Richard Glover (2) (1958–)

Technically I grew up in the 80’s, having been born in the early 1970’s, but so much of what Glover writes evokes memories of my childhood, from the pineapple ‘hedgehog’ cheese and onion appetisers, to the unbelted, smoke filled, weaving, courtesy of the ubiquitous cask wine in the bar fridge, car trips. I laughed aloud often at the nostalgic absurdity of it all.

However, The Land Before Avacado is also a sobering reminder of how far we have come as a culture. The status quo for baby show more boomers and most of Gen X would be inconceivable to today’s generations who can drink gourmet coffee (with smashed avacado toast) in the comfort of their own home, or by the roadside, any day of the week.
Tongue in cheek aside, many advances are sobering, from the drastic reduction of the road death toll, thanks to the introduction of drink driving and seatbelt laws, to laws protecting the employment status of pregnant women.
Glover also shares facts that will likely shock most readers who are convinced by their Facebook feeds that crime is at an all time high, when, in fact, the commission of serious crimes has more than halved across the board in the last fifty years.

While the nostalgic remembrances in The Land Before Avacado, appeal directly to those over the age of 40, I feel compelled to recommend to this to anyone over the age of twenty, many of whom could benefit from a little perspective.

Oh, and I am so going to cook the Spicy Meat Ring! show less

If you thought you family was messed up, read about the author's.
'I was having adventures and misadventures, and both were probably the product of negotiating and adolescence unencumbered by parenting.'
'They were helicopter parents of a different sort – ones that constantly flew away from their children with barrier farewell wave.'
A fascinating, easy read, with insightful observations.

Desperate Husbands is Richard Glover’s 9th book. Using examples from his life with his fabulous but formidable partner, Jocasta and his teenage offspring, Batboy and The Space Cadet, Glover explores subjects as diverse as wilful appliances, sport, purchases from late-night TV ads, moustaches, cleaning-obsessed mothers, exchange students, coping while the spouse is away, foreign languages, lead poisoning, hiring a DVD, studying for the HSC, specialty magazines, procreative urge, tying show more knots, garment cleaning, inventing Olympic sports, the war on terror, the Easter Show, Repetitive Joke Syndrome, ego, PINs, overused phrases, too much choice, ageing, thongs, Home Renovation TV shows, warning labels, holiday cottages, the census, needing glasses, first and subsequent children, everyday heroism, seventies food, snoring, uses for men and Christmas shopping.He gives us guides on: Men and housework; How to Write a Book; The Little Read Books; Water Conservation for Teenage Boys; The Dieter’s Code of Practice; The Real Road Rules; Ten Ways to Argue Like a Man; and The Blokes’ Supermarket; If you do not spend most of this book snickering, chuckling or laughing out loud, there is something seriously wrong with you. I did have to stop reading once or twice as I could not see the print for the tears (of mirth) in my eyes. In the chapter on warnings I was laughing so much, I had to stop reading to visit the bathroom to save myself from embarrassing incontinence. So here’s my warning to add to those: don’t read this book with a full bladder! show less

A deeply personal story from an author better known for humour and social commentary.
He tells us of his common dinner table competition: who had the weirdest parents? And he is rightly confident that his upbring will generally win the prize.
After reading this book, I'm happy to present him with the cup. His parents were beyond weird. But, remarkably, the author has come through as a normal, likeable person. And from all evidence has managed his own role as a husband and father remarkably show more well, in the circumstances.
So, searingly tough to read in parts, but made bearable by the outcome. show less