Big Fat Brown Bitch

by Tusiata Avia

Admire my big fat brown body, bitches! Admire it! The Big Fat Brown Bitch runs, sleeps, cries, laughs, splits open. She is sitting in a garage in South Auckland with her two brothers and discussing the majestic architecture of atoms. She is playing an audio book of The Power of Positive Thinking at herself. She is jumping over the lazy dog. She is lying face down in the mud and doing an apology on behalf of us all. She is receiving an election-year visit and a death threat. She is strapped to the cross. She is turning into a werewolf. The Big Fat Brown Bitch is coming for you.

Genres: Poetry

112 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2024

Reviews

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and admired the heart and humour in these poems. They are angry, yet already defeated. They are sad, but rising again. They are urgent and funny and it’s embarrassing to think of some of the things that happened to inspire them, but the final result is sublime art.

[Justin Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her best. Sad, angry, courageous and funny as hell. But most of all, this is her painful truth. Seki ā, Tusiata!

[LibraryKath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Really relevant to the culture of Aotearoa at the moment, sharp, witty and honest. I am still quite new to poetry and I found Avia's work really accessible to me as a novice, while also challenging me as a reader. Definitely worth a read!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page, every word, brilliant, raw and clever

[Zachary Ngow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read no poetry growing up, but I loved rap music. The wordplay, multiple meanings, use of language and rhythm were spellbinding. One of the most exciting things were diss tracks (for instance Ether, Real Motherfucking G's, King of The Hill, T-Shirts and Buddens). When I saw this book, it reminded me of that thrill.

I hadn't read any of Tusiata's poetry before, but I had kept up a bit with the media sandstorm about her poem about Cook and the right-wingers obsessed with her. Seeing this cover made me laugh, and I knew this was going to be good.

The book starts with fire, where Tusiata lays waste to all of these right wing freaks. I loved it. This first section is called Werewolf.

The first page reminds me of the intro to DNA (Kendrick) where he samples Fox News' criticism of him. The first poem is a blackout version of the Cook poem (I think). Then there are bitingly sarcastic (literally, she becomes a werewolf) poems. I loved 'Big Fat Brown Bitch 1: She is on the cross: "All the women looking up, waiting for her resurrection." Which is what it was. That much criticism and disrespect can break a person, but thankfully Tusiata is striking back.

The 'Diary of a death threat' sequence is great. Actually, I think Tusiata excels in those sequences of poems. Another poem I loved was 'Big Fat Brown Bitch 23: She receives an election-year visit' and the following 'Macca girl's song':

"Don't move or I swear
I will defy my own fear and cut you
I will slash you
here on the cheek"

Ironically the poem I liked the least was the rap one.

'Dawn Raids Apology 2022' was excellent, maybe my favourite in the book. I liked the biblical allusions to make the point through irony that the dawn raids were not so distant in the past (in fact still ongoing).

The second section is about overcoming challenges, called 'The Big Fat Brown Bitch Jumps Over The Lazy Dog'. These challenges include racism, poverty, body shaming and more struggles of life. I liked 'Big Fat Brown Bitch 66: She performs and exorcism'. I don't know how those are numbered though.

The third section 'Miracles' is about close family, health and hopelessness. This was perhaps my least favourite section, not for any particular reason that I can think of. However I liked 'In isolation' and 'Hotel lobby with art'.

The last section 'Malu|Protection' is what it says it is. I liked this a lot. I felt like I was being tatau'd. I liked these and especially the closing poem, which was a beautiful end to the journey of this collection.

I really enjoyed this, and am giving it 5*. I am getting sleepier so I have run out of thoughts. Goodbye.

[Nod Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Fat Brown Bitch
Tusiata Avia

I was at Tusiata Avia's launch on Sat 18th November at the Fibre Gallery, Christchurch. It was a vibrant, well-attended event – a powerful launch, with music, dance and good kai. Avia and MC Tayi Tibble treated guests to a great performance.

As with the launch, when reading the book, I found the poems resonated strongly, since I am a big fat brown bitch myself, though not as bold as Avia. She has the courage and skill to ward off disrespect, and address issues arising from colonisation head on.

This is a very personal book, and as with so much good poetry, is very TRUE. The poet experienced a fierce backlash to her previous book "The Savage Coloniser" (and stage show based on it) earlier this year. The Spinoff book editor Claire Mabey provided a helpful guide around the time of the controversy.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/27-02-...

Mabey's piece was recently recirculated in social media after members of the ACT party suggested Avia should return the cash prize associated with her Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement:

https://creativenz.govt.nz/funding-an...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/1335...

