:: Five Reasons I Loved Marieke Hardy’s Book…

Reasons I Loved Marieke Hardy’s Book

1. Because she wrote about things that had happened to her in an entertaining, her-truth way, even though the things might be a bit bawdy, p*nis-y, sweaty, sweary. Personally I would not write about a P@nis Parade, but it’s nice to consider a different point of view.  Even though I had that semi-shocked expression on my face at times, I like an open mind, ya know?  Give me a Bex, quick smart.  Marieke wrote about things that were funny, creepy, awkward, cute, raw, sweet, sad, painful, hopeful, devoted and cringey too.  She didn’t have to do that.  I would have read her book even if it was about why she loves begonias or was, perhaps,  a volume of sad tales about withered cyclamens, but she did not write those books.  Nope.  She wrote a book about HER.  Yep.  The things that happened to her, the things she did and the things she wished she did not do (sometimes knowingly, but did them anyway), or might have done.  Go her.

2. Because it is full of Wizz Fizz, TAB, inappropriate Enid Blyton, Stan Zemanek, Brunswick, Fitzroy, Young Talent Time, Laverne and Shirley, Mamasita, Dallas Crane, Neighbours, Dolly and Cleo Sealed Section REFERENCES.  This happily places her book into a place and time which I adore and relate to. I feel like I am wriggling my toes about in 1996 and chugging icy Snapple on the balcony of my old house.  That rad band Nirvana is on the stereo. I am eating Ruffles.  There is a lamb rack in my Weber.  I am wearing Stussy Sista leggings. Noice.

3.  Because it is a little glimpse into Marieke’s life.  I like to read about the way it was and is and may be for other people.   I really do LOVE peeping in to these very real and personal bits, because it makes me think of some of my bits which may resemble her bits. A bit. In a not weird way. I like knowing about Marieke’s life and I like Marieke. I really do.

4. Because it is full of LIFE, OMG, LOVE, LIFE, MESSING UP, GOOD STUFF, LIFE, HIDING OUT, NUDE BITS, ROAD TRIPS, NIGHTS OUT, COFFEE, PARTIES, NIGHTS IN,  DOING STUFF, LIFE, BUGGERING IT ALL UP, PALS, FAMILY, HEARTBREAK, PHONE BOOTHS, GUITARS, FAN CLUBS, LIFE, LETTERS, HEROES, BOYFRIENDS, PETS. Gawd. Yay.

5. Because it is an intoxicating reminder that it’s quite okay to pack in some irreverent, how-do-i-do-this? moments betwixt the perfect, i-have-this-all-worked-out ones.  It is about living a life where you sort of reach out for all the good bits you can handle (and take the tricky bits with aplomb. Ahem).  It is a bit like hanging on very tightly as Marieke spins you on her Life-So-Far-Hardy-Whizzy-Dizzy at full speed all the while giggling coquettishly and feeding you Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs with a Spumante chaser.  You KNOW you should get off, but you really quite like the dizzy lurching feeling and you think you can deal with the aftermath if Marieke keeps smiling beguilingly at you like that.

xx Pip

PS :: There is lots of sex, swearing and nudity in this book.  If you are likely to be offended you can run around in your nightie and chant irreverent things instead of reading this book.