Paul Collins (2) (1954–)

Martial arts provides a close-up look at ancient and popular martial arts. Written for anyone who is interested in learning about martial arts, each book focuses on one martial art and describes:

Basic principles and the history of the martial art
How to choose a club and what you need to get started (popular martial arts)
Dress code and the basic rules of etiquette
Techniques that are learned
Language that is used
Competitions and contests

Paul Collins has a black belt in both taekwondo and jujitsu. He was an amateur kickboxer in the late 1980s and trained under Dana Goodson, then Australian Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion. Paul has also taught self-defense.

Contents

Whar are martial arts?
Understanding kendo
Japan: the birthplace of kendo
The history of kendo
Dress code and etiquette
Before you start
Fitness and training
Kendo techniques
The language of kendo
Competition
Glossary
Index… (más)

Not bad, Collins is obviously trying to cash in on the DOAWK phenomenon but is trying to stuff too many things into this story. Firstly, Harry and his Mum run a guest house for boarders (Some near homeless) and he is seeing a school therapist as he appears to have no friends and is bullied at school by a boy known as THE BRICK. The entire book is a collection of computer diary entries and parts of work Harry has done for his teacher with the theme that Harry desperately wants a dog. When a strange lodger Jack comes to stay in the back shed, with tales of dogs from long ago, Harry's world slowly starts to change.
SPOILER ALERT: Jack is actually the ghost of Henry Lawson and all the tales he tells are part of Lawson's Loaded Dog and other stories collections. I was very frustrated by this book because the tales that Jack was telling about his experiences would have made him over 150 years old and this inconsistency really rankled me until the ghost part was revealed. Also I think Collin's treatment of Harry's mental illness is a little glib and that also annoyed me. One for kids who like dogs and school stories.… (más)

Harry Kruize, Born to Lose
Paul Collins
Publisher: Ford Street Publishing
Format: Paperback Demographic: Upper primary and above
RRP: $17.95 ISBN: 9781925272628
Reviewer: Tim Harris

Harry Kruize, Born to Lose is as much a collection of (and tribute to) Australiana as it is a contemporary Aussie kids’ story. The story, presented in journal form, contains a number of short stories adapted from Henry Lawson’s classic yarns, with a brace of Paul Collins’s own additions, wrapped up in a compelling frame narrative about the title character, Harry Kruize.

The Lawson stories selected for this book all prominently feature dogs, as do the two ‘new’ ones Collins includes. ‘The Dog That Never Was’ in particular feels right at home amongst these stories, with just the right mix of mystery, humour, and a firm historical setting so characteristic of Aussie bush yarns.

The work’s greatest strength lies in its characterisation, which is as efficient as it is compelling. Particularly impressive is Collins’s ability to give each of the many dogs appearing in the story a distinct personality.

Much of the development of the human characters is done through voice, both in the narration and the dialogue. Which of the major characters is speaking at any given time is immediately recognisable from their voice alone, which is a great technical accomplishment and really helps to flesh out and distinguish each character.

Collins’s creative use of font in particular adds to the characterisation of the main narrator and title character. Along with the informal, diary format, this also contributes to making the story an exceedingly easy read, as key words are picked out and emphasised in a manner appropriate to the speaker. While the work does contain some serious issues, the going never gets too heavy, thanks in part to Harry’s unique approach to life.

The denouement is, of course, masterful.

Harry Kruize, Born to Lose breathes new life into Lawson’s tales, and is a worthy addition to any collection of children’s books. I’d recommend it for upper-primary school children, particularly any who like dogs.… (más)