01. The 2025 Stella Prize announcement. Yay for Michelle de Kretser and her book, Theory & Practice.
02. Saw the brilliant The Black Woman of Gippsland at Melbourne Theatre Company – it included elements of Victorian Indigenous history that I was previously unaware of (and have since done a deep-dive on).
03. I’ve been going to the German Film Festival for many years but this week, saw the best two films I’ve ever seen as part of the Festival –
- Riefenstahl – a documentary looking at Leni Riefenstahl and her complex relationship with the Nazi regime. Fascinating to see how uncompromising she was (and the footage from seventies talk-shows where she was blind-sided was nuts)..
- The Tasters – based on the true story of the women who were tasked with tasting Hitler’s food, to ensure it wasn’t poisoned. Gripping.
04. I saw a girl sitting in a cafe with her laptop this week – the laptop was decorated with stickers, one of which was a scene A Room with a View. Love that the film has reached another generation (and is laptop-sticker-worthy). Also, where do I get Room with a View stickers?!
05. Hate the cold weather but love my Stoov cushion.
06. I’m edging closer to completing my first semester back at university. Two assessments to go… (and looking forward to time next week for free-range reading).
07. Listening: The Buck Up podcast – I reckon Nath Valvo is one of the funniest people on the comedy circuit and in combo with Kate Langbroek, he’s extra-hilarious.
08. Could someone please fly me to Berlin so that I can attend this (it includes Miranda July and Marina Abramović).
09. Listening: a new song from Robbie – approve of the glam-rock vibe.
The Black Woman of Gippsland sounds fab!
Meant to say, the late Liam Davison explored this history in his novel The White Woman, which both Lisa and I have reviewed on our blogs.
True. And when you are back to free range reading, I will lend you my cherished copy of it to read, if you like.
ACMM are having a Miranda July festival in June!
Oh my goodness! Somehow I missed this news! Will be attending as much as I can.
I’ve been so useless at keeping up with other bloggers lately that I missed the news about you being back at uni. What are you studying??
I’m doing a course focused on policy around dementia support. It’s very interesting! (I work with a lot of people who are caring for someone with dementia, so it’s relevant, but I’m mostly enjoying the neurology elements of the study).
The Tasters sounds so good. Going to keep an eye out for that.