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| Subject: Finished reading Spud - discussion on school punishment (long post - some spoilers) | |
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Author: Graeme |
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Date Posted: 15:40:52 03/27/26 Fri Last night I finished reading Spud. I mentioned in another post that I was reading this. Lucas made a post with more about it. The Spud series was written by South African author John van de Ruit. The books are: Spud (2005); The Madness Continues (2007); Learning to Fly (2009); Exit, Pursued by a Bear (2012); The Reunion (2024). I own the first 3 books in the series. I brought each one second hand for $1. I have only just got around to reading book 1. The first three books were made into films starring John Cleese as the alcoholic English teacher and a young South African-Australian Troye Sivan (now a singer).Troye was 14 years old when he filmed the first Spud movie in 2010. I think he was 19 when he did the last film. I have watched the three films. I thought I was younger but worked out I must of been a first year Uni student watching it on my parent's Netflix. The book is set in South Africa 1990, just prior to the release of Nelson Mandela. It follows Spud's first year at an elite boys private school. He is in a scholarship. I thought I should share some extracts from the first third of the book that focus on school corporal punishment. Minor spoilers below: 'Milton, you're late. Report to the staff toilets after lunch'...After spending the afternoon cleaning the staff bogs with a scrubbing brush and an old pair of underpants (with the name Brett Ballbag scribbled on them with an ink marker), I returned to a completely deserted house. [Page 14]. Pike was lashed six strokes by Sparerib after Luthuli caught him smoking in the drying room. We applauded every stroke and laughed like maniacs when he flew out of the office rubbing his behind. [Page 48-49]. Earthworm gave me finger-tongs with the blackboard dusters for continually neglecting my duties. My middle finger feels like it is broken. I didn't show any sign of pain despite the fact that my fingers felt like they were smashed. Instead I defiantly stared into Earthworm's beady little eyes while he was doing it. [Page 52]. Mad Dog lowered the flag to half mast after assembly. Sparerib saw him and gave him hard labour. [Page 64]. *After the second night swim where they got caught Spud and his friends have to wait until after the weekend. I will start the extract right at the caning, so skipping Spud describing the anxious wait: 'Very well. Four strokes each, one at a time. Let's get this over with.' As we shuffled out of the office Sparerib pulled out a chair and took off his jacket. Rambo (who had chosen to go first) stayed behind. The door closed. After about ten seconds the beating began. It sounded truly horrific. Each stroke seemed more savage than the last. Rambo emerged from the office, walking casually, but couldn't hide the pain in his face. Mad Dog followed and sauntered out, smiling. A crowd of boys, many from other houses, gathered to watch the show. Next Boggo sped out, rubbing his arse. Much to the delight of the growing crowd he pulled down his pants and cooled his bum on the red brick cloister wall. By this stage, I was all set to run away, or wet myself. Then Gecko flew out of the office, screaming, and vomited in the gutter. I staggered into the office and could hear the noise of the crowd outside. 'Hands on the chair, Milton, and grit your teeth,' said Sparerib as if he were offering me a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit. I gripped the chair and stared out the window at the starry sky. Mad Dog's words were screaming around in my head. 'Think of the best thing in your life and you'll beat the pain.' I could see the Mermaid. We were back in my swimming pool...WHACK! Her beautiful bright eyes, water droplets cascading down her face...WHACK! 'Come in, Johnny, it's warm! It's lovely!' WHACK! 'Hold your breath, Johnny, hold my hand, Johnny! WHACK! Then I was running. My backside was on fire. [abridged] Julian lined us up in the showers to examine our backsides. He and Bert took turns going from one bum to another making observations and now and again prodding someone's butt cheek with the back end of Bert's toothbrush. Gecko's entire backside is blue and Julian awarded him first prize. There was a flash of light and before we knew it, Julian had taken a photograph of our naked behinds. (No doubt this photograph will surface in some seedy magazine when I'm rich and famous). [Page 97-99] If enough people are interested I can do a Part II with the rest of the book. Hopefully Lucas can add his perspective. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
 Re: [long] Spud books, movies etc (1 pic) |  Lucas | 18:47:39 03/27/26 Fri |
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