The Never Ending List
November 22nd 2006 19:56
Image: www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
I believe I have finally discovered why my ‘books to read’ list never gets any shorter. Everytime I read a new book, it directs me to another. Hence, a never ending list.
The latest discovery came about while reading David Malouf’s new book of short stories, Every Move You Make. Although I am not a big fan of the short story, I do love Malouf’s writing, and was particularly impressed with War Baby from this collection. It tells the complex story of Charlie Dowd, whose number has come up in the Australian conscription to Vietnam. Brought up by his Grandfather and Aunt after his father’s suicide and mother’s abandonment, Charlie is just this side of unusual, not quite strange. Returning home unscathed to his small country town, an aimless lifestyle threatens to engulf Charlie. Then a magical moment, too easily missed by others, closes the story with a surprisingly inspirational twist. Just as a short story should! Malouf shines with talent on this level, and I never tire of reading him.
Image: www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
It was made into a movie starring Nicholas Cage and switched to the Vietnam War. I didn’t see it, so can’t comment on its quality. Maybe someone out there can enlighten us.
Image: www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
Anyway, I rarely re-read a book, but I was considering it until I decided to look Wharton up and see what he had been up to lately. I had not read any thing else of his in all these years. It turns out disaster struck his family six years ago when his daughter, her husband and two children were killed in a car crash in Oregon. Apparently local farmers were grass burning and the resulting smoke caused a 23 car pile-up on the near by highway. A terrible tragedy that Wharton believed could have been prevented. He devoted three years to seeking legal action. His book Ever After: A Father’s True Story tells this story and has just been added to my list! Knowing his command of language and gift for writing, I am sure it will be a compelling, heart-rending read.
Then, reading on, I discover he has also written a memoir of his family’s days renovating and living on a houseboat on the Seine River in France (Houseboat On The Seine). Considering I’ll be on a barge in France next year, I simply must read it!
See the list just gets longer and longer.
One day I will literally crawl under a rock with all my books and JUST READ!
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