Eleanor Spence (1928–2008)

The Summer in Between is like being wrapped in a comforting quilt. As soon as I picked it up, I was ten years old again. Perhaps it's because it's just perfectly "book-like" in the way I remember my childhood books, but without the familiarity of books I've read before.

I'd never heard of Eleanor Spence before and was a little apprehensive about an Australian book, because so many of them are just lessons thinly disguised as stories. But this is a perfect delight of a story, with just the right amount of "moral" for a story of its vintage - there's a delightful sense of rightness about the events that occur. The descriptions, the language, everything, transport me backwards in the nicest ways.

"Lillipilly Hill" is a little harder to get into and at first not as believable. This perhaps really remains true all the way through, but there are a few wonderful adventures that are very inspiring to read. A recurring theme becomes evident: that of Australian rural children who might seem a bit rough around the edges, but who are independent, strong, capable, resilient and resourceful - they are also relentlessly fair and true blue. The community at large is also portrayed as being fair and willing to take someone as they are.

By contrast, Aidan is made to look like the weak English cousin whose book learning makes him little fitted for real life and real friendship until he develops his character. I think this is a little unfair. Okay, Aidan is more interested in books than sport, but the suggestion that his English public school aspirations are explanatory of this state of affairs strikes me as false. Had he really gone to Rugby, he would have been expected to display sporting as well as academic prowess, and the system would not have tolerated well anyone who did not develop "grit" and "moral fibre".

I think the idealistic version of Australian youth is a little too idealistic and romanticised, but it is very comforting and enjoyable, all the same.… (més)