Scenes From Provincial Life by J M Coetzee
| Scenes From Provincial Life by J M Coetzee | |
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| Category: Literary Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Robin Leggett
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| Summary: Bringing together the three parts of JM Coetzee’s fictionalised memoir series, the effect is somehow greater than the sum of the parts. How much is the socially awkward, alienated John Coetzee of the book really the same as the author, only he will know. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 512 | Date: September 2011 |
| Publisher: Harvill Secker | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1846554858 | |
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"""In this follow up to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda there is a new paper finger puppet in school. Harvey has made himself a Darth Vader (Darth Paper) and it is, of course, turning him to the dark side! I hadn't read the original story to begin with, so I must admit that there were times when I wondered quite what was going on! It seems that one of the boys at school, Dwight, made an Origami Yoda finger puppet and this puppet gave his classmates amazing advice, advice that helped them in their school relationships and resolved various problems. Origami Yoda was, undoubtedly, using the force!
In this story Dwight is facing expulsion, and so Origami Yoda asks Dwight's friends to try to help. They put together a case file showing all the good Dwight (and Yoda!) have done at school in order to try and save him from the Principal's decision to send him to a correctional school.
This is a great story for tweens. It's very unusual, written with lots of different typefaces, little images and illustrations throughout as well as comments from various characters. It has a very fun feel to it, and is pitched very well for kids who aren't yet teenagers but want to read something a bit cool and fun. I liked the variety of the characters, and I also really liked the different stories they include in their case file showing how Dwight is actually a really good kid who has helped a lot of people in the school. It includes one about a classmate who has a body odour problem - when Origami Yoda is consulted he manages to avoid a difficult confrontation between the kids and the smelly girl and instead explains why she is the way she is and suggests a way they can improve the situation for everyone in a friendly way.
It does, obviously, have a lot of Star Wars references. Star Wars geeks will be looking for them all, and even if you're not a huge fan you'll be able to follow enough of what they're on about for it all to make sense! And much to my delight there are instructions at the back on how to make your very own Origami Yoda, and also a Darth Paper too!
It is an American story so all aspects of school are of course Americanised, but that's not a problem. Although the Star Wars aspect probably attracts more male readers than female the storyline is suitable for both and I found some aspects of it really quite moving to read which I didn't expect at all! I liked this unusual little book, and the conclusion to the whole story was great. Definitely recommended!
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
Further reading suggestion: For another story that works for both boys and girls and deals with friendship and magical happenings you might enjoy Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans."""
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