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Kirsty Murray, author
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What's your favourite work of fiction set in Victoria?
The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson. I re-read it every few years and am always amazed at how it never ages. Adolescent girls make the most complex, perplexing characters and Richardson’s Laura is timeless. One of the most insightful ‘coming-of-age’ books ever written.
Which Victorian writer do you admire the most?
There are so many to admire! I love Helen Garner’s insight, Sonya Hartnett’s prose, Peter Carey’s style, Martin Boyd’s elegance, Arnold Zable’s warmth … and the list goes on. There’s too much diversity amongst Victorian authors to nail a single favourite.
Where do you like to do your reading in Victoria?
Mostly in bed, but I always take a book on the train. Another favourite spot would have to be in the camp ground at Croajigalong National Park, lounging around in a deck chair in the dappled light beneath a gum tree with the gentle rhythm of the sea in the background.
What do you believe is the best film adaptation of a Victorian book?
Picnic at Hanging Rock perfectly captured the troubled relationship between white culture and the landscape. I loved the visual juxtaposition of teenage girls in pristine white and the earthy, rugged, bush landscapes around Hanging Rock.
What is your most treasured memory of a public library?
As a library junkie, it’s hard to pick the perfect moment. I’ve had so many revelations in the SLV, so many instances where I’ve looked up from a book and gazed up at the dome above the reading room in a reverie, completely captured by an idea for a new story. I’m also a fan of my local library. One hot summer I spent long afternoons working on a novel in the air-conditioned upstairs study area of the Ivanhoe library. The views are amazing from the third floor. Whenever I glanced up from my work, the city was laid out before me, shimmering in the heat.
What is your best holiday read?
My favourite holiday read is any book that places me in the landscape that I’m visiting. One of my biggest mistakes last year was reading about Russia when I was visiting Bali. After a couple of days of wandering through snowy landscapes in the pages of the book and dealing with tropical heat in reality, I put the book aside and started reading novels set in Indonesia. Much more satisfying.
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