A Simpler Time

I have always admired Peter firstly as a great rugby player but also for his wit as an after dinner speaker and as a commentator and journalist. This book records his memories of the simple country life growing with his family up on the orchard his parents developed from scratch along with many humourous anecdotes which personalise his writing beautifully.

I enjoyed this account of Peter's family. The strength of his parents values and the flexibility and acceptance they extended to each of the children. It is an account that is an honest and in some ways revealing account. Though one gets the feeling that a complexity of arrangements within he extended family kept all the children free from abuse and delivered a level of privilege and life opportunities seldom available to their neighbours and their peers. Still none of his family seem to have wasted the opportunities given them. It is a good read and has a positive message. It is worth the time spent reading. I recommend it.

This autobiography covers the prepubescent years of the author's life and is a nostalgic trip for any Australian postwar baby boomer growing up in a rural environment through the 1960's. Sometimes gently amusing, occasionally a little saccharine and not always the top prose that he can write, nonetheless, on reaching the end of this book, one has the distinctly warm feeling of being a privileged participant in something really good. I will never be able to drive down the F3 again, past the the exit to Peats Ridge, without thinking of the farm where the author was raised and his heartfelt tribute to a father and mother that is recorded in this work.

I guess it helps if you're a Rugby fan; but that said, Rugby doesn't enter into the family memoirs, written from the point of view of a youngster growing up.Fitzsimons writes well, there is no doubt. But this is not about his writing, it is about family, community, and the life that is all around, both good and bad.If you know of Fitzsimons through Rugby or media, or even if you don't, this is an appealing read.

This biography took me back to my upbringing in the 60's where playing outside was substituted for watching TV. Peter's ability to make the material come alive was refreshing and I was cognizant of that era. It may have been called a simpler time but as was stated near the end, maybe it wasn't a simpler time, it just seemed like that at that time. There were many struggles when we were young and our children don't seem to have as many. Perhaps they will look back and think that this current era was a simpler time?I love Peter's style and the readability of his books - very engaging.

Fitzsimons is a wonderful author.I've enjoyed Batavia, Kingsford-Smith & Les Darcy immensely but this title left me cold. It seemed to be written as a private recollection of his formative years. The pet names for family members & anecdotes of personal episodes have the appearance of Christmas dinner family banter and suggest this was written for his siblings benefit belatedly spiriting it into print because his editor thought it worthy.I've plenty of my own historical family tales that are far more interesting than this cute rendition. I do only speak for myself and after his striking volumes on great Australians, perhaps I failed to manage my own expectations. No chocolates this time Pete.

Thoroughly recommend this book. I grew up in the same era and related to much of what Peter described in this book. A simpler times - yes, and also a time of good clean fun with no harm done to others. I laughed so much I had others begging me to explain what I found so amusing. If you grew up in this era I know you too will relate and enjoy. Well done Peter!

I read this some time ago and absolutely loved it. The author and I are of similar ages and I know the areas he speaks about in his book. I could identify so much with the things he wrote.It really was one of those books that made me smile and has left me with happy memories long after I read the last page.Do yourself a favour - read the book.

this was my first ever actual purchase of a kindle bookwhich i must point out that i am reading on an ipod touchBUT now i have done ... im deffo deffo getting myself a proper kindlebut anyway back to the book - well not sure but i adore reading aboutold australia and he writes in a pretty cool way ... i keep chucking tomyself and then have to explain to people in the room ... up to now he has told of his familya proper family where they have good times and acknowledge each otherspositive traits ... and i am really looking forward to everynight todiscovering what else he has to tell - not sure if he will be writing morebut me for one would deffo give him a trya lovely funny calm interesting read - deffo worth eight or so pounds ..have fun & bhappi~x~

I really enjoyed this book of times when life was less complicated compared to the lives children now live.Seeing the times through a child's eyes of just getting on with it all and doing what had to be done to support the family. Love that the family still have the property. :)

A back to basics look at how people lived. The is a must to show our grand children. So they appreciate whate they have now.

Peter is re-living his childhood story may interest some people but tended to get a bit tedious after a while. Frequent references to his friends by name rather than episodes of his life.

A simpler lifeI loved this book, there was so much that recognised from my own childhood, just a wonderful read.