Lilian's Tree

I am a Friend of the State Library of New South Wales, and each quarter receive their journal Open Book. The articles are always interesting, and I love the regular one, The library that made me. The guest writer talks about their favourite library or what library means to them. I find these articles interesting and turn to them first. It also had me thinking about the libraries that ‘made’ me, so here is my story. I don’t remember a time when I couldn’t read and as such many libraries have been in my life. I remember the mobile library, from Rockdale turning up at my school, Althestane Public School, Arncliffe and being ushered into this long, narrow truck, with shelves on both sides and being told what section I could borrow from. The joy a selecting a book to read. Then we moved and the next two libraries were the school library at Jannali Public School. I remember reading The Little Bookroom by Eleanor Farjon. There is a bookshop of that name in Fitzroy, Victoria. It was i...

I follow several writers, on Facebook and this link is to a blogpost, by Lisa Ireland about books that made her want to be a writer. It got me thinking what books I really remember from my childhood and their influence on me. So read Lisa's post and then have a look at what I picked https://bookbaybzblog.com.au/2018/07/11/lisa-ireland-the-books-that-made-me-want-to-be-a-writer/#more-159 I can't remember a time, when I couldn't read, it is something that I love to do, a wonderful way to escape on a dreary day, to fill in time waiting for an appoitment or to kill the hours on a long-haul flight, reading is it. These two books were from late primary school and even though I haven't read them in years, I can still recall both stories. Hills End, the whole town goes for a picnic, except for seven children and their teacher. They plan to spend the day exploring the aboriginal paintings, in a near by cave. A massive storm hits, they get cut-off from the town a...