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All great stories lead back to us


The gallery at the State Library of NSW has this window overlooking the Mitchell Library reading room.  I love that room with all its books containing thousands of stories.

A book I have been reading recently
This week I read Ransom by David Malouf.  It is a reimagination of one of the most famous stories in all of literature - Homer's Illiad (Books 22-24).

I have been a little scared of reading Malouf and even more scared of the Illiad so when I started Ransom I was at a bit of a disadvantage but after about 30 pages I was into the rhythm of the story and writing.  I now see that Malouf deserves his reputation as one of Australia's great writers.  In Ransom his writing is poetic, simple and complex all at the same time.  Wonderful reading.

I will read more Malouf and have discovered a copy of Illiad on my bookshelf so might even give it a go one day.

Comments

  1. I like the way that you can read a book that fills you with trepidation. I could never do that!

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    1. I am determined to read more literary books so I am giving them a go in the hope that all with turn out well in the end.

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  2. The chairs don´t look exactly comphy... I prefer my good ole swing for reading.

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    1. Swinging and reading is a delightful way to go. I know some people read in the bath but I couldn't do that ... the book gets wet.

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  3. Super view down into the reading room. I've just finished a book about James Joyce and his family while living in Paris. Paris was such an inspiration for artists and writers back then. I wonder if it still is!

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    1. There are quite a lot of modern books about people's experience living in Paris so it inspires some.

      I think James Joyce is a challenge, I read "Dubliners" which was hard work and I read "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" and that was good reading but "Ulysses" is one of those books who's reputation is such that I am a little afraid of attacking it.

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  4. An impressive view!

    I'm just starting to read Tolkien's The Fall Of Gondolin.

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    1. I have not read any Tolkien. Not even Lord of the Rings! I will get to it one day.

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  5. The stacks look so tidy and well organized! I'm not accustomed to seeing them just lining the walls. This seems like a fine library and I love the quote along the railing, "All great stories lead back to us."

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    1. IOf course most of the stacks are hidden away elsewhere. But I love seeing at least a selection of them on display. I am so looking forward to getting our home library set up again in the new year.

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