Alva's Boy

Alan Collins' memoir successfully straddles both history and literature. It is a memoir that has wry appeal to the seasoned Jewish historical reader and the novice alike with its keen observations and its pacey narrative, detailing the life of a young Jewish boy growing up in Bondi in the 30s and 40s. Collins, who died in March 2008 aged 79, leaves a compelling story about part of Australia's rich journey of immigration, particularly its Jewish roots. Reviewed by Sally Spalding, Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader, January 2009 Collins' memoir is an illuminating look at Sydney's lively Jewish community in the 1930s and 1940s. It is also a testament of courage and resilience. Collins somehow survived his childhood and went on to become a successful businessman, writer, husband and father. - Dianne Dempsey, The Age November 2008