I read Puberty Blues along with the Top Chicks Shirley, Jess, Lissa, Zoe and Mandee a couple of weeks ago, and because I'm a slack-arsed moll I'm only getting around to writing my review now.My first encounter with Puberty Blues was when I was a young teenager; my mum would sing the theme song from the movie whenever I would get all angsty. It was as annoying as it sounds. When I was a little older I watched the movie, and was pretty horrified, cringing the whole way through. When I was a little older than that, I watched it again, and this time thought it was equal parts horrifying and hilarious. Having now read the book, I can say my feelings for the source material are pretty much the same - I found it both horrifying and hilarious, often at the same time.If you live under a rock - or, y'know, not in Australia - Puberty Blues is the semi-autobiographical account of two teen girls trying to fit in with the popular surfie crowd in 1970s Sydney. It's sparse in both length and language, with a frankness that emphasises the rawness of story. The narrator, Deb, describes characters and relays events in a matter-of-fact manner that leaves you with eyes wide and pearls clutched. I'm talking 13-year-olds having sex, doing drugs, being gang raped... I want to give a copy of this to every person who claims "kids today" are more sexualised than ever and say, o rly?Interestingly, the fact that internal narration or reflection is limited works to highlight how awful the whole situation is, especially because when Deb does comment, it's very tongue-in-cheek. As they look back on events a few years down the track, it's clear Deb and Sue are wiser and definitely not OK with how they were treated in the past. There's a kind of credulity in certain parts; it's as though they're saying, "Yep, we did that, can you believe it?" But, importantly, while they may shake their heads at their naivety and invite others to do so, it's not about passing judgement on the girls. If there is judgement, it's on the boys who treated them so abysmally and the culture that not only allowed but encouraged this kind of behaviour.Shirley mentioned in her review that she considers Puberty Blues to be a feminist book, and I agree. While it recounts some very sexist words and actions from a group of misogynistic boys (and girls, actually), the perspective of hindsight discussed above means that this sexism, while not overtly criticised, is purposely shown in a negative light. The closing scene, in which the girls triumphantly decide to forget about what others think, get their own surfboard and teach themselves to surf (something that was previously taboo) reinforces the ultimately feminist message. I would have liked this scene and their victory to have been expanded upon, but really, its brevity is in keeping with the rest of the novel.I did appreciate the book, and there were parts that were really funny, but more than anything I was disturbed. It's scary to think that that's the way things used to be for girls - and even scarier to contemplate whether much has changed. I certainly hope it has!While I think the writing was really effective overall, the first person narration didn't quite work at times. Although Deb is the main narrator, she would talk about events and conversations that she wasn't present for. Of course, it could be explained in that Sue (or someone else) told her about them - but it's not. I just found it sloppy and distracting. It could be due to the writers' inexperience at the time, but I would think an editor at least would pick it up. It's not a major problem, and I can see why this book is such a cult classic, even if it's not entirely enjoyable. At just over a hundred pages, it's a quick read - but not an easy one.-----------------"Get us a Chiko Roll and a Coke will ya? And no bites on the way back!"Let's do this, molls!
I deadset wanted to read this book, yeah totally reckon, before they showed it on the television, rite? Those slackarse molls Top Chicks (who live on the good side of Cronulla Goodreads, so not dick'ed authors) - Mandee, Belle, Zoe and Jess, said k'niver ave a go wid ya and I thought perf! Bloody oaff we 'ad an unroole time. I wore me new angora jumper (just off layby from Grace Brothers - 'ave a feel wudya?) and we all did our nails so preedy! We looked like real disco divas ey.... I was going to write my whole review in Aussie 70's lingo, but I can't keep it up. LOL! *doubles over in laughter*I adored Puberty Blues and I think I'll probably be scoring it higher than the Girls 'cos everyone has their "one thing" that compels them to pump their score up, and mine is "voice". My biggest bugbear is probably teen voices that sound like 40 year old women unconvincing and I think this novel, with its fresh 70s beach slang that would have sounded relevant at the time - has taken on a funny, quirky, neu-historical feel 33 years later.Combined with a tongue-in-cheek delivery and a harrowing coming-of-age story - about two best friends and their navigation of their early teen years through surf gangs, sex, drugs and violence - this novel has captured something that feels both "of a time" and "timeless".My only criticism of it is the brevity (113 pages). At it's very best, it manages to skillfully create a huge amount of spacial imagery (Cronulla Beach in it's entirety) with only a handful of sentences. At the worst, and this is especially true near the end, it felt like I was reading some condensed Readers Digest version of the novel as opposed to the actual novel itself.The novel got me mainly thinking of two things:Firstly - what makes something a Classic and something a Cult Classic? Puberty Blues is no true