The panel van puberty blues has since solidified into a bona fide teen classic, and one of this countrys real cult films, occupying the same kind of territory as mad max, chopper and muriels wedding. Puberty blues is an iconic australian movie and book and tv show that forever immortalised the youth culture of the late 70searly 80s, including the glorious slang. This is an underdeveloped girl who hasnt even had her first period, but she is too embarrassed to admit it. A profoundly moral story germaine greer i dont recall reading puberty blues so much as devouring it. Farewell to surfie molls and panel vans sydney morning herald. Through deb and sue, they reveal what really happened in the back of panel vans, in the drivein, behind the. Puberty blues 1979 is a novel by the australian writers gabrielle carey and kathy lette. Puberty blues is an australian cultclassic and its the book that parents give to their children when they become a teenager to dissuade them from experimenting with drugs and sex. It has long been controversial with adults but much sought out by teenagers for its depictions of adolescent sex. A television series based on the novel began airing in 2012.
Kathy lette, gabrielle carey, rebecca macauley, kylie minogue, germaine greer. By day we were learning logarithms, but by night, in the backs of panel vans and down on cronulla. For deb and sue, life is about surfies, panel vans, straightleg levis, nicking off from school, getting wasted and fitting in. Farewell to surfie molls and panel vans puberty blues is back, but minus the chiko rolls. People were shocked to read about casual sex of years olds and parents suddenly realized what was going on behind the closed doors of their teenagers bedrooms. Written twenty years ago, puberty blues is the bestselling account of growing up in the 1970s that took australia by storm and spawned an eponymous cult movie. Almost priceless, as also the interior walls of his panel van, filled with lewd pictures. Great opening wide shot of cronulla beach, crawling with beachgoers, plus i like bruces meeting with debbies olds. From puberty blues, to marriage, motherhood and menopause, lettes never been one to hold back. Its dialogue is quoted, its characters fondly recalled, and its suncrusted imagery even reproduced on surf clothing.
Actors brenna harding l and ashleigh cummings in the back of a panel van at channel ten production offices at roseberry in sydney, are set to star in tv show puberty blues. Parents and family barely feature in puberty blues. When the two girls finally excel in their tries of surfing, its a morning of victory, despite some of the negative reactions from those pigs. Puberty blues by gabrielle carey penguin books australia. It also marked the starting point of kathy lettes writing career, which sees her now as an author at the forefront of her. Puberty blues is classic because it was written by teenagers for teenagers in the 70s. Based on the iconic novel puberty blues by kathy lette and gabrielle carey, the series will move beyond the original pages and explore the mis adventures of these young girls, their families and. Whereas those films followed the exploits of horny young males trying to get laid, puberty blues centres around a couple of girls, best friends debbie vickers nell schofield and sue knight jad capelja, who strive to be part of the cool surfer clique. Now a major television series on channel 10 starring ashleigh cummings, brenna harding and claudia karvan this is the definitive. Bestselling author kathy lettes debut novel is available in britain for the first time. I had read the book and i had been a fan of the authors, kathy lette. Bestselling author kathy lettes debut novel is available in britain.
As the television version of puberty blues hits the screens tonight, i have. Written twenty years ago, puberty blues is the bestselling account of growing up in the 1970s that took australi. Like many things in the following decades, it was imbued with something that in hindsight seems significant. Text publishing puberty blues, book by gabrielle carey and kathy. Puberty blues would not be complete without the panel. Other than this gender swap, its business as usual.