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archytas's review
3.0
"I wrote this book so that I don’t have to repeat myself time and time again. The way women of colour continue to be portrayed in the media is pure laziness by the people who write about them."
I discovered Tapsell through her and Nakkiah Lui's podcast "Pretty for an Aboriginal", which remains one of the best podcasts I've listened to, although Debutante is pretty amazing too. So I wasn't surprised when Tapsell and Lui's episode of Get Krackin' turned into the most compulsive episode of Australian television in years. When Tapsell looks at the camera, pauses and then channels a depth of terrible sorrowful fury into the words "I am angry" - well, it's unforgettable. Top End Wedding channels the same passion through a much lighter genre, as you'd expect in a book about making a rom-com. The tone here is chatty, funny and warm - but confident and clear in discussing Australia's racism and its impact. It is going to draw new audiences in to discussing racism in Australia, as well as the strength of Indigenous communities. The book is often very funny, especially when Tapsell has her spouse to banter with, when the cute and funny ratchets up very high.
The book's pacing is fairly unvaried, but it never comes across as put on. for me, the most engaging parts were probably the most difficult to write - Tapsell's time at NIDA and at school, where she articulates the soul destruction of racism.
The integrity here is strong - Tapsell's strength comes from her confidence to be who she is - a rom-com loving woman who wants to write and produce the sexism (and racism) out of them, an actor who wants to talk proudly of her achievements, someone who likes that she is cute, and doesn't want that to hide what she has, and can, endure.
"Learning of the staunch Indigenous filmmakers from around the world has reminded me to be persistent when I have something to say. Will that annoy some people? Who gives a fuck. As I write these words, this country is burning. So, we have to fight for the country we want—it’s either that or be burned to death. It was Madeline McGrady who said, ‘I was using my camera as a tool against the system. To let my mob know—this is the way they treat us.’"
I discovered Tapsell through her and Nakkiah Lui's podcast "Pretty for an Aboriginal", which remains one of the best podcasts I've listened to, although Debutante is pretty amazing too. So I wasn't surprised when Tapsell and Lui's episode of Get Krackin' turned into the most compulsive episode of Australian television in years. When Tapsell looks at the camera, pauses and then channels a depth of terrible sorrowful fury into the words "I am angry" - well, it's unforgettable. Top End Wedding channels the same passion through a much lighter genre, as you'd expect in a book about making a rom-com. The tone here is chatty, funny and warm - but confident and clear in discussing Australia's racism and its impact. It is going to draw new audiences in to discussing racism in Australia, as well as the strength of Indigenous communities. The book is often very funny, especially when Tapsell has her spouse to banter with, when the cute and funny ratchets up very high.
The book's pacing is fairly unvaried, but it never comes across as put on. for me, the most engaging parts were probably the most difficult to write - Tapsell's time at NIDA and at school, where she articulates the soul destruction of racism.
The integrity here is strong - Tapsell's strength comes from her confidence to be who she is - a rom-com loving woman who wants to write and produce the sexism (and racism) out of them, an actor who wants to talk proudly of her achievements, someone who likes that she is cute, and doesn't want that to hide what she has, and can, endure.
"Learning of the staunch Indigenous filmmakers from around the world has reminded me to be persistent when I have something to say. Will that annoy some people? Who gives a fuck. As I write these words, this country is burning. So, we have to fight for the country we want—it’s either that or be burned to death. It was Madeline McGrady who said, ‘I was using my camera as a tool against the system. To let my mob know—this is the way they treat us.’"
gillyreads's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed reading this. I don't often read memoirs but I really like Miranda Tapsell's work, Top End Wedding is one of my favourite movies, and I also especially like her podcasts.
Miranda Tapsell has a friendly, conversational voice that tells a great story. She is very funny. It really felt like you were sitting down and listening to her tell you about how her wild year of filming Top End Wedding (and getting married herself) went. I think she did a really good job of framing the story of that year in the context of her life as a Larrakia Tiwi woman living in so-called Australia, and I found her insights into the Australian film and TV industry extremely interesting. She doesn't shy away from hard realities, the overall feel of the book is happy. Even though it doesn't solve all our country's problems, she's managed wonderful success, in spite of incredible barriers, and it should be celebrated.
Miranda Tapsell has a friendly, conversational voice that tells a great story. She is very funny. It really felt like you were sitting down and listening to her tell you about how her wild year of filming Top End Wedding (and getting married herself) went. I think she did a really good job of framing the story of that year in the context of her life as a Larrakia Tiwi woman living in so-called Australia, and I found her insights into the Australian film and TV industry extremely interesting. She doesn't shy away from hard realities, the overall feel of the book is happy. Even though it doesn't solve all our country's problems, she's managed wonderful success, in spite of incredible barriers, and it should be celebrated.
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
It's taken me nearly two months to finish this, due to the constant distractions from other books (and media!). I plan to return to it when I have more time to really focus on it, because it has some really important things to say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Cancer and Rape
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned in Tapsell's author's note that there are references to and images of people who have passed away. Also there are descriptions of the negative effects of colonialism on Aboriginal people.ticksick's review
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
A really nice read about Miranda Tapsells life and career, I really enjoyed knowing more about the process of Top End Wedding.
teatales's review
fast-paced
2.0
Part of my rating is because I really need to stop reading memoirs/autobiographies because on the whole I find them booooring. But most of it was because this book kind of sucked. The first half was structurally all over the place - we got glimpses into Miranda's early life, but with not enough description/context of the time and place for it to be properly grounded. Chapters were messy and would start with her life and then would pivot into rants about the Aus media landscape. Conversation that is very much needed, yes, but would be much better suited for an essay, rather than being book-ended by random life events. Also, the division of the book was so strange to me. Half was dedicated to the majority of her life and career, then the second half was basically the entirety of making Top End Wedding (approx. 5 years). It was so uneven and it made the first half appear ridiculously rushed in comparison. Also, the interjections from her husband were cute the first few times but became quite grating after a while. It wasn't really suited to a written context. I was interested in how the film was made but this just wasn't worth it. I was also really interested to learn about Miranda's life/career since I enjoy so much of her work, but it just felt like she focused on the wrong things. The world of acting and film etc. is the stuff average people want to hear about but it wasn't covered at all in depth. TLDR: skip the book, but definitely watch Top End Wedding. It's so great.