Many of Avia's pieces are a response politicians' reactions to "Coloniser" and the aftermath, which included a death threat from a white supremacist sympathiser. Other sections draw on the experience of being hospitalised for three months after a fall where the poet injured both lower limbs.

The style is sparse, rhythmic and contemporary, emulating rap in places. It made for a quick and accessible read, should you choose not to savour the book.

I was moved most by pieces that showed the poet's response to people criticising her or putting her down for her size, her brownness or where she lived. I wanted to shout; "do you know who this is?" when I read she'd been demeaned. These poems are likely responses to real events. Avia could probably name the perpetrators if she chose to – and she does in some cases. But they are Big Boys. They should be able to take it. They should understand the poems' cultural history and relevance. They should know where this voice comes from. They should recognise irony when they see it.

Sadly, I don't think they do.

[Micha Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After absolutely devouring The Savage Coloniser Book, I had to jump in to grab this one too. It was easy to do - the very first poem sold me instantly with its sarcasm and wit, something that Avia brings throughout the first section of this collection, peppering throughout the final three parts. Whilst some might think it's a bit much, I found that the rage simmering beneath was familiar to me as a Māori and Cook Islands woman.

I will admit that this collection did not hold my attention as strongly as Avia's previous collection, however this does not diminish the power of her writing or the emotions that many of these poems brought to the surface of my soul. This is still a collection of poems that needs to be read and felt by pākehā and pasifika alike. Pākehā so they can understand, or perhaps empathise with these stories and experiences, and pasifika so we can see ourselves reflected in Avia's poems and know that we're not alone.

Overall, I found Big Fat Brown Bitch to be a rich and churning collection of poems. The annotations I made under the poem The Past Is The Past best encapsulates how I felt reading this, so I'll leave you with it here: "The rage and sarcasm dripping off the teeth of these poems have felt so good in my blood. I imagine that my ancestors are reading them over my shoulder. Together we nod and smile and chuckle and understand deeply everything that Avia writes. It feels good to be understood and represented by the likes of Avia. It feels a bit like home."

[Julia Modde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Furios, frustrated and funny: these poems are punching right into the face of establishment. Sad but hopeful when they are reflective. Angry but smart when they are criticizing.
Profound texts to get into the literary scene of Aoetearoa New Zealand and find a glorious voice as strong and iridescent as her writers portray on the last page.

“I’m sick of writing poems no one ever reads
Except for middle-aged white people of a certain demographic
And smiling white-haired ladies in a line at a book signing table
And classrooms full of brown girls who are in awe of me.

My cousin says he hates poetry.
I don’t blame him.
Even my own poems bore me.
Unless I’m punching someone in the face[…]“

„Cuzzy, makes me really angry too.
I get so upset, that I have to go somewhere, sit down and write poems.
But the thing is, bub, they’re only poems, ay?

And everyone- even my wee girl- knows what poems are like:
They’re like storytelling, but with layer on top of layer on top of layer of meaning
Like ummm

Like a massive-massive layer cake
Or a lasagna
Or the layers of atmosphere protecting our planet.

They’re like soul language.”

[Miss Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tusiata Avia has a wonderful way of imaging the toxicity of words in a threatening letter: 'Would they rear up / and look at me, hypnotise me, bite me between the eyebrows, / shoot poison straight up into my brain?' in 'Diary of a death threat 20 April 2023'.

In 'Big Fat Brown Bitch 23: She receives an election-year visit' she attacks stereotypes with the repeated line: "If you are sitting in a garage in South Auckland with your two brothers..."

Some of my other favourite lines:
"I will cut you/like my gym membership/like my diet plan/like feminine wash" from 'Macca girl's song'
'No real principles or ethics, just racist fear and white hysterics' from 'Glorious ways rap'

[Lynda Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant expose of the racism in New Zealand and a massive slap/punch in the face for Tusiata Avia's detractors/stalkers/vile harrassers. There is no place in Aotearoa NZ for politicians or others to try to shut down a writer/a woman. Our voices need to be heard. Amplified. Shouted from the rooftops. Everyone in Aotearoa should read this book, especially those who need to do much better at governing the country. Avia is a strong writer who uses her own experiences to tell powerful and contemporary stories.

[Ellen Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The words pulsate off the pages - these poems are full of rage, humour, hurt, wit, & love. Above all, they are unapologetic. The author truly poured her raw emotions into this & it makes for a truly amazing read.

I especially loved “spaceship for white people”, “ode: don’t punish the wealthy”, “the past is the past”, & “she goes to the hospital”.

[madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent

[Alia]

fucking phenomenal

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking hell. A billion out of 10. Absolutely fucking fantastic.