On My Bedside Table - Dorothy Johnston
The Age
Saturday February 21, 2004
I have six or seven books on a pile on the floor and that's where they stay. I keep re-arranging them. I have crime novels right at the bottom of the stack - that way I'm not tempted to read them during the day.
At the moment I'm reading a novel called The Outside Story: The History of the Building of the Sydney Opera House by Sylvia Lawson.
I reviewed it last year but I'm re-reading it, partly for enjoyment and partly because I'm working on a new book and one of the characters is an architect. Basically, reading is my job. I run book discussions through the ACT Public Libraries and at this time of year I'm putting together my reading lists.
Also in my pile is Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry. His other novel, A Fine Balance, was hugely popular in last year's book discussions.
I generally try to include a classic in my reading group list and this year it will be Elsa Morante's epic novel, History, about Italy during the Second World War. At 800-or-so pages, this book made a bedside pile all of its own for several weeks, until I got around to reading it again. I first discovered it when I was in my 20s. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. It kept me up all night.
I'm also reading The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard and an interesting non-fiction book called Dot.Con by John Cassidy. Again, I'm reading this partly for research about computer crimes.
I read in bed every night - I review a lot of books, so it's a good time to do it. I'd average about two or three hours each night. Reading in bed is incredibly sensual, comfortable and comforting. I usually read about three books at one time and I don't feel compelled to finish them all. It's a time issue for me - there are just too many good books to read.
Dorothy Johnston's latest novel, The White Tower, is published by Wakefield at $22.95.
© 2004 The Age