a hugely significant and successful Australian book. Well done!
Thanks to you too Peter. A lot of people loved Over the Top with Jim.
"I lent it to someone and never got it back!" -- from an earlier 'reply'.
At least the friends who gave it to me to read said "Take it with you". That was in 1995. I spent a couple of nights with them in Chermside and read a couple of chapters. Returned to the US and added the book to the collection. It was about 10 years later that I tripped over it and finished reading it.
(I moved to the US in 1970. Back to Australia for six weeks in '95. After 25 years in the States I had changed, and Australia had changed. I was saying 'bye to friends and relatives, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The old saying, "You can't go back", is all too true. )
Yes, you can't go back if you stay away too long Graham. That's why I thought after 7 years "if i don't go home now i never will".
Good timing, I'm at YouTube, thinking of the good old days:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fznknLKU44
Oldies Mix 50's 60's / Rock 'n Roll lll
Keep 'em coming.....
Too true about lending Books!
Good idea about Rupert - maybe you should have been in Marketing!
Hope so Hugh - shall look for it in Book Shops and if readily available- will put it forward for Book Club when it is my turn to choose in the NY. I know it is on iBOOKS! Don’t want to loan my copy out as did once and never got that one back so naturally bought another one.
Lv Gay.
Yes Gay, six of my books are on eBooks with ABCBooks -- (including Over the Top with Jim) -- and one, "Working for Rupert" https://www.amazon.com.au/Working-Rupert-Written-inside-trying-ebook/dp/B08YNKJKHR I put up as an eBook myself so anyone interested could get to read about him -- particularly now (tonight) he has announced his retirement aged 92!
The most common thing readers say to me about OTTWJim is "I lent it to someone and never got it back!" There's a lesson there for all of us.
I'm not so sure -- not many people have downloaded it -- but then not many people have a Kindle!
Hugh- just checked it is on iBooks - $13.99. (ie OTWJ).
So that is good for Apple users! Cheers. Gay S.
Well, that showed ‘em, Hughie. Over the Top with Jim is a brilliant light, which continues to shine.
Thanks Blake, it was written for a family man like you!
Hugh
A great book. Made me recall my childhood in NQ in the 1950s.
Chris, I think, from what readers tell me, that the whole of Australia was like that in the 1950s. Not now.
Well that Prologue Hugh, should make “Over the Top with Jim” a best seller in 2023!
IT IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A WINNER!
It needs to be read......in fact I may now well read it again!
Gay S🤗
Let's hope it inspires some people to buy the book Gay ... at least it's Australian.
A great story on how critics reviewed your book, but the readers got it right! I would be careful about posting a review about lawyers though, Hugh. They can be very sensitive to perceived slurs especially if they think they can get dollars out of you for the anguish and reputational damage you caused them. Changing their names slightly might help.
I like you good line Peter -- it was "the readers (who) got it right)".
Thanks, Hugh
Over the Top with Jim was cult hit in Allora, my hometown, because it was real and resonated with real people. A story told by a genuine writer. The cream rises.
You are lucky to be from Allora John, a cut range-top town with a lovely old Hall.
A town full of musicians! Like you,
Hugh
A great book, but you're no George Orwell. ...Chaos's second assistant
At last, its official! I am "no George Orwell".
It took Chaos to work out that that was the honoour I was really after when I wrote this story.
Criticism is so easy, isn't it? But what readers and film-goers and audiences really deserve from a critic is not the critic's personal opinion. Better to give us the circumstances surrounding the artwork, what sort of a thing it is, who would enjoy it, as well as all those details of length, price. And actually, how come artists are the only workers whose output is publicly held up to ridicule every time? What if each of us were "reviewed" every working day, or week, or year? A sort of a Choice Magazine, where we all cop it. I really want to know the answer. If anyone can explain, why artists?
Sounds like you've read George Orwell's book of book reviews where he always said something positive -- even if it was only the price was cheap!
The reason artists are attacked mercilessly in reviews is not "to keep standards high" but because they are powerless ... and don't have enough money to sue! Plus the organisations publishing reviews want something (someone?) for the readers "to get their teeth into".
I'd love to review aa couple of doctors I've had -- plus a few lawyers.