The Mud House

by Richard Glover

From the bestselling author of FLESH WOUNDS A young man who didn't know HOW to be a man. Two women willing to wrestle in mud. A friend who knew his way around a set of power tools. Building a house has never been so funny. Or life-changing. 'Hilarious' - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor, Biography Memoir, Australia, Audiobook, Ebooks

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Richard is a newsprint journalist and a Sydney radio broadcaster for the ABC.

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading through this one. Two young couples build a home based on mud bricks with no power tools. Written by Richard Glover, (my FAVOURITE radio presenter) this is an honest take on what it's like to be a self doubting guy who isn't your everyday blokish Aussie man. But I think lucky for us as he's a fantastic story teller. He tells us in his easy funny way about male relationships and what can be achieved through determination and old fashioned hard work. GREAT book that I'm glad I stumbled across. If you enjoy listening to the 702 Drive programme like I do, you'll LOVE it. Richard Glover is really funny, but even better, he tells an awesome funny Aussie story. That families will relate to as well.

** Addendum: I feel this isn't a complete review without adding the tid bit about me reading this book as my current read at the NRL grand final two years ago at ANZ stadium, Roosters v. Tigers I think?? I can't even remember.. yes my entire family thought I was nuts, as did many other members of the public, but I'm just not into football. Of course they think that listening to ABC radio is daggy too..

Here tis!

[Pauline Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

What This Book Is About
In this frank, funny and thought-provoking memoir, Richard Glover describes how he and his friend Philip and their partners build a house in the bush at the weekends.

What I Thought
I laughed out loud on several occasions, in fact I was laughing so much it had me in tears, the bit I particularly remember was castrating a bull and another bit was why the F-word was better than using the expression holy-moly.

I absolutely loved the camaraderie and banter that went on with the "men" hugely entertaining. I would suggest to listen to this on audio though to get the full effect.

Quotes I Enjoyed
"....get two Australian men together and they will express their love and affection by verbally attacking each other."
(my thoughts on this was, man did they have a crack at each other most of the time)

"...that's 3,456 cans of baked beans...."
(my thoughts on this was, that's a damn lot of beans!! lol, this was soooo entertaining!!! We all know about what happens with humans and baked beans, well, its definitely played as an issue in this book and I just couldn't help joining in with the laughter, ahhhh priceless!! ).
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So apart from the mostly funny bits in this story it does reveal quite a bit on how to make a mud house, the hard work etc, but there is not serious jargon and it's not a text instructional book. My observation also was throughout this book, was, is how men are so different to woman in there communicating.
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This was a personal pick of mine and borrowed by my libraries app BolindaAudio (borrow box). Giving this audiobook a 5 star rating and I recommend it to anyone who is slightly curious on how to build a mud house, also I'm sure an Aussie bloke might identify with this, oh and its read by the author, so the Aussie accents are real.
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The Mud House - Richard Glover

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mud House is the 11th book by Australian journalist, author and radio presenter, Richard Glover. It details the conception, planning and building, completely without power tools, of a mud brick house on a bush block in rural NSW, by Glover and three friends. Glover freely admits from the start that he has no building abilities, and notes the immense and joyous relief at the opportunity to be slapdash, citing a list of good excuses, among them the favourite: “It’s not meant to be the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel”. There are laugh out loud moments aplenty in this book: “There was a possible hitch: the sideways pressure on the frame would pull over the whole house, destroying all our work so far and bringing about Philip’s violent, and yet spectacular, death”. Readers will enjoy the many comic, almost slapstick moments, and no doubt be intrigued to learn when one would wish for Vishnu and how 3456 cans of baked beans form part of the tale. Glover reflects on how the years devoted to the building also developed friendship, love and fathering. If you have ever listened to Glover on the radio, then you will hear his voice in your head relating this tale as you read, which adds to the delight of the story. Enjoyable, hilarious, highly recommended.

[Susan C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was laugh out loud funny in places. But as funny as it was, it was also had some serious themes - manhood, fatherhood, the joy of creating something, the letting go of perfection. What was the quote "Its not the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel"?

Its about a challenge, then revisiting and rising to the challenge. When his younger son expressed a wish to build on, Richard and co, were probably in a financial position to be able to employ someone to build The Delphi Bar. Richard, in particular, knew that it was going to hurt physically - he wasn't a 20 something year old any more; he also was aware he would have to face some of his fears (heights anyone), but the joy of giving his sons the opportunity to be part of the creation of the new structure was worth the pain.

I really like Richard Glover's writings and observations about life. Can't wait to continue through his back catalogue.

[Felicity Waterford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud in parts and was entertained by the Australianism of the story. Building a mud house is not for me but I applaud anyone taking it on. What a gift to grow up with this amount of connection (to people and nature) and disconnection (to our phones, tele etc).

[Wendi Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

'What did you two talk about?’
‘Nothing.’
‘You’ve spent a whole week together. How can you have talked about nothing?’
The truth was we mostly abused each other. Get two Australian men together and they will express their love and affection by verbally attacking each other.
-from Chapter Seven, page 86

Richard Glover never saw himself as a Manly Man. Even after decades of weekend warrior toil building a mud brick house without power tools or construction knowledge, he still didn’t. But he was a friend, a husband, and eventually, a father. He swigged beer, danced ballet, dug pits, hauled mud, cooked camp meals, and wrote and radioed for a living. He was many things that changed and grew, just as the mud house did.

