Knockabout Girl: A Memoir

by Pip Newling

The Outback has its own rules. Some are made to be broken. Some you have to write yourself. When 23-year-old Pip Newling arrived in the remote West Australian town of Halls Creek, the locals gave her 24 hours - tops - before she'd be back on the bus to Sydney. But Pip stayed - and as she served beers, shared jokes and swapped stories with the townspeople, she discovered a side of Australia most of us never get to see. From the tragic to the sublime to the downright ridiculous, KNOCKABOUt GIRL is a compelling, confronting journey into a heart of ribald darkness. Quick-witted and always ready with a grin, Pip takes us beyond the stereotypes with humour and compassion. We meet Sunny, Pip's exuberant partner in crime, and Jean-Paul, the fabulous French hairdresser whose dry sardonic wit matches the dfyness of the desert. there's Harry, the Shakespeare-quoting prospector, and Eric, the local playboy with a disturbing history. throw in a riot, a rodeo and a couple of road-tripping nuns and you're starting to get the picture...

Paperback

Published May 25, 2007

Reviews

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise. The first two sections are lively and full of spirit, extremely well written. Even though I felt the vitality drain away in the third (final) section of the book, with the lack lustre descriptions of landscape, I still couldn't put the book down. Perhaps the final section just lacked the vibrancy of youth that the first two offered.

It was without doubt a page turner and I finished it in two-days. It is definitely a read for anyone interested in memoir.

My overall rating is 3.8

[Vicki Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Outback has its own rules. Some are made to be broken. Some you have to write yourself. When 23-year-old Pip Newling arrived in the remote West Australian town of Halls Creek, the locals gave her 24 hours - tops - before she'd be back on the bus to Sydney. But Pip stayed - and as she served beers, shared jokes and swapped stories with the townspeople, she discovered a side of Australia most of us never get to see. From the tragic to the sublime to the downright ridiculous, KNOCKABOUt GIRL is a compelling, confronting journey into a heart of ribald darkness. Quick-witted and always ready with a grin, Pip takes us beyond the stereotypes with humour and compassion. We meet Sunny, Pip's exuberant partner in crime, and Jean-Paul, the fabulous French hairdresser whose dry sardonic wit matches the dfyness of the desert. there's Harry, the Shakespeare-quoting prospector, and Eric, the local playboy with a disturbing history. throw in a riot, a rodeo and a couple of road-tripping nuns and you're starting to get the picture...

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multi-faceted memoir and retrospective of outback Australia. Each succinct discrete chapter is a very real, readable, relatable narrative that conveys everything it needs to without being overly wordy or gratuitously descriptive... nicely sans the background commentary that pads out and bogs down other memoirs.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this before - didn't realise it when I grabbed it from the shelf, I skimmed through it again before writing this review to refresh.
Pip is after a challenge and adventure and finds herself in a small town in outback Australia. This is a world of hard drinking men and women ekeing out an existence with the pub serving as the epicenter of the community. Pip deals with the challenges with the resilience of a 20 something. There is a lot of humour to be found in the book, even in situations that are disturbing. As a memoir, it seems honest and it makes compelling reading.
It is also confronting description of still all too common areas where aboriginies struggle to survive without any cultural anchor largely choosing alcohol and drugs that subliminates their sense of self preservation. The issues of outback aboriginal communities are complex, I found myself alternatively scathing and sympathetic but ultimately with more understanding and with a less romantic view of life.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in fact I couldn't put it down !
As a prolific reader I appreciate Pip's excellent writing style.
This book is entertaining, thought provoking and depicts the very real fabric and essence of the remote Australian outback.
It did not lack for portrayal of all the wonderful characters, many of whom the reader may feel they know of and easily relate to.
Thanks Pip for sharing your story which impressed me as honest, open and real.
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[Travelling Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.travellingcari.com/2007/04...

A look at an Australia gone by, and a very different pseudo local perspective.

[Louiza Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be a throwaway trashy easy chicklit type read, but it's actually a very incite-full, observant and humorous reflection on facets of Australian culture.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and especially the way it was written. A quick read for me but very much enjoyed it.