Long Hot SummerIt is 1936. As they have done every summer, the Hopkins family - Anne, 8, Duncan, 12, Charlie, 5, and their parents, Derek and Lorna - have rented a house at the Beach. Alone during the week, Lorna is bored. When James Clements, the most handsome man in the Bay, decides to make an amateur cowboy film called 'Lust in the Dust', Lorna plays the whore with the heart of gold. James' sister Isabel is the cameraman, and the local Maoris are enrolled as Indians. The film's title proves disturbingly prophetic. Unaccustomed proximity leads to unaccustomed liaisons, allegiances are questioned and the old certainties suddenly melt away. It is the perfect story to display Barbara Anderson's extraordinary gifts. |
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Page 30
... girl who jilts a wounded war hero at the moment of his triumphant return to his homeland has to start somewhere ... girls did , plain girls 30.
... girl who jilts a wounded war hero at the moment of his triumphant return to his homeland has to start somewhere ... girls did , plain girls 30.
Page 34
... girl didn't have one . She had plaits . ' " The girl ? ' Charlie's white - blond head moves . " The doll . Elsie . ' I bite my lip , literally bite my lip , but fail again . ' She didn't like Elsie much . ' lot . ' Derek's face ...
... girl didn't have one . She had plaits . ' " The girl ? ' Charlie's white - blond head moves . " The doll . Elsie . ' I bite my lip , literally bite my lip , but fail again . ' She didn't like Elsie much . ' lot . ' Derek's face ...
Page 57
... girls . All the birthday parties , everything . Right through his life . It was just the same during the War . Oxford ... girl . ' Wouldn't one ? I should have thought one might have been quite happy with some delicately nurtured English ...
... girls . All the birthday parties , everything . Right through his life . It was just the same during the War . Oxford ... girl . ' Wouldn't one ? I should have thought one might have been quite happy with some delicately nurtured English ...
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Common terms and phrases
Annie asks bareback beach Bella Bob Jackson Bully Pond calls Charlie's child Clements says Colonel Holdaway comes couch grass course darling door Dr Appleby eyes face feet film girl Girlingstone gives grins hair hand hangi happy Hare Harry head Henare horse Indians Isabel James Clements James's Jean Jeannie jump kids kitchen Laing Laing's Point laughs leap legs looks Lorna Maori Miri Miriama mother never nods pakeha pikelets Pontiac race remember ride river Rongomaha Ropata rouseabout sand says Angus says Bel says Charlie says Derek says Duncan says James says Mrs Clements says Mum Seven Little Australians shakes shouts ski pole smiles smoko stands stare stick stop swim swings talking Tamati tell thank there's things thought tide told tomorrow track truck verandah watch waves What's woman wonder yells