Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Isaac du Toit, illustrator of The Long Walk by He Ara Pukerua, and author-illustrator of Alice and the Strange Bird.
The book I wish I’d written
I love the time slip plot device, but unfortunately it doesn’t work so well in picture books, which is my area. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer might be one of my favourites. It’s a story that explores identity, time and our connection to the past.
Everyone should read
We Will Not Cease by Archibald Baxter because Baxter’s story and the stories of other conscientious objectors are so important, especially in times like now when the world seems so politically unstable.
The book I want to be buried with
My first reaction to this question is that I don’t want to be buried with a book! If it’s a book that I’m going to have to spend the afterlife with, then I would want it to be visually interesting. So, maybe Back and Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young and Curious by Gregory O’Brien.
The first book I remember reading by myself
I think the first book I read myself was Come Over to My House by Theo LeSieg (also known as Dr. Seuss) and illustrated by Richard Erdoes, however it might be that I just memorised the words.
Encounter with an author
One of my English teachers in high school was Nicola Easthope, a published poet. Her obvious passion for the subject was inspiring. I remember in class we studied the poetry of Selina Tusitala Marsh, and I made a diorama inspired by Marsh’s poem ‘Unity’ as a visual presentation.
Fiction or nonfiction
That’s really hard, but if you forced my hand, I’d choose nonfiction. Since I was very young, I’ve been interested in history, and the past is a great source of inspiration for me in my work. Some standout non-fiction reads for me this year have been The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing and On the Shadow Tracks by Clare Hammond. I was especially surprised by how much I enjoyed Laing’s book, which is so much more than a typical book about gardens.
The book that haunts me
How to Live Forever by Colin Thompson is a picture book with beautiful detailed almost surrealist illustrations. However, I think it may have given me a bit of an existential crisis. I suppose it’s good to get it over with at a young age.
The book I wish would be adapted for film or TV
I think The Mires by Tina Makereti would make a great arty film. I can see the film cutting to lots of shots of running water – rain, rivers, and streams, water rushing through underground pipes, and of course, swampland. As someone familiar with the Kāpiti coast, I could visualise the setting well.
Most overrated book
I’ve been trying to read some of the classics. I really enjoyed Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897) so thought I’d try another Gothic horror, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886), however I didn’t really really enjoy it at all.
Most underrated book
I’m surprised that Watcher in the Forest by Joanna Orwin isn’t a more well known New Zealand children’s book. I was first drawn to this book by its brilliant, bold cover (illustrated by Gavin Bishop) but the story itself did not disappoint with its New Zealand bush setting and spooky atmosphere.
Best thing about reading
I have dyslexia and struggled to learn to read. I feel like people with dyslexia are often labeled “reluctant readers”. I wasn’t reluctant at all; I was hungry for stories and very curious about the world. Now, I listen to a lot of audiobooks and consider myself quite “well-read”. In my opinion the best thing about reading is that it opens your mind to new stories and ideas.
Best place to read
If it’s an audiobook, I can listen anywhere. I often listen to them while I work on my illustrations and art. Otherwise the best place for me to read is in bed.
What I’m reading right now
I recently finished Simon Winchester’s The Breath of the Gods. I found the section on the Wahine disaster of 10 April 1968 particularly interesting; it’s an event I was aware of but didn’t know much about. I have now started reading his book, Pacific.
Alice and the Strange Bird by Isaac du Toi ($23) is available to purchase from BookHub.
