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Father Bob: The Larrikin Priest

Father Bob: The Larrikin Priest 3

The Larrikin Priest

by Sue Williams
Paperback
Publication Date: 24/04/2013
3/5 Rating 3 Reviews

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This is the life story of Father Bob Maguire - a rare behind-the-scenes look at the much-loved 'people's priest'. The enigmatic champion of the down-and-out was shaped by a lonely childhood in poor circumstances, an early priesthood that collided with the upheaval of Vatican 11 and working with the army during the Vietnam War. This is a lively portrait of the man behind the resilient social activist and popular media performer who refuses to be defeated by enforced retirement from the parish over which he presided for nearly forty years. Bob Maguire- 'Some people have called me a maverick or a larrikin or a renegade, or they say I'm plain mad. . .People will have to decide for themselves. But just one thing- Don't ever make me a saint. Because that is something I'm most definitely not.' Les Twentyman- 'People love him and hate him with a passion. But you don't become a leader unless you've got that.' Carrie Bickmore- 'He's one of the most genuine souls I know.' Chief Justice Terry Higgins- 'His knowledge of street kids and his understanding of them is phenomenal.' Neil Mitchell- 'He is a treasure, magnificent, unpredictable, passionate, entertaining and a little dangerous.' Derryn Hinch- 'He's an engaging old coot but I wonder how much is performance and how much is his real persona. People deify him but he has feet of clay.' Eddie McGuire- 'Bob is a real doer. He always looks on the bright side of a tough world and gets stuck into the action and makes things happen.'
ISBN:
9781921901317
9781921901317
Category:
Biography: religious & spiritual
Format:
Paperback
Publication Date:
24-04-2013
Publisher:
Penguin Random House Australia
Country of origin:
Australia
Pages:
368
Dimensions (mm):
232x155x29mm
Weight:
0.47kg
Sue Williams

Sue Williams is the author of a number of bestselling books, including Father Bob: The Larrikin Priest; Women of the Outback; No Time For Fear the story of shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder and Mean Streets, Kind Heart: The Father Chris Riley Story.

Her other books include Left for Dead; Outback Spirit; Welcome to the Outback; Peter Ryan: The Inside Story and And Then The Darkness, about the disappearance of the British backpacker Peter Falconio, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Gold Dagger Award in the UK for the true crime book of the year, and the Ned Kelly Awards in Australia.

Also an award-winning journalist, Sue was born in England, and worked in print and television in the UK and New Zealand. She spent many years travelling around the world before falling in love with Australia in 1989. Since settling here, she has written for many of Australia's leading newspapers and magazines.

Sue's book, Father Bob, inspired the first edition of Penguin's immersive, interactive online reading experience, True Stories. She lives in Sydney's Kings Cross with her partner, writer Jimmy Thomson.

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Reviews

3.2

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3 Reviews

Father Bob may be unconventional in his approach as to how he lives his faith and that has undoubtedly ruffled feathers (particularly at 'HQ') but even many his detractors have to admit that he is a man of compassion and conviction.



His biographer undoubtedly had to be a bit careful about some of the stickier topics but its an action packed read - even without the dirtiest of the laundry being aired.



Even if you have no interest in religion if there is one message to be had from this book it is this: One person CAN make a difference, especially if he or she can empower others to be better people as well.



"No more us and them, just we". You may not be gunning for sainthood Father, but you're an inspiration!

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I was very excited to start reading this book, as I love listening to Father Bob on Triple J on a Sunday night. Unfortunately I have been let down by the less than revealing story. I enjoyed finding out about Father Bob's early life, however once the story moved to his projects in South Melbourne, I feel a lot more could have been revealed, it would have been good to learn about the gritty things that Father Bob experienced with the people he has helped in his time.

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This book makes me tingle

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