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Me, Antman & Fleabag
Hilarious, quirky characters and wicked black humor abound in this fictional account of contemporary rural Australia. An aboriginal woman, her partner, Antman, and their dog, Fleabag, take off on a spirited road trip across Australia, encountering eccentric aunts, six-fingered redheads, and martyrs to the cause of sheep well-being, enjoying along the way all the good things in life—family, laughter, and love. This unique tale offers an incisive and side-splitting look at modern indigenous life and the family and friends that comprise it.
130 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
About the author
Gayle Kennedy
15 books7 followersGayle Kennedy is from the NSW Ngiyaampaa nation. Her poetry collection Koori Girl Goes Shoppin’ was shortlisted in 2005 for the David Unaipon Award, and she won the award in 2006 with Me, Antman & Fleabag. She’s published eleven children’s books and articles and poems in national and international publications.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this book - the vignettes were, by turns, hilarious, heart-breaking and poignant.
It made me look at the my own world differently - I recognised all the Aussie cultural landmarks/touchstone/points-of-reference but it was just such a different perspective, that it was just unreal. The characters voices were authentic and real. I'm glad that I read this book! Aussie Indigenous authors have so much to say and the rest of us need to listen!
It made me look at the my own world differently - I recognised all the Aussie cultural landmarks/touchstone/points-of-reference but it was just such a different perspective, that it was just unreal. The characters voices were authentic and real. I'm glad that I read this book! Aussie Indigenous authors have so much to say and the rest of us need to listen!
October 12, 2015
‘Me, Antman and our mongrel, Fleabag, like partyin outside.’
In twenty-two thought-provoking vignettes, Ms Kennedy introduces us to the world of an Aboriginal woman (our narrator, whose name we never discover), her partner Antman and their dog Fleabag. These vignettes are full of quirky characters, of black humour and of reminders that Aboriginal Australia still often remains quite separate from the Australia that many of us occupy.
Our narrator, Antman, and Fleabag travel across Australia. They meet eccentric relatives, including Cousin Moodle, whose love of funerals once has her falling into a grave. They meet Old Mother Howard, a drunk woman with ‘flaky, grey skin she’s always pickin at.’ Old Mother Howard and her husband Old Mick Howard are ‘whitefullas’. While they’re not related to ‘our mob .. all the blackfullas look out for the kids’ because they feel sorry for them. The Howards have six red-haired children, each with an extra finger and toe on each hand and foot.
There are darker stories as well, especially the story of how Bess and Vic met in ‘The Golden Wedding Anniversary’ and in ‘Grandfather’s Medals’. These stories are reminders that equality is still sometimes only a word.
While the language in these vignettes is often colloquial, it’s appropriate for the stories being told. The narrator is having a conversation with the reader, recounting events from her own viewpoint and in her own style. While the style is warm and frequently humorous, humour is part of the observation and telling of the story, not usually an end in itself. It’s a book to read, and to think about.
Ms Kennedy won the 2006 David Unaipon Award for Indigenous Writing for ‘Me, Antman & Fleabag’. This is a book which deserves a much wider readership.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In twenty-two thought-provoking vignettes, Ms Kennedy introduces us to the world of an Aboriginal woman (our narrator, whose name we never discover), her partner Antman and their dog Fleabag. These vignettes are full of quirky characters, of black humour and of reminders that Aboriginal Australia still often remains quite separate from the Australia that many of us occupy.
Our narrator, Antman, and Fleabag travel across Australia. They meet eccentric relatives, including Cousin Moodle, whose love of funerals once has her falling into a grave. They meet Old Mother Howard, a drunk woman with ‘flaky, grey skin she’s always pickin at.’ Old Mother Howard and her husband Old Mick Howard are ‘whitefullas’. While they’re not related to ‘our mob .. all the blackfullas look out for the kids’ because they feel sorry for them. The Howards have six red-haired children, each with an extra finger and toe on each hand and foot.
