Posts Tagged ‘boy’

Spud – Learning to Fly Review

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

Spud - Learning to flyI first came across the Spud series by accident. A few of my friends at school were excitedly talking about skipping a lesson and going with the librarian to a nearby shopping centre to see John van de Ruit. I had no idea who that was but when offered the opportunity to miss class I wasn’t going to say no.

I happily climbed in the car totally oblivious to what I was getting myself into. We arrived at the Exclusive Books and took our seat in front of John. He began talking about Spud and having stolen his diary, in my naive state I thought he really had stolen some kid’s diary and published it. It wasn’t until he started reading a section of the book that my curiosity sky rocketed. It was one of the wombat scenes. After a few annoying questions about whether the book was about him or not, I’m sure John must be so tired of answering that question, I was already plotting an ingenious plan to get the book ASAP. Needless to say I was hooked and eagerly awaited the second book. This time I managed to wangle a review copy out of the penguins (Penguin Publishers), of whom I’m growing very fond, for the third book.

It arrived early on launch day. I had a friend coming over for the day and was ready to get rid of him before my mother convinced me that that would be rude. The second my friend left I lunged into the book and devoured it page by page. All of my favourite characters are back for more zany adventures.

The book follows Spud’s third year of high school. Being a senior doesn’t make life any easier for Spud. With a new Malawian boy in their dorm, everybody pushing for prefect, and a whole term in a girls boarding school, Spud’s journey from boy to man is filled with fall off your chair laughing moments. These are best enjoyed away from the public eye. The last thing you need is for the funny farm to be after you.

The book definitely has a more mature tone, not only from Spud but from John as an author. The laughs are often more sophisticated but the right mix with slap stick is still there. What amazes me is the way John has matured the characters without loosing the humour. You notice it, but it doesn’t bother you. In fact it’s what keeps the story fresh.

It should be noted that for the first time the book really feels like it’s going somewhere from the start. By the time you reach the end, you’ll feel satisfied that the story has set a direction for the final book – something which was lacking in the last two books.

I really can’t fault the book. Whether it’s because I’m blinded by my fetish with the characters or my relation to the twists of life is yet to be seen. What I can say with 100% surety is this; the book holds a special quality of truth even though the storyline and characters can seem so outrages. The magic John puts into the book doesn’t seem formulated it feels real, and that’s something to be proud of.

Rating 10/10

A Boy & Math

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

MathA ten-year-old boy was failing math. His parents tried everything from tutors to hypnosis, but to no avail. Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enrol their son in a private Catholic school.

After the first day, the boy’s parents were surprised when he walked in after school with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face, and went right past them straight to his room, where he quietly closed the door. For nearly two hours he toiled away in his room – with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, went straight back to his room, closed the door, and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime.

This pattern continued ceaselessly until it was time for the first quarter report card. The boy walked in with his report card — unopened — laid it on the dinner table and went straight to his room. Cautiously, his mother opened it, and to her amazement, she saw a bright red “A” under the subject of MATH.

Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son’s room, thrilled at his remarkable progress. “Was it the nuns that did it?,” the father asked. The boy only shook his head and said, “No.” “Was it the one-on-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?” “No.” “The textbooks? The teachers? The curriculum?”

“Nope,” said the son. “On that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that guy they nailed to the ‘plus sign,’ I just knew they meant business!”

The Tract

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

Young boyA true story…

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his eleven year old son would go into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain.

The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, “OK dad, I’m ready.” His Pastor dad asked, “Ready for what?” “Dad, it’s time we gather our tracts together and go out.” Dad responds, “Son, it’s very cold outside and it’s pouring down rain.” The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, “But dad,aren’t People still going to Hell, even though it’s raining? ” Dad answers, “Son, I am not going out in this weather.” Despondently the boy asks, “Dad, can I go please? ” His father hesitated for a moment then said, “Son, you can go. Here’s the tracts; be careful son.” “Thanks Dad!” And with that he was off and out into the rain. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract.

After 2 hours of walking in the rain he was bone soaking, chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again but still no one answered. He waited there was still no answer. Finally this eleven year old trooper turned to leave but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch.

He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad looking elderly lady. She softly asked, “What can I do for you son? ” With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world this little boy said, “Mam, I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU, and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE.” With that he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed, “Thank you son! And God Bless You!”

Well, the following Sunday Morning in Church, the Pastor Dad was in the Pulpit and as the service began he asked, “Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?” Slowly, in the back row of the Church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak a look of glorious radiance came from her face as she said, “None of you in this church know me. I’ve never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband has passed on, some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, It was even more so in my heart as I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live. So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck.

Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, “I’ll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.’ I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, ‘Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.” I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the Bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes for there on my front porch was the most radiant and Angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, Oh, I could never describe it to you ! And the Words that came from his mouth caused my Heart, that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with cherub like voice, ‘Mam, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.’ Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little Angel disappeared back out, into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn’t be needing them anymore.

You see, I am now a Happy Child of the King, and since the address of your Church was on the back of this Gospel Track I have come here to personally say THANK YOU TO GOD’S LITTLE ANGEL WHO CAME JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME AND, BY SO DOING, SPARED MY SOUL FROM ETERNITY IN HELL.” There were now no dry eyes in the Church. And as Shouts of Praise, and Honor to THE KING, resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little Angel was seated; He took him in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Probably no Church has had a more glorious moment. And probably this Universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son— EXCEPT for one—this FATHER also allowed His Son to go out into a Cold and Dark World. He received His Son back with Joy unspeakable, and as all of Heaven Shouted Praises and Honor to THE KING. THE FATHER sat HIS BELOVED SON on a Throne far above all Principality Power….and every name that is named….

Spud (Novel)

Friday, June 6th, 2008

SpudSpud is the first novel by South African Author, actor and playwright John van de Ruit.

Set in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Spud is the dairy of a 13 year old South African boy; John Howard Milton (nicknamed ‘Spud’ because his ‘ahem’ haven’t yet dropped). The book follows his zany family and his life as he starts out at a prestigious private boarding school.

His dormitory, nicknamed the crazy eight consists of Robert Black – ‘Rambo’, the (self-appointed) leader of the Crazy Eight. Henry Barker – ‘Gecko’ – A pale boy who is incessantly falling ill. Vern Blackadder – ‘Rain Man’ – Spud’s deranged cubicle mate. Fatty - known for his excessive flatulence. Simon – jock and cricket star. Charlie Hooper – ‘Mad Dog’ – a fierce and ruthless thug-like boy, named because of his hunting habits and Alan Greenstein -’Boggo’ – a perverted boy who has a liking for porn and named because he is always going to the lavatories (the bogs) for unmentionable reasons.

More importantly the book takes what we all love and hate about high school and boarding and narrates the process is the most hysterical ways. I found myself laughing out loud in public as people walked by giving me the sideways glance.  The book is so easy to read, anybody can read it, you, your parents, and your grandparents. It will have you all laughing. It has an almost addictive feeling, you want to know what happens next, and the book leaves you panting for more.

The book will throw you through the roller coaster that is boarding school, make you laugh, cry, hope and see the world through thirteen year old eyes again. A must BUY – never mind read.

The book is already the highest selling book of all time in South Africa and was released late in 2007 in the states. A movie has also been put into production and is scheduled for a 2010 release.