My name’s Louise - I’m a bookseller at Red Kangaroo Books! This series is inspired by Shaun Blythell’s books, and Blarney Books & Art’s tweets. Read on for notes from the only bricks and mortar bookstore for 1500kms!
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Medical Student from Aotearoa Souvenir Hunt
A young medical student from Aotearoa is about to leave Central Australia after doing placement and is buying souvenirs for colleagues back home. She picks up two copies of Arelhekenhe Angkentye: Women’s Talk, My Tidda, My Sister by Marlee Silva and Rachael Sarra, and of course a tote bag.
Tote Bags as Literary Mementos
Like her, I like to pick up totes as proof of literary pilgrimages around the world: I have canvas bags from Imprints in Adelaide, Shakespeare and Co from Paris, Books Upstairs from Dublin, and now Red Kangaroo Books from Mparntwe! I C O N I C. We’ve only got a couple of totes left - get in quick!
Postcard and Book for a Son in Mutijulu
A woman buys a postcard of Watarrka (King’s Canyon) and a copy of I am Uluru. “My son is working down in Mutijulu! He and his partner said that he knows some of the people in this book. It’s going to be very useful to read their story.”
Tourists and Popular Guides
Yep, the book shop is chockas with tourists at the moment. We sold about seven copies of A Field Guide to Central Australia in one day last week because a tour bus had it onboard all the way from Adelaide. I meet someone who’s just come off the Larapinta every day - they love to take home Alex Hotchin’s Larapinta Dreaming or Monica Chapman’s The Larapinta Trail as keepsakes. For readers at home who haven’t heard of it, the Larapinta is a 230km trail over the length of Tjoritja, or The Macdonnell Ranges. I’ve been here 18 months and have only hiked sections - and hear daily that it is a “life-changing” experience. It makes me wonder, when will these little ol’ legs ever make it to the epic heights of this trail?
Appreciation for Window Displays
A tiler came to the store in the afternoon and said, “I just wanted you to know - I love your window displays! I like to look at them when I get my morning coffee.” (That’d be at That Little Cafe, by the way, at our front door, which not only sells coffee but breakfast, lunch, and treats!) We love our window displays too - they’re a burst of colour and creativity as well as cute vintage items. These secondhand goodies are also great decoration around the shop - including a certain means of communication that was recently on display in the children’s section.
Vintage Telephone Display
Yesterday afternoon, Jim - a loyal employee of the bookstore for many years, Australian history expert and the oldest member of staff - held up a vintage telephone. You know, the kind with a curved handset, a curly cord, and a rotary dial. “We had some young fella ask what this was today,” he said with an amazed smile on his face. “It’s just another world!”
Kim Mahood's Visit
Kim Mahood popped in with her little Jack Russell a few weeks ago. She signed all of her books - Craft for a Dry Lake, Position Doubtful, and bookshop favourite Wandering with Intent - before whipping off to prepare for an exhibition opening. She’s done a seven week-long residency at Araluen Art Centre, and the art centre is now displaying her incredible drawings of Country in the exhibition Forcefield - on until 11 Aug 2024.
Joshua Santospirito's Upcoming Visit
A note for the folks who’ve been popping in recently to ask for town classic A Long Weekend in Alice Springs, Joshua Santospirito’s graphic novel of Craig San Roque’s essay. The graphic novels are out of print - but! Don’t despair, Joshua will be in town in July to promote his new graphic memoir, The Islands Where We Left Our Ancestors. Make sure you go to his book launch and musical performance at Epilogue - and stay tuned for info about his appearance in-store at Red Kangaroo Books. Maybe even try to convince him to reprint the local cult favourite The Long Weekend!
