Some humorous stories are just funny enough to make the reader smile; others actually make the reader cringe; but some bring guffaws and bellows of laughter. What Skinner has done is combine all three in this collection, which takes a wry and self-deprecating look at his life, mostly in Melbourne, but with Singapore, Sweden and Vietnam thrown in for good measure.

The first in the collection may not have been the best story to start this book. It rather sets the teeth on edge as it concerns Skinner’s determination not to find a job because he wants to read War and Peace while receiving unemployment benefits. But Skinner hits his stride with subsequent musings on trying to run a short story magazine on the smell of an oily rag, so he saves rent money by sleeping in his swag in a dog park. The funniest of all is ‘Lessons from Camels’, when he joins his Adelaide-based parents on a camel trek out of Orroroo. That is laugh-out-loud funny.

Who knew that being in transit between flights at Singapore Airport could result in a good yarn; or that lockdown in the pandemic would provide the fodder for another one?

His take on amateur mechanics, tour-guiding, fishing and even hitch-hiking will raise a grin on even the most miserable face. I’d Rather Not is light stuff, but utterly digestible.

Reviewed by Jennifer Somerville

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Skinner was born and raised on the Adelaide plains.

He worked for many years as a tour guide before moving to Melbourne and founding the short story magazine, The Canary Press. His writing appears frequently in The Monthly and has also featured in Best Australian Essays, Best Australian Comedy Writing and Internazionale.

He currently lives in Melbourne, where he works in a bookshop and plays football at the lowest level.

Visit Robert Skinner’s website