Paris Dreaming (used by permission of The Random House Group Ltd)
Late last year I wrote a post about the inaugural Canberra Readers’ Festival. One of the speakers was indigenous Australian author, academic and activist, Anita Heiss. I wrote then that I bought one of her books. It was her fourth (I think) chick lit novel, Paris dreaming. This might surprise regular readers here, as chick lit is not really my sort of thing, however …
There are reasons why I was happy to read this book. First was that my reading group chose it as part of our focus on books featuring Canberra for our city’s centenary year. Yes, I know, it’s called Paris dreaming, but the heroine starts in Canberra and Canberra is mentioned (not always positively I must say) throughout the book. The other reason is the more significant one, though, and that is Heiss’s reason for writing the book. I said in the first paragraph that she is an activist and her chick lit books, surprising though it may sound, are part of her activism. In fact, I think pretty much everything Heiss does has an activist element. In her address at the Canberra Readers’ Festival she described herself, an educated indigenous Australian, as in the top 1% of the bottom 2.5% of Australia. She feels, she said, a responsibility to put her people on the “Australian identity radar”.
Does this book do it, and if so how? Well, one of her points is that 30% or more of indigenous Australians are urban and this book, as its genre suggests, is about young urban indigenous women. Anita Heiss manages I think (though I’m not the target demographic so can’t be sure) to present characters that both young indigenous and non-indigenous women can relate to. Our heroine Libby and her friends are upwardly mobile young professionals. They care about their work; they love fashion, drink and food (this is chick lit remember!); and they wonder how to marry (ha!) their career goals and romance.
Indigenous art vase, Government House, Canberra
So what’s the plot (besides the obvious chick lit formula which this book certainly follows)? At the start of the novel 30-year-old Libby, manager of the education program at the National Aboriginal Gallery, is on a man-fast. She’s been bitten one too many times and has sworn off men, much to the dismay of her tiddas (her “sisters”). She is, though, keen to develop her career and wants a new challenge – all part of the chick lit formula – and so pitches a proposal to her boss that she mount an exhibition of indigenous Australian art at the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris. Of course, her boss approves and off she goes to Paris where, following the formula, she falls for hunky, sexy Mr Wrong while Mr Right watches on, spurned (and spurned and spurned). But, of course, I don’t need to tell you how it comes out in the end do I? This is not subversive chick lit because that would not serve Heiss’s purpose …
Did I enjoy it? Yes, but not so much as a piece of literature because my reading interests lie elsewhere, but as a work written by a savvy writer with a political purpose. This purpose is not simply to show that young, urban, professional indigenous Australians exist but, as she also said in her address, to create the sort of world she’d like to live in, a world where indigenous Australians are an accepted and respected part of Australian society, not problems and not invisible. She is therefore unashamed about promoting indigenous Australian creators. She names many of them – artists, writers, filmmakers – and discusses some of their work, educating her readers as she goes. Most of the people, works and places she mentions are real but there’s an aspirational element too. The National Aboriginal Gallery does not exist but she presents it as a significant player in the Canberra cultural institution scene. Good for her!
I’ll probably not read another of Heiss’s choc lit (as she, tongue in cheek, calls it) books, but I’m glad to have read this one – and I’ll certainly look out for works by her in other genres (including her memoir Am I black enough for you?). Heiss is a woman to watch.
Anita Heiss
Paris dreaming
Sydney: Bantam, 2011
313pp.
ISBN: 9781741668933
Whispering Gums 
Thanks for your lovely review of this one Sue. It’s been on my radar for a while. Anything Paris you know, even Aussie chick lit with a Paris flavour. I tried to get to an author talk of hers last year too but didn’t make it. I should try and read it, ahhh, need more time in the day….
Oh glad you liked it, Louise … you would enjoy it I’m sure. The nature of chick lit is lots of name dropping of places and things, I think, so you’d enjoy all the places and food etc she mentions.
She’s a wonderful speaker … she’s young, you’re young, so you’ll get to hear her in person one day I’m sure!
As for reading time … oh yes. My time for reading this year has been horrendously limited.
Oh bless you! Calling me young! I would like all the name dropping. Although I haven’t been to the Musee du Quai Branly (yet).
Young by comparison anyhow Louise!
Thanks. I like her and you writing about “the world she wants to exist.” I am sorry that I have not been able to find any of her books over here.
Yes she’s a great ambassador for her people … And a funny, warm person as well. I’d be happy to get one for you … Probably her memoir would be best I think.
Thank you. That would be lovely. I will be happy to pay for it and postage. And yes, Am I Black Enough is the one I’d like to read.
I just got Harp of the South through interlibrary loan so there isn’t any hurry.
Okey doke, a pleasure … I am busy for the next 10 days on a contract job but will aim to get it in mid-March.
That’s great. I really appreciate your help.
I’m not a chic lit reader either, but I like that Heiss is writing it with a purpose. Do you think, given her stated goals, that it is successful? From what you say it sounds like it might be.
It reads like it would be but without knowing how well she sells and how they react I can’t say for certain. It would be an interesting thesis to research I think … The transformative power of fiction!
I’ve heard a lot about Heiss and I do think that chick can- in a way – send a message. I would be curious to read this one although as my reading time is limited too I think I’d probably be drawn to other books sooner. But get me in a not-so-serious state in a noisy train and why not?
Absolutely … That would be the place to read it for those of us who are older and with different reading interests but would like to know what she’s doing.
Great review, Sue! I don’t read in this genre either, but I am very impressed by Heiss’s non-fiction writing in the PEN Anthology and her memoir is top of my pile for Indigenous Literature Week when I host it during NAIDOC week.
Yes … I agree, Lisa. Maybe I’ll try to do it that week too …
If I were home, I would’ve happily read and reviewed this one for you! 😀
I was thinking exactly that myself … but you’re not here are you!
Isn’t this a paradox, you have to go mainstream in order to promote the fringe. Anyway, I totally appreciate this writer Anita Heiss, sounds like she represents many who are in the minorities of our society. I occasionally read chick lit too, not too often. But I have a fave: Literacy and Longing in L.A. by Jennifer Kaufman. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it to your book group. Will definitely rouse up discussions, pos or neg.
Thanks Arti …Paradox is a good way of describing it. I have heard of Kaufman but not read her. Will keep her in mind.
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it sounds a bit more than usual chic lit thou sue and is set in Paris which is always interesting place to set a book ,all the best stu
Thanks Stu … The Paris setting does add something to it … Great setting!
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