Kangaroo


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(3.6 stars; 7 reviews)

"Kangaroo" is the nickname of a character in this novel, Benjamin Cooley, who was a charismatic leader in the fascist movement of ex-soldiers who fought in the Australian army in WWII.

The story's main character is an international journalist, Richard Lovat Somers who, with his wife, comes to rent a house next door to Jack Calcott and his wife who are natural-born Australians through-and-through. Jack is in league with Kangaroo and tries to persuade Lovat to join their political movement conflicting with the Socialist political faction in the country.

Throughout this book, there is an undercurrent of vaguely defined "Generalized Love" which borders closely on homosexuality between the otherwise testosterone-saturated Australian men.

Action-wise: There are riots and gunfights; but there are also moments of great tenderness of the men for their wives. Both Jack and Lovat dearly want to become "leaders of men", but Lovat backs away when he is recruited to join in an espionage campaign against the Socialists. Another undercurrent which muddies the waters for Lovat is that he is a true British citizen and thus resented by the Australians. (Summary by williamjones) (16 hr 43 min)

Chapters

1.1 Torestin 23:40 Read by KevinS
1.2 Torestin 18:18 Read by KevinS
2.1 Neighbours 29:44 Read by acousticwave
2.1 Neighbours 24:36 Read by acousticwave
3 Larbourd Watch Ahoy 24:44 Read by Courtney Miller
4.1 Jack and Jaz 18:25 Read by Murphy8104
4.2 Jack and Jaz 25:31 Read by Murphy8104
4.3 Jack and Jaz 20:41 Read by Murphy8104
5.1 Coo-Ee 26:47 Read by William Allan Jones
5.2 Coo-Ee 27:26 Read by William Allan Jones
5.3 Coo-Ee 28:33 Read by William Allan Jones
6.1 Kangaroo 21:29 Read by William Allan Jones
6.2 Kangaroo 23:31 Read by William Allan Jones
6.3 Kangaroo 27:14 Read by William Allan Jones
7.1 The Battle Of The Tongues 38:44 Read by William Allan Jones
7.2 The Battle Of The Tongues 36:50 Read by William Allan Jones
8.1 Volcanic Evidence 34:11 Read by Courtney Miller
8.2 Volcanic Evidence 20:47 Read by Murphy8104
9. Harriet and Lovat At Sea in Marriage 27:52 Read by acousticwave
10.1 Diggers 20:41 Read by Brize C
10.2 Diggers 25:18 Read by Brize C
11.1 Willie Struthers and Kangaroo 31:22 Read by William Allan Jones
11.2 Willie Struthers and Kangaroo 27:10 Read by William Allan Jones
12.1 The Nightmare 29:06 Read by Courtney Miller
12.2 The Nightmare 31:37 Read by Brize C
12.3 The Nightmare 28:24 Read by Brize C
12.4 The Nightmare 31:01 Read by Courtney Miller
13 “Revenge!” Timotheus Cries 24:44 Read by Scarbo
14.1 Bits 22:49 Read by Murphy8104
14.2 Bits 17:02 Read by Murphy8104
15. Jack Slaps Back 21:59 Read by Courtney Miller
16.1 A Row In Town 22:50 Read by Murphy8104
16.2 A Row In Town 31:42 Read by Murphy8104
16.3 A Row In Town 26:58 Read by Murphy8104
17.1 Kangaroo Is Killed 34:53 Read by William Allan Jones
17.2 Kangaroo Is Killed 30:16 Read by William Allan Jones
18.1 Adieu Australia 18:38 Read by KevinS
18.2 Adieu Australia 27:54 Read by KevinS