A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike

A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike was the latest pick for my book group. Have I mentioned my new book group? I love it. It’s hosted by a local independent book shop and we’ve had enough meetings now that faces are familiar. The format for the evening is basically – mingle; break into chat groups (light and casual at one end of the shop, deep-divers at the other – I hang with the deep-divers); then another little mingle and browse at the end of the evening.

In the mingling bit, one of the other deep-divers asked if I had liked the book (she hadn’t). I said I loved the chapter headings and this was greeted by shrieks of laughter. Yes, that sounds like a harsh review, but I genuinely liked the chapter headings – they were a great snapshot of Pike’s style of humour. Some favourites: Continue reading

Things That Are Making Me Happy This Week

01. It’s time for Melbourne’s winter arts festival, RISING.  We started with Swingers – it’s an art installation, with mini-golf as an added bonus. Such fun. The hole designed by Miranda July, Wave of Fortune, which finished with your ball landing in a ‘fortune’ was my favourite, closely followed by Soda Jerk’s ‘Algorithmic K-Hole and the Techno-Serfdom of Simulated Entrapment Under Slop Capitalism’ (which features the Teletubbies and scenes from Heathers). Continue reading

In Cars: On Diana by Leanne Shapton

I think about Leanne Shapton’s 2012 memoir, Swimming Studies, often. I  sometimes wonder if I ought to drop Leanne an email to tell her what a deep impression Swimming Studies left on me… in fact I will. *adds to to-do list*

Like Swimming Studies, In Cars: On Diana, is an interesting blend of art and prose. Described as a ‘visual essay’, Shapton focuses on Princess Diana getting out of cars. Stepping out of the car highlights a transitional space – moving from the privacy and safety of the vehicle to being on show, where her identity was fought over, flash bulbs popped, she was scrutinised and criticised, ‘on duty’.

Diana stepping out of a car,
cab and curb. Concealment and exposure. Continue reading