Alva's Boy

"Alan Collins' memoir successfully straddles both history and literature. It is a memoir that has wry appeal to the seasoned Jewish historical reader and the novice alike with its keen observations and its pacey narrative, detailing the life of a young Jewish boy growing up in Bondi in the 30s and 40s. Collins, who died in March 2008 aged 79, leaves a compelling story about part of Australia's rich journey of immigration, particularly its Jewish roots." - Reviewed by Sally Spalding, Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader, January 2009

"Collins' memoir is an illuminating look at Sydney's lively Jewish community in the 1930s and 1940s. It is also a testament of courage and resilience. Collins somehow survived his childhood and went on to become a successful businessman, writer, husband and father." - Dianne Dempsey, The Age November 2008