There are darker stories as well, especially the story of how Bess and Vic met in ‘The Golden Wedding Anniversary’ and in ‘Grandfather’s Medals’. These stories are reminders that equality is still sometimes only a word.
While the language in these vignettes is often colloquial, it’s appropriate for the stories being told. The narrator is having a conversation with the reader, recounting events from her own viewpoint and in her own style. While the style is warm and frequently humorous, humour is part of the observation and telling of the story, not usually an end in itself. It’s a book to read, and to think about.
Ms Kennedy won the 2006 David Unaipon Award for Indigenous Writing for ‘Me, Antman & Fleabag’. This is a book which deserves a much wider readership.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 13, 2017
A book of short stories, in this case vignettes, always have a mixture of quality and depth. In this set of shorts there are many highlights.
The narrator is an Aboriginal woman (never named), her partner Antman and their dog Fleabag. She talks about the people they meet, life in rural Australia, racism and misunderstandings. "Grandfather's Medals" was sad and unfortunately representative of how Aboriginal servicemen were treated after WWII. "Whitefella Dreamin'" was a classic of how whites are still embarrass themselves.
In "The Purebreed Pedigree" Boris (a Croat boy) learns English from the Antman so he has a unique vocabulary of Aussie blackfulla style.
There were humorous anecdotes, some serious ones which in total gave a general feeling of happiness after finishing them.
The narrator is an Aboriginal woman (never named), her partner Antman and their dog Fleabag. She talks about the people they meet, life in rural Australia, racism and misunderstandings. "Grandfather's Medals" was sad and unfortunately representative of how Aboriginal servicemen were treated after WWII. "Whitefella Dreamin'" was a classic of how whites are still embarrass themselves.
In "The Purebreed Pedigree" Boris (a Croat boy) learns English from the Antman so he has a unique vocabulary of Aussie blackfulla style.
There were humorous anecdotes, some serious ones which in total gave a general feeling of happiness after finishing them.
May 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this. I loved the fact that each chapter was like its own short story. I thought it was real and heartfelt and hilarious. My favourite chapter was the funeral goer I thought that was great
May 8, 2026
My first, First Nations classic book, banger really
December 14, 2022
I’m not even sure how to start describing this stunning short book. It is a series of very short stories about an Aboriginal Australian woman, her partner Antman, and their dog, Fleabag. They travel around Australia, working in the cities for a while before heading back into the rural areas. The author deftly captures the way her friends and family interact among themselves and with the white Australians they encounter.
There are funny stories but pointed stories such as the time they head to an “aboriginal” festival but find themselves the only Black people there. There are sweet stories such as the time when a relative buys a sheep to eat but then realizes that he has been sold a little girl’s pet. (Now he has a pet sheep.) I love the way she talks about Fleabag and his dog friends. Flea has friends all over the country to get into adventures with.
There are stories with darker depths too that explore racism in Australia. The story of a family who finally hears the story of how their parents met is heartbreaking. The author also tells her story of internalized racism after being repeatedly removed from her home for months at a time as a child for specialized medical care.
This is a fast read but the stories will stay with you long after the book is over.
There are funny stories but pointed stories such as the time they head to an “aboriginal” festival but find themselves the only Black people there. There are sweet stories such as the time when a relative buys a sheep to eat but then realizes that he has been sold a little girl’s pet. (Now he has a pet sheep.) I love the way she talks about Fleabag and his dog friends. Flea has friends all over the country to get into adventures with.
There are stories with darker depths too that explore racism in Australia. The story of a family who finally hears the story of how their parents met is heartbreaking. The author also tells her story of internalized racism after being repeatedly removed from her home for months at a time as a child for specialized medical care.
This is a fast read but the stories will stay with you long after the book is over.
October 7, 2013
This book is hilarious! I laughed until I cried, and then, while I was all unsupecting, Kennedy would sneak in something serious, and make an anguished lump rise in my throat.
