S E C T IGORNO U H PE IAEDS E R
Uncensored literature W R I TT E N A N D P H OTO G R A P H E D BY L AU R A P I TC H E R
For many, the thought of attending a book club suggests suburban women sipping wine and talking about anything but literature. Remove all the clothes, swap the wine for cocktails, diversify the attendees and you have Naked Girls Reading. Described by the organiser, Genevieve Fowler, as “a sexy book club and sapphic slumber party”, Naked Girls Reading is exactly what it sounds like: a group of nude women reading aloud from varying literary genres. The novel idea originated in Chicago, making its way to New Zealand eight months ago, after Genevieve heard about it from an Australian friend. She already has plans for introducing this bare performance in Christchurch and Auckland, giving ladies nationwide a chance to read in the
outfit they were born in. Now as for whether any reading actually gets done, Genevieve laughs. “Yes and no. As you can imagine it’s sometimes hard to keep everyone on topic.” The literature, while a broad selection is offered, she says is less of the focus than the personalities and “self-love” of those who read it. Naked Girls Reading’s underlying message is to advocate the positive and authentic portrayal of LGBTQ+ women’s bodies in the media. It happens once every two months at the Fringe Bar, and nervous audience members are assured they can watch fully clothed. If some bold enough feel inclined to take their kit off, however, they are most welcome to pull up a seat, grab a book and, you could say, grin and bare it.
Pollyanne Peña, Clarissa Chandrahasen & Medulla Oblongata