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Les Norton #11
Guns 'N' Rose
NOW AN ABC TELEVISION DRAMA STARRING DAVID WENHAM AND REBEL WILSON
Norton needed a holiday-anywhere-as long as it was out of Bondi. Price was only too willing to oblige-Les could have his house at Terrigal. All he had to do was look after George Brennan's nephew for a week while he was there. Sounded okay to Norton, and it was better than spending his own money.Jimmy Rosewater was young, cool and the original brown-eyed handsome man. He loved good wine, going to restaurants, going line-dancing, and the ladies loved him. This suited Les nicely. But, Jimmy was also supposed to be in jail. Before he knows it, Norton is fighting off the usual yobbos looking for trouble, sex-crazed feral aunties and getting shot at by feral bikies. That was during the quieter moments...and all the time Les has a feeling Jimmy's up to something...
Norton needed a holiday-anywhere-as long as it was out of Bondi. Price was only too willing to oblige-Les could have his house at Terrigal. All he had to do was look after George Brennan's nephew for a week while he was there. Sounded okay to Norton, and it was better than spending his own money.Jimmy Rosewater was young, cool and the original brown-eyed handsome man. He loved good wine, going to restaurants, going line-dancing, and the ladies loved him. This suited Les nicely. But, Jimmy was also supposed to be in jail. Before he knows it, Norton is fighting off the usual yobbos looking for trouble, sex-crazed feral aunties and getting shot at by feral bikies. That was during the quieter moments...and all the time Les has a feeling Jimmy's up to something...
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1996
About the author
Robert G. Barrett
47 books68 followersG’day.
You’ve no doubt read a lot of things about me and my books over the years written by other people. Well, this is the truth. I grew up in Bondi in Sydney, Australia. I went to Bondi Beach Public School then on to Randwick Boys High. I left school at 14, did a few odd jobs then a trade as a butcher, mainly in the Eastern suburbs before finally working as a boner in various meatworks around the inner city with two trips to Ross River meatworks at Townsville, Queensland thrown in. I gave up boning after a hindquarter fell on me tearing the tendons in my right arm. I always liked writing letters and reading, so while I was on worker’s compensation I did three writing courses at the WEA, Worker’s Education Authority.
Robert died of cancer at his home in Terrigal, New South Wales.
You’ve no doubt read a lot of things about me and my books over the years written by other people. Well, this is the truth. I grew up in Bondi in Sydney, Australia. I went to Bondi Beach Public School then on to Randwick Boys High. I left school at 14, did a few odd jobs then a trade as a butcher, mainly in the Eastern suburbs before finally working as a boner in various meatworks around the inner city with two trips to Ross River meatworks at Townsville, Queensland thrown in. I gave up boning after a hindquarter fell on me tearing the tendons in my right arm. I always liked writing letters and reading, so while I was on worker’s compensation I did three writing courses at the WEA, Worker’s Education Authority.
Robert died of cancer at his home in Terrigal, New South Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 18, 2026
Not his best book, took a loooong time to get going. Too many trivial details.
February 6, 2022
I listened to this as part of a reading challenge, it's part of the fairly well known Les Norton, Aussie Battler, crime book series. He's certainly a larconic figure, but I didn't find him that likeable in this book.
Mainly based near Bondi, this book takes us to Terrigal for Les' holiday, which I think of as the Nana retirement capital of NSW. Seems to mainly cover his nights out, and what he drinks and eats.
There's a suggestion of crime, which erupts into a Bikie gang fight at the end, which sends Les back to Bondi with his tail between his legs.
It's light hearted about an Australian underbelly and might have some nostalgia for some, but most of it is best left in the past.
Mainly based near Bondi, this book takes us to Terrigal for Les' holiday, which I think of as the Nana retirement capital of NSW. Seems to mainly cover his nights out, and what he drinks and eats.
There's a suggestion of crime, which erupts into a Bikie gang fight at the end, which sends Les back to Bondi with his tail between his legs.
It's light hearted about an Australian underbelly and might have some nostalgia for some, but most of it is best left in the past.
January 18, 2021
It’s always fun to have a jolly Les Norton romp around the Central Coast of NSW! The story has all the classic elements of a Les Norton book: plenty of booze, fighting, porking, and laughs all round.
Les thinks he needs a vacation. His colleagues and boss are thinking along the same lines. Next thing Les knows he is staying in Price’s holiday home in Terrigal, taking care of George’s nephew, Jimmy, while he scores some leave from prison.
Felt like I was pulled back through time a bit with how politically correct the world is now compared to when the story was published, so definitely not for the easily offended (then again, this is a Les Norton story we’re talking about here!).
Les and Jimmy eat at a bunch of top quality restaurants, and all the food descriptions had me salivating. A substantial amount of orange juice was also consumed, as were a few bottles of fancy wine.
While charismatic, Jimmy has some issues. Les is constantly trying to assess the fella, whether he is fair dinkum or dodgy. This all leads to a blast of an ending.
Les thinks he needs a vacation. His colleagues and boss are thinking along the same lines. Next thing Les knows he is staying in Price’s holiday home in Terrigal, taking care of George’s nephew, Jimmy, while he scores some leave from prison.
Felt like I was pulled back through time a bit with how politically correct the world is now compared to when the story was published, so definitely not for the easily offended (then again, this is a Les Norton story we’re talking about here!).
Les and Jimmy eat at a bunch of top quality restaurants, and all the food descriptions had me salivating. A substantial amount of orange juice was also consumed, as were a few bottles of fancy wine.
While charismatic, Jimmy has some issues. Les is constantly trying to assess the fella, whether he is fair dinkum or dodgy. This all leads to a blast of an ending.
September 3, 2019
Well, you wouldn't compare it to Orwell or Joyce. Essentially it's Australian pulp fiction, and probably wouldn't get published today - it's racist, misogynistic and offensive.
But it was a fun read simply in recognising the local places around Terrigal and Sydney.
But it was a fun read simply in recognising the local places around Terrigal and Sydney.
August 26, 2020
A nice little Les romp
August 9, 2013
I'd give this 3 and a half stars if I could. Les goes to Terrigal on holiday, but has to babysit one of his workmate's nephews. Pretty good escapade with some surprising twists at the end. Better written than the The Real Thing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews