Sydney Writers’ Festival’s gala event, ‘Origin Story‘, featured internationally famous guests discussing the books that inspired them to become writers. Hosted by ABC’s Kate Evans, the event gathered together four writers and a highly attentive audience, ready to hear about the authors that inspired them to begin writing.
First to take the stage was Booker Prize-winner Tom Keneally, whose book Schindler’s Ark you might be aware of -under its retitled name, Schindler’s List. A National Living Treasure, Keneally rollicked along so quickly the person transcribing his talk on the close captioned screens could barely keep up. We learned what he read as a child and in high school, pausing for a poem by Dylan Thomas. Names flew thick and fast: Captain W.E. Johns of The Biggles fame, James Fenimore Cooper, R.M. Ballantyne, W.H. Auden, T.S. Eliot, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene. With the mention of just two books by and about females (he only read What Katy Did, he felt the need to explain, because he had female cousins) it was as if he grew up in an alternative world where only men know how to write.
Similarly, Pulitzer Prize finalist Joy Williams, visiting from the U.S., kept the male-dominated theme ever-present. In a soothing and calm voice, she read a high-level essay about writing. It was an odd choice, I felt, to constantly use ‘he’ and ‘him’ to talk about the process of being a writer, particularly from a woman. We never did find out which authors she read or even enjoys reading — not even during the brief Q&A when Katy Evans asked which books the authors felt didn’t live up to re-reads. (Williams read a quotation instead.)
Next, Australian memoirist and essayist Robert Dessaix took to the stage. His ode to the Russian greats was, again, quite high-brow. (Favorites include Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Gogol; he also gave shoutouts to Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie; Proust; and 7 Years in Tibet). While I wish he’d done less reading and more extemporaneous speaking, it’s almost made me want to get back into reading the Russians again. Almost. I’d have to agree with him though: ‘I’m not sufficiently catastrophic to be Russian’.
Finally, Scottish author Ian Rankin (of the Inspector Rebus series) wrapped up the hour. By far my favourite to speak, not only did he talk about which books were transformative (Black House, Jekyll & Hyde, Robert Louis Stephenson), he talked about how a particular book — A Clockwork Orange — spurred him onto becoming a writer. A+ for actually sticking to the theme — and of being charming and hilarious while doing so. This was by far the standout talk of the four authors: gifting us with the knowledge of what he read, why he read it, and how it changed him.
The hour was over almost before it began. Kudos to Kate Evans for running such a tight ship. With only two books by women mentioned in an hour, if they run this event again I hope it’s a number they’ll focus on surpassing. Nonetheless, I got what I wanted: a few more must-reads to add to my lengthy list.
– Theresa
Co-founder of The Plus Ones, Theresa is two books away from completing the BBC’s Top 100 books of all time.
The Sydney Writers’ Festival runs 22-28 May 2017. Read our guide for the top picks.
