Red Herrings For Breakfast by Annabet Ousback
Annabel Ousback launches her memoir Red Herrings for Breakfast.
This beautifully written Australian story traces the history of brother and sister Annabet and Anders Ousback, who grew up living in the now iconic boatshed at Balmoral Beach in the 1950s. While it seemed idyllic, their lives were anything but. They were raised under the care of their overbearing, violent Swedish father and strict, emotionally distant mother, both of whom were unsupportive of the children’s creativity and talents.
In this moving and engaging story Annabet traces the careers of her famous brother and herself, and the moments leading to his sudden and unexpected death. Although their paths diverged, they always remained supportive of one another, bound together by secrets of violence and abuse as well as their love for each other.
Annabet is a talented and creative individual, but she was always treated as less than her brother in a family that valued men over women. She was an influence in the developing fashion scene in Sydney, creating her own clothing line, which was sold in David Jones and other shops. Her memories of her dysfunctional and abusive childhood highlight how far society had developed – and not developed – since the 1950s.
Anders became an internationally recognised chef and trained and influenced many of the well-known chefs of today: Neil Perry, Serge Dansereau and Matt Moran amongst others. He was known as the ‘Mr Fixit’ of many restaurants in Sydney. He was also a talented ceramist and had many shows that displayed his art.
Despite their professional success, Annabet and her brother struggled emotionally their whole lives. Annabet was continuously criticised and undermined by her parents while Anders suffered in an era which did not approve of or legally recognise homosexuality. The story also covers the evolution of 1950s Sydney to the glamorous and excessive Sydney of the ’80s. Supporters of the #metoo movement will find Annabet’s story both heartbreaking and inspiring.
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