When attempting to construct an elegant sounding sentence to introduce Kelsey I found it rather difficult...so instead here are a collection of words which I deem quite appropriate to introduce this lovely lady: eternally enthusiastic, tea-lover, independent, loyal, hilarious, extravert with a capital E, life of the party...and perfect friend to appreciate good looking men like James McAvoy and Tom Ellis. The beginning of our friendship, I can honestly say, was quite different from any other...reflecting a kindergarten like naivety. After meeting initially we pretty much decided at that moment that we were going to be one of each others best friends...and we still are to this day. Along with road tripping across Sydney for gelato, 6am Yoga classes and our shared passion of teaching, Kelsey and I share a love of literature. We like to visit cute little bookshops in the inner western suburbs of Sydney, share the unique finds amongst the dusty bookshelves and then bond over how we found the brooding English shopkeeper rather good-looking. So when it came to choosing my next reader in residence I thought of none other than Kelsey. Enjoy reading the literary musings below of this gem of a friend! It is a strange thing, the power of a book, how an accumulation of words bound in a beautiful cover can have such a hold on a person. When I was thinking about what I could write for 'The Nook', I began to consider how books became such a large part of my life! In my family, a book is never a solitary adventure into the pages of another world; a book is never read just once! It is passed around from Newcastle to Wareemba to Toongabbie, often a companion in the drive between family houses and eagerly discussed around the dinner table. As a child I remember watching my parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents pass well-worn books around and discussing their opinions and recommendations for the next person. Two authors invited me into this world that my family was apart of, and I have never gone back! Firstly, as this is a blog about children's literature and young adult fiction, I cannot go past my first love, Harry Potter! I must tread lightly with such a beloved book, however as with much of my generation, I must credit the magical world of Harry Potter and his trusty friends as my first step into the world of literature. J.K Rowling was able to create a world so real that all I would have to do was snuggle up in my own little nook and I was in a world of wizards, witches and You-Know-Who! So there I was, a twelve-year-old schoolgirl waiting for the next Harry Potter instalment searching for something to send me back into the literary world. This was when I was given a very different book by a very different author. 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen still makes my heart jump whenever I hear it mentioned or I walk past my 'modest' collection of different editions! The strong willed Elizabeth Bennet and the aloof Mr Darcy dropped me straight into early 19th century England. Austen and Rowling are still the authors I return to, they serve as a reminder of my twelve-year-old self first discovering other worlds living in the pages of novels. I have always had a desire to be the original reader, the person that everyone goes to to find the next great book that I just happened to stumble upon in that funky little bookshop in Glebe. Unfortunately I have yet to fulfil this dream of mine. I am often the person who is doing the asking! However this has led me to fantastic books, the most recent recommendation sent me searching for The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. The book follows Don Tillman a Professor of Genetics who devises a questionnaire to find a wife that will be compatible with his life. What happens when Rosie, a highly incompatible match, comes into his life throws the project wayward. Simsion explores the themes of love, life and change through the eyes of Don and his scientific approach to love. Simsion is able to twist a convoluted plot into an intricate exploration of a man living with autism; he illustrates the complexity of human life. The first-person narrative style, at first is quite jarring as you get used to Don's thoughts, however his internal voice soon creates the humour that is interlaced within the novel. My own reading nook must have a few essentials for any productive reading to happen. A comfy pillow, a fan and a warm blanket, is all that is required for my mind to delve into another world. I often cannot trust myself with a hot tea, as I become so engrossed that I have been know to spill my drink all over myself and my book! For any nook to be complete, a companion is needed, my dog, Ellie, plays this role, however I often look over to her glaring at me to turn the light off (as seen in the photo above). xo Kelsey
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Readers In ResidenceEach month a new 'Reader in Residence' will take over the nook and introduce you to their favourite stories, beloved characters and the places and spaces that they love and inspire them to read and write. Archives
September 2015
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