Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Dinah Priestley, artist and co-author of An Eccentric History in Batiq: the art of Tony Burton and Dinah Priestley.

The book I wish I’d written

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or its sequel Through the Looking-Glass – because they are nonsensical and because something magical happens when you read these stories. The world is a bit ridiculous and nonsensical anyway and I’m constantly curious about it all. I read and reread these books in beautifully illustrated large format with my daughters when they were young and we still all quote from it and hold mad hatter’s tea parties just for the sheer fun of it.

Everyone should read

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and Memories, Dreams, Reflections: An Autobiography by Carl Jung because these works explore the complexities and mysteries of what it means to be human. Our understanding of who we are and how to be in complex times is so urgent right now.

The book I want to be buried with

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. I think it’s partly that the title of the book evokes a sense of someone quite magical. I like the idea of an enigmatic, secretive person whom people don’t quite know.

Utopia or dystopia

Utopia. I like to imagine scenarios that are happening in a place you are fond of. Dystopia leaves a rather horrid taste in the mouth. The terms dystopia and utopia feel a bit black and white. I rather like to think that the universe is full of billions of other possibilities. This came home to me when, like many thousands, we read Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. Still one of the great books that shaped our thoughts about science and civilisation

The book that haunts me

The ghosts of Aotearoa New Zealand’s past endure in our social memories and landscapes. A book that continues to haunt me is Vincent O’Malley’s comprehensive The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800–2000. The war in the Waikato remains one of the most shameful chapters in our history. For me, one person stands out remarkably and I have featured him in my book. Wiremu Tāmihana Tarapīpipi Te Waharoa was a visionary Ngāti Hauā chief who played a pivotal role as a peacemaker, a statesman of formidable intellect, promoting Māori education and the Kīngitanga movement. Despite his peaceful petitions during the wars, he was unjustly labelled as a rebel by the British. He never gave us requesting the return of his confiscated lands and restoration of his reputation, but sadly these were unsuccessful. 

The book that made me cry

Moon Man – beautifully written and illustrated by French author Tomi Ungerer – is an exquisite work that radiates the “shimmering” as well as the melancholy of life. A timeless story, Moon Man explores how unwelcoming and cruel we can be to outsiders, a theme that seems remarkably relevant now. My kids pored over this when they were young, until it was almost in tatters. Most good children’s books work on a couple of levels, and the themes in this book are as applicable to adults as they are to young people.

The book that made me laugh

It’s a play actually – The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Like the colourful Wilde himself, the text is fast, witty and clever. The work really comes alive when you read it out loud or perform in front of a live audience.

The book character I identify with most

I’d be quite interested in having a go at being Captain Hook. In fact, I do wear a black pirate hat most days. I get so many comments from passersby who say, “love the hat”. It’s all interesting to reflect on. I like to see the other sides of characters. I’m not always interested in goodies and rather like to identify with more complex characters.

Encounter with an author

I’ve cartooned a lot of authors for PEN New Zealand Society of Authors, many of which now appear in my book. I loved transforming writers into something different than they are but at the same time recognisable. Cartooning is instinctive and my hands seem to know what to do.

What I’m reading right now

I always have a selection of books on the go, piling up round my bed. At the moment I love dipping into Dr Michael Mosley’s Just One Thing: How Simple Changes Can Transform Your Life. From standing on one leg, to cooking tomatoes each tip is so uplifting and doable! I’m also rereading the masterful and raw reflections on ordinary life in Raymond Carver’s collection of short stories, Where I’m Calling From.

An Eccentric History in Batik: the art of Tony Burton and Dinah Priestley ($55) is available to purchase at Unity Books.