If I had lots of money I would buy copies of this for everyone I know (especially the ones who don't share my taste in "children's fairy stories," "feminist end-of-the-world rubbish" or "sick, weird stuff". You know who you are.)
If I had lots of money I would buy copies of this for everyone I know (especially the ones who don't share my taste in "children's fairy stories," "feminist end-of-the-world rubbish" or "sick, weird stuff". You know who you are.)
December 28, 2025
An interesting, entertaining short book of vignettes about the author and short stories about characters the author has mixed with and incidences that have been told to her. There were some funny incidences and some poignant moments in this novel, narrated from the perspective of an Australian Aboriginal. Antman is the author’s partner and Fleabag is their dog. They journey across Australia, meeting some eccentric characters.
The book starts with the author sent away from her family for over two years as she had polio. When she came back her parents were strangers to her. She writes, “For a long time I lived in two worlds, one white, one black, and never really fitting into either.”
A very worthwhile, thought provoking read.
This book was first published in 2007.
The book starts with the author sent away from her family for over two years as she had polio. When she came back her parents were strangers to her. She writes, “For a long time I lived in two worlds, one white, one black, and never really fitting into either.”
A very worthwhile, thought provoking read.
This book was first published in 2007.
December 19, 2021
A collection of vignettes of fiction, and perhaps what we would call auto-fiction now, surrounding a couple of blackfellas and their dog.
So much cultural knowledge shared here, and way of life. The lingo that jumps off the page makes this read stand out, with such authentic and memorable stories and characters.
Gayle's own disability story is shared through one vignette, and it's a powerful tale of ostracism, being removed from country and family for treatment, and then needing to find home and place again.
A quirky collection of Aboriginal character, language and experiences, and much history and cultural insights.
So much cultural knowledge shared here, and way of life. The lingo that jumps off the page makes this read stand out, with such authentic and memorable stories and characters.
Gayle's own disability story is shared through one vignette, and it's a powerful tale of ostracism, being removed from country and family for treatment, and then needing to find home and place again.
A quirky collection of Aboriginal character, language and experiences, and much history and cultural insights.
February 7, 2025
The absolute whiplash I got while reading this book!
Contained within this short book are vignettes of the life of an unnamed Aboriginal woman, her partner and her dog. Some were funny, others heartbreaking and truthful.
Almost all were fantastic, although there were a few where the joke did not land the way it was supposed to. This was the fault of the medium, not the author, I think they would have worked better when spoken aloud.
Contained within this short book are vignettes of the life of an unnamed Aboriginal woman, her partner and her dog. Some were funny, others heartbreaking and truthful.
Almost all were fantastic, although there were a few where the joke did not land the way it was supposed to. This was the fault of the medium, not the author, I think they would have worked better when spoken aloud.
May 15, 2017
A nice collection of short stories or snippets (some only one page long, some longer), showcasing different elements of aboriginal life in rural Australia, through the stories and experiences of the main character narrator, her partner and their dog. Some humorous, some moving, all easy to read and an enjoyable light book to dip in and out of for a few days! :-)
January 2, 2017
Reading this book was like listening to a yarn in the pub. Full of laughs, tears and left you thinking about how crazy the world can be sometimes> In the end it is your friends and family and country that makes sense and keeps you going. Short, honest (with a bit of swearing thrown in) and sweet.
August 25, 2021
Amusing and occasionally poignant collection of stories about modern Aboriginal life.
July 7, 2024
Wickedly funny and lots of fun with a political punch that is always running underneath but doesn’t smack you in the face. So clever!
December 29, 2024
Fantastic book. Witty, confronting & educational all in one. Should be in the school curriculum. 11/10
June 9, 2025
Chloe bookclub 2025 ✅
April 28, 2016
The episodic adventures of the characters bring to life the way yarns are spun as anecdotes that recalls and relives the vicissitudes of marginality. The black fella lingo is instrumentally used in its creation of an other body of knowledge.
July 4, 2025
Great book, funny and moving at the same time and a must read for dog lovers!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews