Dim image of dessert train (taken by over-sugared photographer
with fear of taking photos of food in public and
accompanied by food photography disapproving friend.)
with fear of taking photos of food in public and
accompanied by food photography disapproving friend.)
Well, I'm crazy insane busy in a why-did-I-do-this-when-I-could-be-reading-fun-books?-way. 'This' being a paper I am writing for a conference in early July. In Edinburgh. In Scotland (in case there is another Edinburgh somewhere). I haven't given a serious academic paper for so long. Years. Many, many years. Books for fun have certainly fallen by the wayside while I juggle too many things, including my day job which has nothing to do with my other lives.
And my reading plans? I do hope to read something for Beryl Bainbridge week. And I do hope that I will be able to wallow in frivolous reading during the horrific number of hours/days it will take me to get from Australia to Scotland (via - my reward! - Paris).
Anyway, I had a lovely bookish encounter the week before last when, on a quick jaunt from Adelaide to Sydney (primarily to use the university library, though I confess I also used a dessert train to sustain my endeavours), I was taken by a friend to hear Sulari Gentill speak at Sydney Writers' Festival. I had loved her debut historical crime novel, A Few Right Thinking Men {REVIEW}, and was pleased to find the author as quirky and amusing as her book. She was an excellent speaker 'in conversation' about how - and what - she writes. She also grows black truffles and studied both astrophysics and law at university. Afterwards I got to speak with her, while getting the next two books in the Rowland Sinclair series signed (always a thrill to have a signed copy, I think), and she was such a delight.
It is nice when a writer one admires turns out to be a lovely person as well. Incidentally, there was quite a bit of celebrity-spotting available at the festival. At the next signing booth was Dame Stella Rimington. The thrill! And, according to a passerby, Roddy Doyle was sitting next to us at lunch.
The Sulari Gentill books I bought (breaking the book-buying ban that has been in force to fund my 'holiday') were A Decline in Prophets and Miles Off Course (more info via the publisher). If only I had the time to read them...
Gentill is a completely new name to me, but I'm off now to see if her books are available in the UK. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alex - you should check them out. A great new voice.
DeleteIt was lovely to meet you too. I didn't realise you were "Bibliolathas" - I've been reading your blog for ages. Have a wonderful time abroad and whenever you do find time to read A Decline in Prophets and Miles Off Course, I do hope you enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Sulari
Oh, thank you! It was a great pleasure to listen to your thoughts. I am loving your take on the 30s - such an interesting and untapped period from the Australian side of things.
DeleteYou will love them too, I'm sure! (I am hanging out for number 4, as is my mum, whose grandfather was a member of the new guard - something I never knew till we were talking about how much we both enjoyed A Few Right Thinking Men). You should also read Chasing Odysseus, a clever and charming take on the Odyssey.
ReplyDeletePS. I hope you don't mind that I stalkerishly have found your blog.
I had to run through the Annes-I-Know in my head, then, just in case. Only kidding... Delighted. It is killing me not being able to read nice things at the moment.
Delete