Goodbye Girlie

by Patsy Adam-Smith

1994, Australian hardcover edition, Viking / Penguin, Victoria, Australia. 266 pages, b&w photo galleries. Continues the story of an exceptional woman and her life as an Army nurse, her years at sea, her many adventures all over Tasmania and Australia, and a writing career which has produced over 30 volumes. This title continues the earlier volume of biography, Hear the Train Blow.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Julie Waite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating glimpse of an Australian life. Enjoyable

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir is a testament to the incredible energy of Patsy Adam-Smith - whose life-force seems to have transcended anything one would think possible today. She went from Depression-era bush kid, acutely aware of the oppression of poverty on all who surrounded her, to a very young teenager entering into the Second World War, grabbing by the horns any opportunity that arose. Opportunity in her world meant ceaseless hard work, physical labour, drudgery, suffering and disappointment, especially as the war years ground on, and so many soldiers died or were permanently traumatized - all the innocent boys of her youth. Yet her indomitable spirit shines through.
Somehow, through ignorance and pressure, she became a teenage war bride to a damaged man who was not ever able to provide her with the marriage or life she required or deserved. Again, this time with 2 very young children, she had to courageously create opportunities to overcome her many difficulties, and she reinvented herself as a Tasmanian boat hand (for 6 years!), a writer, a folkloric historian of Australian history, and so much more. Her many stories remind us that hardship, extremely hard work, endurance, stoicism, ingenuity and personal entrepreneurship were the founding stones of modern Australian society. Holding all of this together are the innumerable connections that Patsy Adam-Smith made with ordinary people, Aboriginal as well as settlers, soldiers, bushmen and women. Her personal insights and stories bring this period of Australian history to life.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author undoubtedly led an interesting life and she recounts well her understanding of the history of the Australia around her
She is unashamedly bragging about her own accomplishments and her contacts with interesting people around her.
The writing is poor and events leap around constantly.
However, I don’t regret reading about her interesting life.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Patsy is a great writer and this is also reflected in her auto-biographical works. What a fascinating life with so many adventures!

[Pauline Leister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Jean was my mum’s cousin, so reading this was full of wonder. The triumphs and tribulations of life are wonderfully portrayed, and her vast adventures blow my mind. Mum always said she was amazing. Now I know why. I wish I had known her in life.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

1994 in Penguin

It was nice reading this book while I was actually IN Australia. Having been in some country towns, it was a bit easier to imagine some of the stories.

Sequel to her childhood memoirs "Hear the Train Blow"

Teenage years, volunteer nurse's aid in Australia during WW II, skimming over her later career as journalist, also a spell working on a boat that took provisions to Tasmania each month.

A bit flippantly written, I feel. I read it for the content not for literary merit, not for careful phrasing or goo word choice.

Amazing to read about the extreme poverty of her family in her childhood, living in country towns. Her experiences during WW II are the most vividly written.

Perhaps I would like the memoir of her earliest childhood better, it was written a long time earlier too.

[Skyring]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13955098