Book Review: The wizard who weaves magic with words

Although it has been pouring incessantly since the time he landed in Chennai, it is evident that David Astle’s mood has not been dampened at all as we meet him in the lobby of a five-star property in the city. The well-known Australian children’s author is absolutely loving his two-week-long tour of India that began with Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival in New Delhi. Thereafter, he has been conducting workshops and school outreach programmes in institutions across the country. As we sit comfortably to chat, the wordplay wizard tells us that he has always been smitten by the language and been an incurable word juggler throughout his life. 

“Since childhood, I have been a voracious reader and had an obsession with language. I have been engaging in wordplays and crosswords since time immemorial,” says David. This Australian author penned 12 books including fiction and non-fiction before he wrote his first book for children, a challenging yet thoroughly enjoyable process. 

“I realised that kids love word play as much as I do. I ventured into writing for children only three years ago. My first children’s book was called Wordburger, which had stories full on humour. Since I love humour and stories, this was only natural,” shares David. He is being hosted in the city by Australian Consulate-General, Chennai. He has written seven titles in the non-fiction category which include books on riddles, puzzles and crosswords. His latest book is Cluetopia: The story of 100 years of the Crossword that celebrates the centenary of the crossword with a chapter for each year. “Reading is a fascinating exercise that opens up the mind. And if it involves wordplay, it helps in thinking laterally and developing a strong IQ. So, for instance, if I ask you to just connect two words chimney and silver, there can be so many possibilities and none of them is ‘the right answer’. It helps to think on a different tangent,” explains David. 

But his repertoire is not just about non-fiction. David has written numerous short stories, novels and plays as well. He won the third prize at the 1990 ‘The Age Short Story Awards’ and his first novel, Marzipan Plan, was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. In 2001, he won the James Joyce Suspended Sentence Award for short fiction. His play Cowboy Humour was part of the Short and Sweet play festival in 2008, which has previously featured Astle’s plays including The Gentleman Had An Axe in 2007 and The Mercy Kitchen. As a children’s author, what is his all-time favourite classic character, we ask? “Pippi Longstocking was my first crush really, if book characters’ count. I loved her spunk, eccentricity and the way she tied bullies into knots. She was a brilliant fibber and a daredevil. That made her really interesting as a character. I also loved Winnie the Pooh and works of Dr. Seuss,” says David. 

While it is not his maiden India visit — he came here as a teenager for a mountaineering course in Darjeeling during the late seventies — it’s only now that he is seeing the country up, close and personal. This twoweek trip that started with Bookaroo Children’s Literature will conclude with the Kahaani Festival in Jaipur. We ask him about his experience so far with children in India and he puts forth, “I find children here respectful, intelligent and supportive towards peers. As a visiting educator, my job is to ask them questions that don’t have the right answers and help them come up with creative takes.” 

It is almost time to wrap up the interview as David has to get ready for a workshop and the rain has almost stopped. As we shake hands, he asks, “Can you connect the words monster and bachelor?” We are taken aback by this impromptu viva and decide to give it a try. David says, “One of the kids at a session had said that since a monster is ugly, he will always be a bachelor as no one marries a monster. Just a thought. You can imagine another scenario,” he signs off.