Sprays: A Collection of Verbal Touch Ups

by H.G. Nelson

"HG Nelson that celebrated and revered Australian icon has had a long and illustrious career on our television screens and radio waves. Both a sports commentator and social commentator, his searing insights into the national character have long enthralled audiences around our fair country, and his opinions on everything from the Festival of the Boot to Olympic glory to going the grope are highly prized. Sprays is a marvellous collection of the very best of HG's rants, gathered from speeches, articles and even Lachlan Murdoch's bucks night. They're some of his very best serves on such diverse topics as sport, music, politics and art. Whether dispensing advice on how newly married blokes can overcome first-night yips, showing how kiddies can fight the flab through the fun of fishing, or speculating whether having a punt on the Archibald Prize could solve the funding crisis in the Arts community, Sprays shows HG at his irreverent, hilarious best."--Provided by publisher.

248 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Titles such as 'Sprays' are hard to review, insofar it is well nigh impossible that anyone but a fan of the author and his or her style (in this case Greig Pickhaver aka H.G. Nelson) will be interested in reading the book. In effect 'Sprays' is aimed at those already well disposed to the work of Pickhaver/Nelson, and his long time collaborator in comedy John Doyle/Roy Slaven. As I am such a devotee, my review cannot be considered impartial or objective. It is also very hard for me to place myself into the position of a (potential) reader who is not familiar with the Nelson Slaven personae.

Therefore I won't give a recommendation for 'Sprays' for other readers beyond suggesting those who enjoy the writer's sense of humour should have a look at it. I can pass some on some thoughts as to the quality of the writing however they should not be considered either approval or rejection of the work.

Pickhaver/Nelson has created a very unique and engaging Australian comedy character, and his familiarity with his own oeuvre means that 'Sprays' is very representative of his style. The language is hard to penetrate unless one has an ear for Australian slang, distilled further by the author's sensibilities. Whilst this does limit the readership, I would like to think anyone who came to 'Sprays' without such a connection could still marvel (or perhaps more likely be bewildered) at Pickhaver's prose. It is not quite stream of consciousness; more a roving ranting dancing monologue where the words wind around each other forming some rather strange but bloody funny images.

That 'Sprays' consists of monologues presented mostly (if not all) by Pickhaver as Nelson at public events there is a vivid brevity to each passage. The comedic constructs that are built into the book are unable to sustain anything more than about 10 pages. That is one of the positive aspect to 'Sprays'; the reader can whip through each article and if the one he or she is reading doesn't quite bring out the guffaws the next one is not too far off.

That the Slaven Nelson comedy 'team' has been able to sustain itself over 25 years, in print and on radio and television demonstrates there is a sustainable appetite for their material. 'Sprays' will not attract new fans to them, however it will (as it did in my case) please those who love their work.

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very Australian comedy written by a very Australian comedian on very Australian themes. As such, it will alienate a wide audience immediately. The H.G. Nelson character works wonderfully on radio, very well on television butut it is only OK in this written format. The book is now 10 years old, and this did not assist it, as some of the story lines are now obviously dated. There is no doubt it is very clever, and there are plenty of ïn""jokes which those who get it would find very amusing but overall it is only OK.

[bigmuzz]

stumbled across this book by accident at the library. read it because i have always been a bit of a fan of roy and hg's tv adventures. it was an interesting book, definitely laugh out loud in parts, completely outrageous throughout. nice sized chapters/articles/sprays made it an easy read, and good for a couple of trips and back to sydney on the train.

[Trena · Rating 3 out of 5]

HG at his absolute best. Laugh out loud read