Having the good fortune to be able to attend a large slab of the said Writers' Week - having secured some annual leave.
Have been leading a charmed life, traveling overseas, exploring new places and now journeys to Adelaide each day to hear new authors and ideas.
Decisions first - East or West?
Who owns the past? A bit dry and crowded, so I wander. Before I get restless to see more I hear this statement - 'We live life forwards, but understand it backwards' too true.
The next tent is discussing breaking stories. A writer whose name escapes me reveals he started off writing book reviews and progressed on to features and journalism and now books.
Foray to the book tent - complete joy!
Make a selection while considering whether to stand in the long line for coffee (no soy).
My picks of the large range are-:
The Tall Man by Chole Hooper & Brothers and Sisters - edited by Charlotte Wood - who I would later stubble upon, not literally(!)
Peter Goldsworthy launches his new short story collection with a few often heard ancedotes, the wine runs out before I get there, but was the only wine on offer throughout the week - Wine industry get on board, I say..............................
Listen to a UK author on historical fiction, cortesans, nuns and venus. As I am currently struggling with a Tudor exploration novel (Wolf Hall) I pass on these books.
Listen to a session where four writers discuss their favourite books and influences. Gratified to hear one of them affectionately recall Enid Blyton.
Decide to stay on and listen to an unknown author to me - Charlotte Wood. Turns out to be the editor of my selected book, which I hear more about and the genesis of. Duly get it signed by Charlotte - Thankyou. The introduction mentions the paradox of being a sibling and illuminates this. Charlotte describes Patrick White declaring he had nothing in common at all with his sister apart from blood. Charlotte does points out, 'Blood and childhood are what haunt us.'
Can't wait to read this.
This is only on day.
Day two for me, Adelaide heats up, AC/DC pound out their beat over the city and there are panels on scientists and peculiar obsessions.
A launch of a short story collection - Gathers and Hunters.
A meet the uathor with Marina Lewycka who reads delightfully from 'We are all made of glue.'
Throughout all these sessions I sit next to people and have a natter, meet neighbours and generally enjoy the atmosphere.
I dabble a bit in the talks on journalism and peotry before making the error of getting the 3.26 train home, which is invaded by school children halfway home.
Wednesday decide to have a break halfway through and do domestics. In addition to putting my multi trip bus ticket through the wash - NO!
Thursday's panel is full of vigor on the topic of fire and water. The Australian sensibility of climate is really strong. Looking forward to a book on the CFS Via a women's perspective - 'Point of Ignition'.
Wet Ink launch their competition and then I encounter the hit author of the week - Adam Nicholson - who I confess to never hearing of previously. He has a big following being the current owner and steward of Sissinghurst house and garden in Kent. He is self depreciatingly English and utterly charming and outlines his revamp of Sissinghurst beginning in 2004.
The Europe Europe panel goes nowhere fast.
The day redeemd by Markus Zusak who appears quite humble, youthful and aussie. Insight into how he came to write and write so well about World War two.
Sojourn to the Adelaide Gallery to see the bienale - weird and weirder............................
Today I had the total privilidge of been read to again.
Poetry by Roo Borson, a Canadian, describing Art and mysticism as very close and with a plea to 'lets just live'.
The Strange Passions panel is a standout keeping the audience enthralled with Sophie Thomson as introducer, adjudicator etc.
Majestic Whales, plague rats on the Scottish New Hebrides and magic organics of Lolo.
I stayed on to hear the launch of Kill Your Darlings and Clementine read her tale of the search for true love online.
So can I go back to the book tent now??!
Tempted to get Kill Your Darlings and one more splurge.
Reading as thrapy, narcotic, inspiration and voyeur.
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