Maybe that’s the point: a journey, not a comedy of errors. A building plan for stages of life with many revisions. Personhood is not one-dimensional. Life is not simple. Being strong and building something takes more than muscle and callouses (although the process of gaining both can grow character and some sense).

What is friendship? What is commitment? You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to be perfect. “It’s not the Sistine Chapel,” Richard and mate Phil kept reminding and encouraging each other. You just keep showing up, mixing the mud, and pouring those bricks.

The Mud House could be a masterpiece of social commentary and psychological exploration. Or it could be a great story about four friends building a house made of mud. Either way, a worthy addition to a thinker’s bookshelf.

[David Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 'read' this book via an e-audio loan from the local library. I listened to it from go to wow whilst on a 6 hour hike. It was great to have it read in Richard's own voice and the flow of the story was natural and interesting.
Luckily there weren't too many people around when I regularly broke out into wholehearted guffaws!
The only problem I had with the book was not the fault of the book but was a result of the fact that I was doing the hike in Japan where you can't buy baked beans easily. When you read the book you'll work out why I suddenly had an insatiable craving for this delicacy.
A great testament to dedication to a task, to friendship, to fatherhood and 'masculinity'.
Thanks Richard!
PS: wonderfully very Australian

[Sun · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s the early 1980s and Glover and friends decide to build a house in the bush. The book describes how they come to buy a block of land, how to make mud bricks by reading Pliny, and how despite not knowing anything about construction or architecture, they create something that is liveable and lovely through backbreaking work and unmitigated enthusiasm.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author, and even though I have only recently got on to audiobooks, I think Richard Glover is the best narrator, perhaps made even better by the fact he is reading his own words. The feeling of achievement and of satisfaction in having built something with your own hands really comes through, as does the fondness between Richard and his friend Philip and the relationship he has with his sons.

[Trish Forrester · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing and easy to read book. I related well to the author's desire to share his experience with his children, whether they wanted it or not.

It was an interesting insight into the person I have listened to for hours on the radio, and re-enforced my opinion of how down-to-earth he is (literally)

Also an amazing tale of what people get up to in their spare time, of how little ideas become big ideas, and how with courage and persistence ideas can be brought to fruition.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was a tad ambitious trying to read all of Richard Glover's books especially the one on mud brick houses - I thought I’d be reading a very dry tome indeed. However it was, like all Glover’s books so far, a turn-the-page-at-whipcracking speed just for the sheer enjoyment of reading it. This was a book that I read all in one day, starting in a waiting room where I just couldn’t help but laugh out loud several times and not care about the social embarrassment!

[Plum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable mix of family, learning, psychology, history and folklore in this tale of Richard and his close friends and family building a mud brick house in the bush. The decades long adventure really seemed to come to life in the telling. I would by no means take any advice about building construction, but building friendships... I’ll take that.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very easy read, but despite that, has a great message about just having a go at stuff and surprising yourself with what you can achieve.

Lots of chuckles as a typical aussie comes up with some wild ideas inspired by cheap red wine...then goes out and builds it.

[Okys · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read. Enjoyed reading about an area I know well, as well as the interesting dynamics of two couples challenging themselves to build a house without power tools. Seeing the authors growing self understanding adds all the more to the read

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny lovely memoir by Richard Glover based around the building, over decades, of a mud brick house on a bush block. By his own admission, Glover is not a 'manly man' and he explores his ambivalent relationship with masculinity. Honest and humorous!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A life lesson in bush building, mateship, perseverance and ultimately masculinity. Family & friends & locals made his Mud house an imperfect masterpiece but it's "not the ceiling of the Cistine Chapel". Plenty of autobiographical anecdotes made this an easy read.

[Aislinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Richard Glover’s humour, the warmth of his friendships, his running jokes and his reflections on masculinity - which are equally applicable to the narrow definitions of femininity many girls grow up with.

[Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have listened to Richard on the Radio and interviews and have always liked his topics and sense of humour, so I thought I would give a couple of his books a go .
I enjoyed his reflection on his bringing an idea with his wife and close friends to completion.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

632 - 2014

[Susan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed. The honesty of Glover's writing and his readiness to share his frailties endear him to the reader. Laughed out loud many times.

[Elizabeth Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous truly Australian book! Enjoyed every minute of it, as did my husband.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging yarn. I am not sure I would have chosen to read this however perfect for an audio book.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a few good chuckles whilst reading this book and I learned a few things too. Double win!

[Carolyn Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it!

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading. Interesting enough to smile in parts and philosophical enough (in a truly Aussie way) to feel reading it was not a waste of time.

[Chad McHunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant. A great tale of friendship set in the beautiful blue mountains area with shitload of humour thrown in.

[Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Glover tells a ripping yarn and whilst there were times that I felt that situations were a bit exaggerated I enjoyed the saga that took a number of decades come to life.
What really engaged me was Richard's decision to follow up on his second son's dream to build an addition, The Delphi Bar, when Richard was in his late 40s or early 50s as a way of making a special connection with Joe. What a great family decision.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook format.
To be honest, I wasn’t all that interested in the main subject matter - building a mud brick house from scratch - but this author can make just about any topic entertaining and often humourous. There’s some local history thrown in, too.

[Kerry Cashman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous read. Richard Glover at his finest.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable reading!

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very amusing indeed and deserving of a much higher rating