The Book:
The Authors:
-Stan “Yarra” Dryden Stan Yarramunua was born Stan Dryden. ... It is no secret that now Stan Yarramunua is a successful artist and the owner of popular art galleries in Melbourne, St Kilda and Daylesford. "I'm a Wathaurong man. I'm an artist who draws on life in this big red and yellow and black country."Stan "Yarra" Yarramunua: artist, musician, actor, social worker, businessman. Today, Yarra is an internationally renowned artist and performer. But he hasn't forgotten his roots: he is committed to improving the lives of Aboriginal kids in his home town, and has helped many young Indigenous men find their way out of addiction and despair. He has raised money to open a place for kids who want to stop using drugs. Stan Yarramunua is an actor and producer, known for Blue Heelers (1994), Pillars (2017) and Welcome to Woop Woop (1997) & Glitch 92015-17).
Reader’s Reviews:
*”GREAT READ EASY READ A REAL TRUE INSPIRATIONAL HARDSHIP STORY FROM AN ARTIST WHO GIVES ME HOPE WELL DONE YARRAMUNUA”- Michael , Glenroy (on Booktopia)
*” I loved this book. Stan has a lot to say that's worth hearing.” Chrissy (on Booktopia)
Our Review:
The Book Club had a small attendance this month but everyone present had read the book. On the whole we felt it was an interesting, very honest, remarkable rags to riches biography. Compared to the average Australian, Stan and his siblings had an extremely disruptive and disadvantaged childhood. We agreed that even though we didn’t always like his behaviour, we liked Stan’s ability to overcome adversity, addiction, tragedy and to always come up smiling. Stan’s story and his telling of his connection to his mother’s aboriginal side of his family and culture gave me a better understanding of the deep connection of our First People have to this land. His description of his night visit to the You Yangs, his mother’s home land, in traditional dress, with his didgeridoo to mourn his wife Sophia’s death was a wonderful example of this innate connection to ancient custom. This is an easy read that bought a smile and a tear to my eye. I would recommend this book.
| A Man Called Yarra is an inspiring memoir of overcoming hardship and striving for a better life. Stan ‘Yarra’ Yarramunua is a highly successful Melbourne artist, musician, businessman and charity worker. A charismatic Yorta Yorta man who grew up in Melbourne with an alcoholic and abusive father, Yarra had a rough and sometimes homeless childhood and was in and out of trouble constantly. He too became an alcoholic, before swearing off the drink and committing himself to making something of himself. Now an internationally successful artist, Yarra is committed to improving the lives of Aboriginal kids in his hometown of Shepparton, particularly through better housing. |  |
The Authors:
-Stan “Yarra” Dryden Stan Yarramunua was born Stan Dryden. ... It is no secret that now Stan Yarramunua is a successful artist and the owner of popular art galleries in Melbourne, St Kilda and Daylesford. "I'm a Wathaurong man. I'm an artist who draws on life in this big red and yellow and black country."Stan "Yarra" Yarramunua: artist, musician, actor, social worker, businessman. Today, Yarra is an internationally renowned artist and performer. But he hasn't forgotten his roots: he is committed to improving the lives of Aboriginal kids in his home town, and has helped many young Indigenous men find their way out of addiction and despair. He has raised money to open a place for kids who want to stop using drugs. Stan Yarramunua is an actor and producer, known for Blue Heelers (1994), Pillars (2017) and Welcome to Woop Woop (1997) & Glitch 92015-17).
| -Robert Hillman is a Melbourne-based writer of fiction and biography. His autobiography THE BOY IN THE GREEN SUIT won the Australian National Biography Award for 2005. His critically acclaimed MY LIFE AS A TRAITOR (written with Zarha Ghahramani) was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2008 and was published widely overseas. After many years of teaching in high schools and university, Robert Hillman now works as a full-time writer. He has three children and lives in Warburton, in Victoria's Yarra Valley. Ref: Good Reads |  |
Reader’s Reviews:
*”GREAT READ EASY READ A REAL TRUE INSPIRATIONAL HARDSHIP STORY FROM AN ARTIST WHO GIVES ME HOPE WELL DONE YARRAMUNUA”- Michael , Glenroy (on Booktopia)
*” I loved this book. Stan has a lot to say that's worth hearing.” Chrissy (on Booktopia)
Our Review:
The Book Club had a small attendance this month but everyone present had read the book. On the whole we felt it was an interesting, very honest, remarkable rags to riches biography. Compared to the average Australian, Stan and his siblings had an extremely disruptive and disadvantaged childhood. We agreed that even though we didn’t always like his behaviour, we liked Stan’s ability to overcome adversity, addiction, tragedy and to always come up smiling. Stan’s story and his telling of his connection to his mother’s aboriginal side of his family and culture gave me a better understanding of the deep connection of our First People have to this land. His description of his night visit to the You Yangs, his mother’s home land, in traditional dress, with his didgeridoo to mourn his wife Sophia’s death was a wonderful example of this innate connection to ancient custom. This is an easy read that bought a smile and a tear to my eye. I would recommend this book.
No comments:
Post a Comment