A light-hearted memoir largely based (it seems) on the author's old childhood diary entries from the 1970s

UPDATE (now I've read it): Collins saw all the bad childhood memoirs on the market and decided to write something contrasting about his own happy and 'normal' upbringing from the late 60s to the early 80s.
Its not terribly deep and meaningful stuff but was entertaining enough to keep me reading it for most of a quiet Sunday.
There are themed chapters of anecdotes (things like food, holidays, girlfriends etc) and some extra padding consisting of his orginal period diary entries - probably a little more of these than was necessary.
The author whilst most of the time self-effacing and humble about his past, sometimes comes off as a bit of a smug prat as an adult.

The title intrigues me.

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let free at the meet-up

An enjoyable enough read. I really enjoyed the chapters about various aspects on 70's life, Andrew's 80 gothic pases brought back memories. I did however find the journal entries a little trying and over done.

I started out really enuoying this book but then started reading David Niven's - the Moon is a Balloon which was riveting, this paled somewhat in comparison.

The idea behind the book was commendable - yes there are people out there whose parents stayed together, who never ate vegetables as a child and played in a field with imaginary toys who have turned out quite well, dare I say it normal even.

Taking this along to tonights meet up as I believe some one else wanted to read it.

Picked up at tonight's meetup. I love the idea of someone writing the story of an entirely ordinary life.

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I love the idea of this book as much as anything - how many times have you read someone like Frank McCourt and thought "if only I'd had such a terrible childhood, I could write a bestseller about it too"? Well, Andrew Collins thought that, and then decided to write about his childhood anyway.

It was funny actually how much of his life I recognised - I'm a child of the 70s too, and my childhood was remarkably similar (albeit on the other side of the planet). Some of the names of (processed) foods and TV programmes were different here (but still familiar because I've heard MrPloppy talking about all of them), but otherwise, the 70s were the 70s everywhere.

I agree with non-fiction, the author does come across as a bit smug at times, but I think that's a necessary side-effect of writing an autobiography - after all, you have to start writing with the attitude "I'm interesting enough for you to want to read about me".

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Edited to add: I donated this book as my contribution to the BC-AUS Convention Sweepstakes - I was supposed to contribute a NZ book, but I'd already given all mine away! ;-)
Photo is of cackleberry and caldron preparing to draw the winner's name out of a (hard) hat.

This book arrived at BCAUS Convention bookshelf Friday 24 June 2005. Part of FutureCat's contribution for the Convention Sweepstakes drawn Saturday 25 June 2005 at the Convention Trivia night.

Bris-Con

Thank you FutureCat!

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This book is one of the 327 volumes that make up the Prize in the Bookcrossing Australia Convention Sweepstakes that was drawn on Saturday 25 June 2005 at the Convention Trivia Night held at "Growcom" St Pauls Terrace Fortitude Valley Brisbane Queensland Australia and was won by ItsjustjoannSTL of St Louis Missouri...

The carton of books was loaded aboard M.V. "Jabaru V820" at P & O Port 1 Bingera Drive Fisherman's Island Port of Brisbane at 10.00am Friday 15 July 2005 and left Australia 3.00pm Monday 18 July 2005... estimated travel time - 38 days.

Thank you for donating this book to further the cause of bookcrossing