Benjamin Law, Writer, Gaysia
If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em ...
Dressed in a chambray shirt, chino shorts and with Urbanears to entertain, New Farm denizen and writer Benjamin Law sits casual and relaxed at his local caffeine stop Cafe Bouquiniste. Having worked behind the counter at Avid Reader before his wordsmithery days became a regular gig, Ben appreciates the carefully curated cluster of tomes that Cafe Bouquiniste offers. Regularly penning prose for the likes of Frankie, Smith Journal, The Monthly, The Big Issue and Qweekend, Ben would be lost without a looming deadline, the strict timeframes keeping him in check and creating a goal to work towards. Before the hype of his first book The Family Law had even wound down, Ben was already off on an expedition to meet his fellow Gaysians. An honest, thought-provoking and charismatic piece of nonfiction, Ben’s new book Gaysia is an investigative quest into how life might have been had he grown up in the queer East. With Melbourne and Brisbane Writers Festival just passed, Ben returns to Avid Reader this Friday to launch Gaysia. And with ideas for new books and opportunities for collaboration continually slinking onto his agenda, it seems there’ll be no slowing down as the rest of the year unfolds. The Weekend Edition caught up with Ben to discover his perfect weekend.
How do you like to start your weekend?
Sleep in. My boyfriend Scott works in breakfast radio and has 3:30 am starts. Let’s just say waking up together is a rare luxury.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Make a massive goddamned breakfast, read the weekend papers and swim laps at my local pool.
How do you like to unwind?
If I had an endless pit of money, I’d have a daily head-to-toe massage.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
The weekend papers, some gardening on my deck, hanging out with my boyfriend, seeing my family, then add alcohol.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Watch Moonrise Kingdom.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
By Sunday evening, we’ve probably caught some live music at Brisbane Powerhouse, so then it’s all about making a massive dinner and blissing out while watching Louis CK.
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Next weekend is my first weekend off in months. I’m getting on a plane with my boyfriend, heading to Hobart, and going to stare and coo over the art at MONA.
What are you reading at the moment?
Three books at once right now: Zadie Smith’s novel NW, Emily Maguire’s novel Fishing for Tigers and Naomi Wolf’s Vagina: A New Biography.
What inspires you?
My family.
What was your childhood dream?
To be a Logie Award-winning actor in Home and Away. I’m not even kidding. I even attended acting classes with Rob Brough’s daughter where we performed very serious monologues from Party of Five.
What has been your greatest achievement?
Probably publishing my two books: The Family Law and Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East.
What is success to you?
Writing something that people give a crap about.
What are your words of wisdom?
In the words of John Waters: “If you go home with somebody, and they don’t have books, don’t fuck ’em.”
Only a local would know … The best view of Brisbane, on Bowen Terrace in New Farm, is shared by the rich and the homeless.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Centenary Pool, Spring Hill
Relax … My bed. You’re invited.
Dine … Wagaya Japanese Restaurant, Fortitude Valley
Indulge … Sake Japanese Restaurant, Brisbane City
Shop … Books: Avid Reader, West End. Clothes: Violent Green, Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley
Catch-up … New Farm Park, New Farm
Be inspired … Gallery of Modern Art, State Library of Queensland, Brisbane Powerhouse and the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts