Book Notes: "The Game" by Jack London

The Game by Jack London

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I purchased this novella in the village this morning and, once started, was unable to put it down. As I read, I recalled Jack London's lack of finesse in writing up a romance, then the blood boil of combat and wishing for younger days, then a thought of this obviously Boy's Own adventure and how much nonsense it all is once youth has gone and the reality of buck fighting days haunts one with arthritis and chronic pain. London keeps one on the edge of one's seat like a ne'er-travelled, mono-cultural cou rouge watching a patriotic war movie, only to send them down into a crisis of existentialism as well as any Hemingway could muster. Just like that.



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Book Notes: "Lady Chatterley's Lover" by D.H. Lawrence

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am pleased to have read The First Lady Chatterley before reading this third draft of the same novel. The first draft, despite a similar plot, had a completely different feel to it. The emergence of socialism has little importance in Lady Chatterley's Lover, almost as if Lawrence tried to wrench away from political commentary and social change so he could nestle the third draft safely back into its own class. Despite the obviously more vulgar language used in this draft, and the notorious details that led to it being banned for decades, I think this more famous draft suffers if it is not read in the context of the first. Rather than predict the rise of nationalisation and social democracy in Britain, Lawrence's character Mellor (formerly Parkin), instead appears to presage the Great Depression. I can only guess as to the differences in the second draft, but I am curious enough to track it down and find out. As for this novel's notoriety, readers today will be well desensitised to the parts that caused a scandal in the past. I can only imagine Lawrence's shock if he were to experience what is now so passé in our own time. With three D.H. Lawrence novels now under my belt, I will venture to read the rest.



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Video: The Week in Politics with Michelle Grattan

Michelle Grattan on campaign stumbles

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra and Michael de Percy, University of Canberra




As the opinion polls remained tight between the two major parties, there were costly gaffes this week from both sides. University of Canberra senior lecturer in political science Michael de Percy and Michelle Grattan discuss the “flash of the old Barnaby”, Labor frontbencher David Feeney’s troubles on Sky, and the campaigning skills of Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten.



Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra and Michael de Percy, Senior Lecturer in Political Science, University of Canberra

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.