Michael O'Leary Out of It: A Cricket Novel (And Other Stories) Paperback Book

First published in 1987 this novel has acquired something of a cult status among both cricket fans and those interested in experimental prose and bohemian lifestyles. It is set in Auckland in the 1980s and is a mixture of stream of conscious internal dialogue between the main character, PSM, and himself. Externally, it follows the fortunes of the NZ cricket team at Eden Park playing against the world famous Out of It eleven which includes Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Jim Morrison, James K Baxter, Bob Marley, all under the captaincy of Te Rauparaha. Each of the Out of It team includes a literary satire or vignette appropriate to that person. Collages by Greg OBrien spice up the text and further emphasize the surrealist dada nature of the novel. This edition also contains the following short storiesNeither Here Nor ThereZubu and Sambo Leave for AotearoaWhat a Drag it is Getting OldResponses to Michael OLearys novel Out of ItIf you are a collector of Bohemian cricket memorabilia, this book is for your shelf. It is certainly a boon to te kirikiti o Aotearoa. Rangi Faith, Christchurch Press, 30 July, 1988 If there has ever been a stranger book on cricket, Ive yet to see it. It reads not unlike the earliest Dadaist offerings. Perhaps its about dislocation in society perhaps it isnt. Maybe its about a suburban man becoming unsettled in real life and entering the surreal world of the imagination and maybe it isnt. If you can find a copy you will have something in your collection that... | Michael O'Leary Out of It: A Cricket Novel (And Other Stories) Paperback Book