Remember daily vlogs? Oh, I used to love them!  The more mundane the better. I`m talking teeth-brushing (does the stranger on the Internet pace restlessly and dribble the way I do?) grocery shopping (what aisles do they frequent and why?) grooming (mascara every day or just on special occasions?). 

 They`re probably still a thing on YouTube but I`ve slipped out of that world, what with becoming a parent and being busy, exhausted and slightly sick all the time (also occasionally profoundly fulfilled and in love, but who wants to read about that?). 

Anyway, the good news is that I have found the children`s version of a daily vlog, thanks to some dear friends who gifted my daughter her favourite book. 

The protagonist is a dormouse called Bobo. Unlike other children’s books heroes, Bobo`s life is not one of great adventure. In fact, he does what most of us do: gets up in the morning, has his breakfast, goes out for a constitutional (often to the playground), does some grocery shopping and reluctantly goes to bed. 

But it`s the small moments within Bobo´s simple life which form the heart of the story. “Uh-oh!” my daughter exclaims,when Bobo spills his cocoa at breakfast. She too has knocked over a beverage or two in her time. “NEIN!” she remarks, wagging her finger when Bobo`s grandmother shows him what a butterfly is and warns him not to touch its wings. “Ah!” she agrees when Bobo stands on a box to help him reach the door handle (alarmingly, she doesn`t need a box anymore.) “Arghaargha!” she shouts in excitement as Bobo gets on the carousel, only to decide immediately that he has had enough and wants to go on the see-saw instead (how often have I been there?). 

The fact that our literary tastes align may not come as a huge surprise. But it is interesting to me that my daughter`s favourite book is not an exciting one, but one set at home, punctuated by quiet humour. In literature, I too find myself drawn towards the lives of ordinary people (or dormice) in ordinary settings. By far the best recent example I have read is “Marzahn mon Amour,” by German writer Katya Oskamp. The winner of this year´s IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, it’s the story of a writer struggling to sell her book (relatable content) who becomes a chiropodist to supplement her income and collect stories (possible idea?). It`s a wonderfully tender, funny, achingly real portrait of everyday people in the Berlin district of Marzahn and how their stories present themselves in their feet. 

It was also a reminder of what I look for in a story: humanity, specificity, humor, tenderness (Bobo has it all!). With the journalism industry facing a triple assault from AI, precarious business models  and public spending cuts, it also offered up  a possible alternative career pathway.  Could I too retrain as a chiropodist? Would the experience offer up a sellable idea for a novel? 

Most likely not. Katja Oskamp`s talent is unique. So while I`ll hold out on a radical career change for now (or until I have no choice) I`ll cherish the time spent with Bobo and my daughter. And who knows? Maybe I`ll even start a daily vlog. Or re-cultivate a similarly outdated medium like this poor, neglected blog.