By Tanya Faulkner
The Patch: Corin Sidell
Why did you choose Alice in Wonderland as your book?
Because the outfit was available! Jokes, there are so many versions of the story, and I loved the film as well. I read the book to my kids and they also loved it.
What is your favourite book?
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. It’s about four blokes in New York, and it’s one of those books that you can’t ever stop thinking about. You feel like you’re in their lives, and it’s a book that stays with you.
What is the first book you remember reading?
Spot the Dog books, I love dogs and the book had those peekaboo flaps on them.
What is a book everyone should read?
Something that teaches you something. I enjoyed The Drovers Wife, which was set back in the earlier Australian years when the Aboriginals were treated badly. Even though it’s fiction, it tells us about a time that we should never go back to.
Where do you like to read?
In bed. It’s when I’m the most relaxed and I can stop thinking about everything from the day.
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Kylie Orr: Author
What book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading “Dark Mode” by Ashley Kalagian blunt. It’s a crime thriller with stalker murderer vibes, someone who wants to stay offline so they can’t be tracked, but they have to for business.
What is the first book you remember reading?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I remember the holes you could poke fingers in with the food throughout the book.
Where is your favourite place to read?
In winter I like to get cozy next to the fire, or in bed, and in summer there’s a back deck on my house with a nice view over the valley so I like to read there.
What book has had the most impact in your life?
I think it’s the book called We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver.
She’s actually a female author, and the topic matter was full on, but at the time I was a new mother and the book is a bout a school shooting in America. The mother is trying to talk to father about son Kevin (who is the shooter) and is worried about him before the incident, and I was impacted by the way the mother carried the guilt of how child has turned out. Her writing is just incredible.
What is a book you think everyone should read?
Everybody should read mine so i can feed my kids! I’m joking.
The Alchemist maybe? Actually, The Book Thief, because it was an interesting perspective (perspective of death) such a unique position to take in a book. It was an important moment in time in history, like the development of the relationships within it, the story surrounds a love of books and the banning of books back in the day.
What is your favourite book?
I can’t choose a favourite book, it’s like choosing a favourite child – you can’t! It’s hard to choose just one.
My favourite book of this year would be Salt and Skin by local author Eliza Henry-Jones. It’s her 5th book, beautifully lyrical and mystical, and is now launching in the UK. It’s about an Australian family that went to Scotland, not to give anything else away.
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Tanya Faulkner – Reporter
What book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading the 8 Rules to Love by Jay Shetty. I’ve been obsessed with his podcast for the last few years and never miss an episode, and his last book Think Like a Monk absolutely changed the way I think about myself and how I interact with situations.
What is the first book you remember reading?
With my parents it’s definitely Winnie the Pooh, I loved Tigger, but on my own I think it was the Harry Potter Series when I was 10 or 11 years old. I love the way J.K Rowling wrote the books, and they still hold a special place in my heart.
Where is your favourite place to read?
So being from New Zealand, my favourite place of all time was at this lookout up the road from my parent’s house, or with a pile of blankets and cushions on the back tray of a ute, facing the beach. These days I like to get cozy in bed or on the couch at home.
What book has had the most impact in your life?
Umm… All of my books seem to go back to NZ authors – but I have two in mind. One was called Under the Mountain by Maurice Gee – it’s NZ fiction from 1979 about creatures called the ‘Wilberforces’ that lived under the mountains that make up Auckland, and this mission to destroy them before they destroyed our planet. There’s a couple of movies out as well, but I find the original film to be better than the re-make. Secondly is a book called The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse-Anderson, and it’s just a really well written book about PTSD and how war can impact children in families as well as their parents.
What is a book you think everyone should read?
Oooh… this one is hard… recently I’ve been really into my self-development and mindset books and podcasts, so off the top of my head I would say Atomic Habits by James Clear or The Subtle Art to Not Giving a F**k. Both of them give you really good tools to learn more about the way you think, and helps you to take more control of how you interact and engage with people and situations for a less stressful life.
