KUSAMA X ALICE

Yayoi Kusama illustrates Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? OMG, yes! Have a squiz at this little video Penguin did to celebrate the release - note the 'I, Kusama, am the modern Alice in Wonderland' page. Purchase here.

CHEERO

Je suis sweltering! All I can think of is the beach! Where I bought these two beautiful hardbacks from the Cheero Tea Rooms at Balnarring Beach a few weeks back - if only 'Love Me Sailor' had also been on sale!

WITH POWDER ON MY NOSE

A few months back, I found this book in a shop of junk on Johnston Street. At the time, I had no idea who Billie Burke was or how she might sparkle her way into my life. The daughter of a singing clown who rose to fame as a scatterbrained comedienne on Broadway, Miss Burke made a second career in her 70s as a best-selling writer. First she published her autobiography, regaling readers with tales of her marriage to Florenz Ziegfeld of Follies fame, then came With Powder on My Nose - a treatise on common sense and etiquette delivered in a forthright yet funny tone.  

In her words: 'I have no time to pout by the fireplace about how marvellous I think I used to be. For an old girl, I'm in darn good shape and I'll tell you how I've kept it that way.' 

Some of Miss Burke's suggestions, as above, might seem of another time, but what is the harm in putting in a bit of effort for the one you love? Indeed, her chapters on easy exercise, dressing for your shape and how to treat children prove some books never go out of style - and the illustrations by Vasiliu peppered throughout are as perfect today as they were in 1960. We could all learn a ton from this old-school guide - if only it was still in print. Oh, and Billie Burke played Glinda the Good Witch of the North (aged 53!) in The Wizard of Oz, so her word has got to be gospel!