Customer Reviews

22 reviews

• Gem

  A brilliantly told set of stories from the wisdom of someone who has earned it; professionaly and personally. The stories give the reader a glimpse into the often untold world of the underbelly of suburbia, through the factual voice of a lawyer, the encapsulating voice of a storyteller and the empathetic voice of a fellow human.

• Lorraine

  A gem of a book - beguiling and at times a little unsettling but unmistakeably authentic and gritty. A book
  you can't put down. Alan Alpass writes with intensity and freshness, the characters are compelling as they
  find themselves in situations of conflict and jeopardy. The thread of pathos shines through as does the
  self-deprecation of the author.
  
  

• Judy Arnott

  It is with great pleasure that I review Grass Roots written by Alan Dudley Alpass.
  
  Having worked for Alan Alpass decades ago, I was able to recall some of the clients and cases forming part of Grass Roots.
  
  I found the book to be well written and very hard to put down.
  
  Congratulations Alan on a great read.
  
  I will look forward to reading your future narratives.
  
  Well done.
  
  Judy Arnott
  
  

• Christine Yunn-Yu Sun

  Those favouring John Grisham’s numerous legal thrillers and Michael Connolly’s “Lincoln Lawyer” series will find Alan Dudley Alpass’s Grass Roots: Adventures of a Suburb Lawyer both refreshing and endearing.
  
  Lawyers are required by their profession to be good storytellers, but Alpass is a collector and conveyer of great stories of humanity, gleaned from nearly half a century of legal practice across Greater Melbourne. In his words:
  
  “Everyone I know is aware that I love my work, and it really is still a great pleasure, after all these years, to immerse [myself] in people’s real-life problems, many of which the best fiction writers could never imagine.”
  
  Initially, Alpass composed this engaging book to help families and friends better understand his demanding life as a legal practitioner.
  
  However, in this process the writing transcended, transforming the book from a mere documentation of life to a conscious and compassionate representation of “the diversity of personalities – their drives, reactions and responses – the array of human strengths and frailties” that makes life rich and rewarding.
  
  Alpass started out as a 25-year-old newly qualified solicitor supporting his family with part-time bartending work in 1975. Gradually his practice grew, mirroring the evolution and revolution of the judicial and court systems in Victoria.
  
  Without burdening readers with disorienting jargons and detailed descriptions of legal proceedings, the author vividly recalled some of the unconventional characters as well as bizarre, sad, and complex cases that he had encountered. Where personal and professional lives collided, he had also been provoked, arrested, sued, and threatened.
  
  On one occasion, Alpass found “four bleached human skulls gaped at me, their empty eye sockets dark and surprised” while trying to catalogue the estate of a deceased client in Sassafras. On another occasion, he successfully arranged for the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to convene at the bedside of a dying client in the Yarra Valley – the first for any court in Victoria

• Kathleen

  Many captivating stories can be read in Grass Roots. Who would’ve know there could be so many challenges and curve balls thrown to a suburban solicitor! Alan’s writing reflects a compassion for his clients over his long (and certainly very interesting) career. Worth the read.

• Amanda Toner

  Absolutely brilliant. Compelling reading. I couldn't put it down. Definitely worth the read.

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