nostradamus and instant noodles
"Ian Champion's mum and dad came to parenthood late, and by accident. And now, 14 years later, his parents have had enough and developed matching midlife crises. Ian is sent off to England where he discovers it takes several 1000 miles to realise how good it was at home.
"
256 pg, paperback, 0733614302
I liked this book, but then-- I like all of John Larkin's books, and besides, I'm a crazy anglophile who's never been to England-- any book that can take me there has to be worth something!
reviews by other people
Jeremy Fenton from echonews.com said:
"From the author of such books as Pizza Features, Spaghetti Legs, Growing Payne and the soccer series for young 'uns called the Western Wildcats, comes Nostradamus and the Instant Noodles.
If sales are anything to go by, John Larkin is one of a small band of writers successfully putting humour on the page in Australia (think Nick Earls with a measure of anarchy thrown in for younger readers). For the most part, Australian authors do gentle, larrikin memoirs very well but outright comedy has always been a hard one.
There is no doubting that Larkin has a gift for comedy, but it's a relatively lightweight one in this reviewer's estimation.
A random quote: 'Let's start by saying that we're talking about a guy who is so stupid, he thinks an erogenous zone is a proposed housing development scheme under the Social Democrats.'
To just dismiss Larkin's latest book as lightweight comedy (in the form of the story of 15-year-old Ian Champion and his desire to escape Canberra and his family), would be to ignore the deeper themes of cultural difference and tolerance that burble throughout. Not to mention the, er... interesting characters that make up his 'relics' in Great Britain.
The whole making for a not-altogether unsatisfying read.
This reader couldn't exactly identify what age group Nostradamus is aimed at, but judging by the level of humour, it's teenagers (and probably male ones at that!)."
Sarah, Year 8, Canberra, ACT from www.goldcreek.act.edu.au said:
This novel, Nostradamus and Instant Noodles is realistic with a few teen issues, which are mixed with hilarious jokes. Thus the intended age group is about 12-18. There isn’t a terribly visible story line, however it sort of appears randomly. This novel is quite easy to read, with large print and big spaces in between words.
The life of a fifteen year old boy, named Ian, has been flipped around and turned inside out, as his parents both decide to leave without noticing that their teenage son is left to fend for himself. Soon Ian decides to pick up and leave his home town, Sydney and visits his grandparents in Yorkshire, England, the ‘soggy island’.
After saying goodbye to his best friend Eric, Ian leaves for England. He arrives at his grandparents’ house not knowing what to expect. Despite falling on his backside many times because of the weather, Ian finally gets the hang of things, except that he is constantly asked the question “What’s happening in Home and Away and Neighbours?”
Ian starts in a new school, where he finds a new friend named Jeremy, whom together form a caffeine addiction. He becomes good friends with a beautiful Indian girl named Indira, and he finally discovers the real truth behind his family branches, which is not the main point of the story until the end of his trip.
Recommendation: 8.5/10
Jocelyn, Year 9, also from www.goldcreek.act.edu.au said:
This is a humorous book that offers more than the title
suggests. Ian Champion, the main character, suddenly finds himself alone. Both his mother and father leave home with out telling each and leave Ian by himself. Ian then leaves Sydney and travels to England, where he starts school and makes new friends.
You see Nostradamus is a nickname given to an old English man who lives next door to Ian's grandparents. Ian's is the main character. Nostradamus predicts the weather, football scores and the end of the world. When he 'sees' the end of the world it really is his own death that he views.
I recommend this book for readers aged ten and over, especially readers with a sense of humour.
Justin, Year 8 once again from www.goldcreek.act.edu.au said:
When Ian’s ‘relics’ both leave home at the same time without realizing it, their son is left to fend for himself. He comes to the solution to go live with his ‘grandrelics’ in Brompton-Under-Silt, South Yorkshire. And that’s where the crazy adventures begin!
I would recommend this book for the ages 12-16. This book is filled with laughs and is very detailed.
Mark Young from bentbooks.com said:
Larkin's latest lark for young people is about a teenage boy finding himself
in the world. Teenage philosopher Ian Champion leaves sophisticated Sydney
for South Yorkshire in response to his eccentric brilliant parents going
AWOL, only to encounter the even more eccentric English. This is a zany,
charming and good-natured story that traces the contemporary cord between
Australia and the once "Mother Country". Larkin has a very visual wit,
drawing greedily from popular culture and the bleak side of British comedy.
While based in Sydney, the author clearly has an affectionate gaze for the
Yorkshire horizon. He captures the conversation and oddities of the
residents of Brompton-Under-Silt wonderfully. Plus he is not afraid to stir
in some harsh reality into his absurdity - always welcome for the
questioning teenage market. This is one of those novels worth giving to a
reluctant (usually male) reader in high school in the hope of jumpstarting
their flat book batteries. A real spark.
Read a list of similes from this book! (Very funny-- and try using them in your english essays)
