The Stick and other tales of our times
by Michael Leunig
Overview
From Curly Flat, a WONDERFULLY informative and entertaining tribute site to the works of Michael Leunig.
THE STICK (and other tales of our times) collects 140 of Leunig’s illustrated contributions to The Melbourne Age in the years up to 2003. This is the first general anthology since Goat Person (and other tales) was released exactly three years before, giving a pool of over 400 cartoons to select from. I religiously collect his ‘Age’ contributions yet I have to say that many of these are new to me.
If there’s a common theme through THE STICK it would have to be introversion, withdrawal from a world the artist perceives to be recklessly rattling itself apart. It’s the diary of a misfit in who suggests that maybe it’s our idea of normal that isn’t normal, after all.
My thoughts
I didn't think this book would ever arrive but oh, how it was worth the wait! I recently introduced one of my co-workers to Leunig and then, having gotten her hooked on his work, could not for the life of me find a book to give her! I had an agonizing time as I bid and was outbid on eBay more times than I want to admit! I tried websites that specialize in hard-to-find books, I tried half.com, I checked used bookstores in town! Everytime I thought I'd found one, I'd receive an I'm sorry, it's no longer available e-mail! Aaaauuuggghhh!
Amazon.com had one new Leunig book for sale: The Stick. I ordered two copies. Only to have Amazon send me notices every two weeks that it was backordered!
FINALLY the books arrived in time for Valentine reading! (And just in time to give my co-worker, who has resigned and will be moving out of state to be married!) It is WELL worth the wait! The book is delightful, and again, I'm thrilled to add this book to my collection!
Favorite Passage
The Great Divide ------ The HAVES and the HAVE-NOTS
Those who HAVE a twinkle in their eye.
Those who HAVE NOT got a twinkle in their eye.
Those who have sung in the moonlight in a forest glade with tears of happiness upon their cheeks.
Those who HAVE NOT.
Those who HAVE run off with the gipsies and danced rapturously and feasted and slept in their arms and still have sweet memory of it.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT.
And just repeating, those who HAVE a twinkle in their eye.
Those who HAVE NOT.
