Almost Sincerely

When Zoë Norton Lodge was growing up in Annandale in the eighties and nineties, the self-proclaimed Heartland of the Inner West was a heady brew of somewhat maladjusted and genuinely unsettling residents. But Annandale was changing. New words like 'architect' and 'labradoodle' drifted out of the overabundance of cafés – and eventually entire weeks would go by with no backyard bomb explosions.These stories of neighbourhood warfare, unsound relations, quashed dreams and facial disfigurement are told with Norton Lodge's characteristic comic verve and eye for absurdity: encounter Greek grandparents whose decades-long resentment turns a colander into a weapon; a petrol-sodden Mamma; children sent to school with cat-food sandwiches; 'distressed' furniture; flying babies and other suburban wonders. Zoë Norton Lodge is also a writer and presenter on The Checkout and The Chaser's Media Circus (ABC1), creator of the hit sellout live event-cum-highly obscure TV show Story Club (ABC2) and has had her work published in Best Australian Stories.Reading group notes available here. When Zoë Norton Lodge Was Growing Up In Annandale In The Eighties And Nineties, The Self-proclaimed Heartland Of The Inner West Was A Heady Brew Of Somewhat Maladjusted And Genuinely Unsettling Residents. But Annandale Was Changing. New Words Like 'architect' And 'labradoodle' Drifted Out Of The Overabundance Of Cafés - And Eventually Entire Weeks Would Go By With No Backyard Bomb Explosions. These Stories Of Neighbourhood Warfare, Unsound Relations, Quashed Dreams And Facial Disfigurement Are Told With Norton Lodge's Characteristic Comic Verve And Eye For Absurdity: Encounter Greek Grandparents Whose Decades-long Resentment Turns A Colander Into A Weapon; Apetrol-sodden Mamma; Children Sent To School With Cat-food Sandwiches; 'distressed' Furniture; Flying Babies And Other Suburban Wonders. Zoë Norton Lodge Is Also A Writer And Presenter On The Checkout And The Chaser's Media Circus (abc1), Creator Of The Hit Sellout Live Event-cum-highly Obscure Tv Show Story Club (abc2) And Has Had Her Work Published In Best Australian Stories. Reading Group Notes Available Here. Debut book from Zo Norton Lodge, Writer and Presenter on ABC's The Checkout , Co-founder of Story Club Zoe Norton Lodge grew up in Annandale, Sydney in the eighties and nineties. Gods country. Heartland of the Inner West. Because of its location an always fertile mix of working-class, migrant, genteel, intellectual and eccentric residents. As she got older she noticed Annandale was changing, and she started hearing new words like architect and labradoodle, and eventually entire weeks would go by with no backyard bomb explosions. These stories about neighbourhood warfare, wacky relatives, quashed dreams and facial disfigurement are told with Norton Lodges characteristic comic verve and eye for absurdity and menace, inspired by her family, friends, acquaintances and nemeses. Their highlights include Greek grandparents who have lived in mutual resentment for decades and beat each other up with colanders, children who dabble in amateur porn and are sent to school with cat-food sandwiches, distressed furniture, rampaging eczema, flying babies and other suburban wonders. When Zoë Norton Lodge was growing up in Annandale in the eighties and nineties, the self-proclaimed Heartland of the Inner West was a heady brew of somewhat maladjusted and genuinely unsettling residents. But Annandale was changing. New words like ‘architect'and ‘labradoodle'drifted out of the overabundance of cafés – and eventually entire weeks would go by with no backyard bomb explosions. These stories of neighbourhood warfare, unsound relations, quashed dreams and facial disfigurement are told with Norton Lodge's characteristic comic verve and eye for absurdity: encounter Greek grandparents whose decades-long resentment turns a colander into a weapon; a petrol-sodden Mamma; children sent to school with cat-food sandwiches; ‘distressed'furniture; flying babies and other suburban wonders. Zoë Norton Lodge is also a writer and presenter on The Checkout and The Chaser's Media Circus (ABC1), creator of the hit sellout live event-cum-highly obscure TV show Story Club (ABC2) and has had her work published in Best Australian Stories. Reading group notes available here. Zoe Norton Lodge grew up in Annandale, Sydney in the eighties and nineties. Gods country. Heartland of the Inner West. Because of its location an always fertile mix of working-class, migrant, genteel, intellectual and eccentric residents. As she got older she noticed Annandale was changing, and she started hearing new words like architect and labradoodle, and eventually entire weeks would go by with no backyard bomb explosions. These stories of neighbourhood warfare, unsound relations, quashed dreams and facial disfigurement are told with Norton Lodges characteristic comic verve and eye for absurdity: encounter Greek grandparents whose decades-long resentment turns a colander into a weapon; a petrol-sodden Mamma; children sent to school with cat-food sandwiches; distressed furniture; flying babies and other suburban wonders