OK here's a few gems!
Just to recap, "Home" is where Julie decides to find out about every single person who has lived in her house since it was built in the 1870s. It was published in 2004.
She's roped in her daughter Chloe to help her with some research down the archives. Chloe asks:
"Will you put every little thing I say in the book?"... "Is that why you've been asking me all these questions?"
"How d'you mean?
"I know you, you're going to write: "'Oh I wonder who lived in our house?" said Chloe, standing in the street reciting poetry."
I laugh. 'Why on earth would I say that you were naked?'
"I know the way you write. You'll put anything in for effect."'
I don't know about anyone else but this is a 12 year old girl talking (the book came out in 2004) - I find that remarkably perceptive!!
Another bit deals with our beloved Jake in character as the surly, grunting teenager - I guess about 14/15. They've been having a battle with him about going outside on a hot day wearing Jeans and thick socks. They are worried he will get heatstroke. Both the Myerson parents are involved and are taking quite a "firm" stance with this outrageous behaviour, refusing to let him out unless he changes into shorts. His father says he's grounded.
'Jake looks close to tears...he pushes out a shiny, purplish bottom lip, unsure of what the next line of rebellion should be. Weeping or shouting? Toddler or teenager?
'You guys!' he blurts out, flinging his hot body down in the armchair. 'You want to ruin my life, don't you?'
The argument continues with Jake ending up shattered and in tears. He stomps up to his room and slams the door "hard enough to make the whole house shudder".
AND THIS IS THE BIT THAT KILLS ME! Mother's next thought is not about about her absolutely distraught son. The line that follows the house shaking is this:
'I have a sudden fascinating thought. 'I'd give anything to know how many times all the doors in this house have been slammed since 1872"
Priceless!! And this was her writing about her children un-anonymously - Jake's tantrums under the spotlight in full glory. I bet his mates loved reading about him dissolving into tears.
And finally, in her acknowledgements:
'Writing novels is easy. You just pull stuff out of the dark, cobwebby places in your head and if it doesn't sound so good, or if it embarasses you, you shove it straight back. No One Ever Need Know. But writing about real life demands much more responsibility...I've tried hard not to invent or judge - and if at times I've fleshed out the truth, I can only say I did it with the best intentions, in an honest attempt to recreate a real episode for this or that person's real life...so if I've misrepresented or disappointed anyone, I can only apologise with all my heart.'
I wonder if a similar heartfelt apology will be forthcoming for Jake in the not too distant future?