classic by any stretch of the imagination, but there is something so well written about it, something memorable and even loveable about it, that if someone like me can read it for the first time three decades after it's publication and still appreciate it - then something must be said of that.Secondly - is Puberty Blues anti-Feminist? Afterall, it portrays the mis-treatment of girls, even from the two protagonists to their fellow peers. I would say this novel is actually very Feminist. To me Feminism in writing is the documentation of how women live, by women (two female authors in this instance), showing and exposing the reality, the brutalities that women have to go through in a "sexualised" economy in which they are treated like commodities. From small singular actions (name calling) to much larger issues (gang rape), to show the weakness of women is the strength of women, and that is my very favourite thing about this book.This review also appears here on my blog Books on Marrs...Meanwhile... earlier on the ranch..Hey Cool Cats & Gorgeous Girls! If you've been wondering where I've been... I've just been discharged from hospital. Has anyone started reading this? Yes? No? Let me know. I'm a bit whoozy from morphine, but totally fine to read, interact and review. Squishy hug anyone?...I've got myself a copy with a "racy cover". Forewards by Germaine Greer and KYLIE MINOGUE. Wassat?...Saw the "First Look" TV promo for the upcoming series based on this novel on Channel 10 last night. It looked good!If you want to jump on the Nostalgia Train and read this Australian Cult "Coming-of-age" Classic set in the 70s (and written in the 80s) then please sign up on the thread below!I admit I might have liked the promo because I saw a glimpse of Rodger Corser. He may have had side-burns and a 70s 'mo. It was only a headshot, but I hope there are "stubbie shorts" involved further down below. *Clears throat*
What do You think about Puberty Blues (2002)?
I am really loving the series on channel ten, Australian tv. I like to know what will happen next so I always read the reviews, however since this is a new show there were none except people discussing the book. I bought the book on itunes and read it basically in one sitting. Wow!! I really understand myself now. Refering to anyone who lived more than across the road from the beach 'a westy' amongst other colourful language ideas. I loved the book to look back on my own childhood - which was 80s & 90s not 70s, but so much remains - so much is so accurate. I love the show for different reasons - particularly the parent's perspectives - which are not in the book. I love that the writers and producers of the show were smart enough to realise their audience is most likely 28 - 45, maybe older. I know my parents think it is boring and my 13 year old daughters' friends make fun of it on chat, they are too young. When I catch my 11 year old sneaking peaks I tell her - that one dies of drugs, that one is a single mum and has a hard life and that one falls pregnant at 13, how awful must she feel. I love the book - I was really disappointed that it was so short!
—Jacqui Noorbergen
Deservedly or otherwise, Puberty Blues is a classic of Australian writing. In some cases it's known because it's notorious - for its portrayal of sex, of gender relationships in a particular place and time, for lifting the lid on gender inequalities and gendered behaviours in the southern beachside suburbs of Sydney in the 1970s.It's the sort of book that many of my peers read in high school, much closer to the age of the protagonists Debbie and Sue than I am. However, I'm really glad that I didn't read it when I was a teenager, as it would probably have scared me even more about high school, peer pressure, and the travails of adolescence than I already was. Reading it now, I'm still horrified by everything the girls go through; horrified by their acceptance of what the boys put them through, horrified by the boys actions and opinions. Thankful that it bears no resemblance to my own adolescence whatsoever.I did find myself confused by the point of view at times. I found Debbie and Sue difficult to distinguish, and there were certain switches from first person to third and back again that confounded me.A further point in relation to the particular edition I read. It's the first British edition, so I don't actually know how I got it at the Pan Macmillan firesale (where I got it for 50c). It has two forewords written by Germaine Greer and Kylie Minogue, who are basically chosen for being fellow Aussies who are well known in Britain (as is one of the co-authors, Kathy Lette).
—Heidi
When I first emigrated to Australia a colleague recommended I watch the film 'Puberty Blues' as it would give me a taste of what life was like growing up in my new city, Sydney. About 40% of the dialogue went straight over my head, and the cultural references were pretty universally lost on me. ('Ya moll!' 'She's an easy root' 'What a spunk!' etc) After 8 years living in the lucky country my knowledge of Aussie slang, culture and history is well-rounded enough for me to now understand this short, sharp, sometimes shocking read. The life of teenage girls in 70s Cronulla revolved around surfies, straight leg Levis, 'rooting' in the back of panel vans and never eating in front of your boyfriend. This brief account of two teenage girls yearning to fit in, and compromising themselves to gain social status is at times quite sad and demoralising, despite the frank humour with which the tale is delivered. I wonder how much has changed for teenage girls in the intervening decades. I hope, perhaps with futility, a significant amount.
—hellocarmel