What is your favourite book?
A book I always go back to at some point is a book called Restless Spirit (Te Wairua Whakariuka) by Susan Brocker. It’s a New Zealand book about our Kaimanawa horses, in particular this rare white one that no one seems to see much, but know he’s there. The book follows a few storylines, like a girl who moved from Auckland city down to this small country school and makes friends with a Māori boy, and a farmer who rounds up and culls the horses for ‘population control’ and is trying to catch the white horse – look it’s a book that needs to be read and enjoyed really.
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Tess Bons Aged 12: Local school student
What book are you reading at the moment?
Good Girls Guide to Murder – this book is full of suspense and keeps you guessing to the end.
What is your favourite book?
Anne of Green Gables – I’ve read almost all of the series but the first book and the original, was my favourite.
Who is your favourite book character?
Anne Shirley – Anne Shirley has a huge imagination, she loves writing and is always in a funny situation.
How many books have you read this year?
At least 15
What book do you really want to read?
Keeper of the Lost Cities Volume 9.
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Nora Bons aged 9: Local School Student
What book are you reading at the moment?
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
What is your favourite book?
Harry Potter – I like all of the magic in it. I would to have that magic too.
Who is your favourite book character?
Chloe from Mr Stink (David Wallams) – Chloe is kind and considerate and let’s me Stibk have food from her house, even though he is a homeless person on the side of the road.
How many books have you read this year?
Maybe 5
What book do you really want to read?
5. Awful Aunty by David Wallams. – David Wallams is really funny and he has a lot of made up words.
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Cherry Axel – Upwey Community Group
What is your favourite book?
Writing stories by Patti miller. This book is a tool to help prompt her writing, especially after she did a short course at the Selby community centre. I started I thinking “how do I start? Where’s my voice?” I love writing, it puts me in an escapist mood and a learning mood, which I find reading covers all of that as well. I love books with strong characters and to be on their journey.
Everyone should read:
Wish is that everyone reads, and whatever books get them into reading is the book for them. Fletcher Jones once said “never go anywhere without a book” and I agree with that. Whatever the book is that grab’s someone’s attention is the book they should read.
What book had the biggest impact on you?
I was bored as a kid in the country and I remember reading Anna Corrin. It was “amazing” reading about this whole world in Russia, and it was the key to my curiosity that the world is full of amazing opportunities that we don’t know about.
Where is your favourite place to read and why?
By a fire, at home away from the world in your own special spot, or if you want to be at a cafe and watch the world go by – different place for a different mood
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Millie – local school student
What is your favourite book?
The Lorax
What books have you read this year?
Hunches and Bunches, the Lorax, The sad ghost club 1&2, Pawcaso, smile.
What is one book you want to read, and why?
Harry Potter – I’ve seen the movies and i would like to read the book as well.
Favourite book character?
The Lorax – I have watched the movie 20 times and think its great
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Danni Rule: Mountain Gate Eyecare, Ferntree Gully
What is the first book you remember reading?
The first book I remember reading was a series called Milly-Molly-Mandy. As a girl that grew up in the 80’s I loved the books that were based on a young girl who had lots of outdoor adventures.
Where do you like to read the most?
I’m an outdoor person so I really enjoy reading outside on a nice sunny day especially with my dog and cat by my side.
Who is your all-time favourite book character?
My all-time favourite character isn’t just one as I love to read biographies or books that relate to real life, so I enjoy real life role models rather than just one character.
What are you currently reading?
My current read is Kindness by Kath Koschel, which I find quite relevant in current times. It’s a memoir about her challenges after breaking her back and learnt to walk again. In 2016 she set off on a journey around Australia relying on the pure kindness of strangers .Kath left with nothing but the clothes on her back and her phone. This book is a great reminder that kindness to another person can make such a difference.
