Reflection

I know that some of you, dear readers, have had a challenging year. And I want to extend all my good wishes and strength to you. Beyond thoughts and prayers. Into solidarity.

This human journey is not an easy one. My imagination says that that complexity of our times make our journeys harder than those who have come before us, but those historic people may disagree. Perhaps every journey is a challenging one and that’s what makes the living more interesting.

As booklovers, we know the power of stepping into the human experience through words on the page. This beautiful pastime allows us to connect, learn, escape and reflect on our experience all at once. What a gift the humble book is.

In Australia, many of us will bask in a blissful time of holidays in between Christmas and the new year and, if we’re lucky, beyond. I hope that the festive season holds lots of opportunities for rest and reflection for you all – and that you’ve got some brilliant books on your reading list!

My very first blog on this site, just on three years ago, talked about the power of transportation that a good book provides. So much has changed in my life since then but my main desire for my holidays – to retreat to the egg chair on my deck with a good book – remains exactly the same. This year, I’ll be travelling to outback NSW, across America and into space.

The top three on my reading list are:

• Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood – I’ve started this already and I’m delighting in every word. Her plain, quiet and mildly mysterious style grabbed me from the get-go. This book was shortlisted for the Booker. Set on a nunnery in outback NSW, it’s an unlikely yet compelling place and I’m looking forward to uncovering more of the protagonist’s motivations as the book unfolds.
• Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto – Emily is my tutor with the Faber Academy and I am very remiss for not having read this one yet. The Guardian says it’s an American road trip with aspects of the Great Gatsby. Sounds a delight.
• Orbital by Samantha Harvey – the Booker winner is set on the International Space Station exploring not only the beauty of this Earth but the depths of the human experience. Listen to Harvey discuss the book in this lovely (and short) interview here.

Happy reading, wherever you are and whatever you’re up to. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and tons of joy in 2025.