In the ‘Reading with’ series, we ask Australia Christians about their favourite books and reading habits.
Tess Holgate takes pleasure in being a struggling writer; couch surfing at various friends’ houses in inner Sydney, and is always saving her last cent for a good coffee. She thinks her vagabond life makes her writing career more authentic. She writes for Eternity Newspaper, has graduated Moore College, and has more than a handful of other jobs that support her writing habit. She believes that trusting Jesus is one of the easiest decisions to make, and one of the hardest to act upon. She hopes to spend her life writing and helping people to trust Jesus in the good, the bad, and the hideous parts of life. She tweets at @tesshbelle.
What books are currently on your bedside table?
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín, The Strays by Emily Bitto, The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks, All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Spinster by Kate Bolick, someone’s PhD thesis which I have technically agreed to read, and the Bible.
What was the last book you left unfinished?
Did you see that list above? They are pretty much all unfinished. But I deeply believe that life is too short for bad books, so if I’m not hooked within two chapters (or 50 pages, whichever comes first), I put it back on the shelf. The last book I gave up on was The Road to Character by David Brooks… I guess I’m still on the road to character.
What’s a book you feel guilty for not reading?
Pretty much anything by C.S. Lewis. I really feel like I should have read The Chronicles of Narnia, but alas, I have not.
Fiction or Non-fiction?
Fiction. If you too had spent an entire lifetime studying one thing or another, and reading all that non-fiction, you also would like a little more literary flourish in your life.
Physical, Ebook, Audio, Graphic Novels?
Physical. Is it really a book if you can’t smell the paper and hold it in your hands?
What was the last book you gave as a present?
I gave my mum Burial Rites by Hannah Kent for Christmas. She loved it. This is cheating, but I also gave my Nanna Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. I think she thought it was alright.
What book made a big impact on you during adolescence?
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I once heard Annabel Crabb mock politicians who say that To Kill A Mockingbird is their favourite book, because, she said, it betrayed the fact that they probably hadn’t read any fiction since high school. Well, that may be true, but I loved it because of Scout’s innocence, and Atticus’ relentless pursuit of justice, even when he knows he will fail. I think I could learn a thing or two from him.
Best biography you’ve read?
I tried to read that enormous Bonheoffer biography by Eric Metaxas, but I don’t really like biographies. Oh, years ago I made it about a third of the way through the Nelson Mandela biography, Long Walk to Freedom. So, I’ve only read bits of two biographies and didn’t really like them. So, can I pass on this question?
What 10 books would you take to a desert island?
Far out. What kind of question is this? I want at least six books I haven’t read, picked entirely on the basis of the cover artwork (I always judge a book by its cover). Oh, and I like these ones:
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
All My Friends are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Oh, and we should take Lord of the Flies by William Golding as a warning of what could go horribly horribly wrong. Is that too incongruous?
What was the last book that made you angry?
Tess of the d’Urbevilles by Thomas Hardy. This is where my parents got my name, and when I finally got around to reading it (I confess, it took me many years), I discovered that not only is it a really depressing story, but Tess pretty much sleeps through every major event in her life. Nice one, parents.
Is there a book that you wish you’d written?
Every fiction book, ever. Well, not every fiction book. Not the bad ones. Just the ones that people gush about, saying, “OH MY GOODNESS YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!” That one.
Most overrated book?
Could it be Lord of the Rings? I have so little excitement about this series, or even The Hobbit that came before. I just don’t connect with it at all.
What’s a book that we would be surprised to find that you enjoyed?
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I am generally not into this genre (psychological thriller), mostly because I like to sleep and sleep does not mix well with thriller, but it was so clever. I’m sure everyone in the world knows the massive twist by now, but if you don’t, go grab a copy and lose a weekend poring over the gripping story.
What’s your favourite time and place to read?
I quite like Saturday afternoons in Autumn, on a picnic blanket in the sunshine with a thermos of tea. Now that you mention it, I think I just locked in my Saturday afternoon plans this weekend.
What was the last book you read?
A book of Australian short stories. Honestly, it wasn’t that amazing. Well, that’s a let down. Sorry about that.
What is your favourite novel?
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. This book just makes me happy. Margaret knows what she thinks and stands up for what she believes in. I like to think I could be like that when I grow up.
What is a book in the area of writing you’d encourage us to read to better understand the art of writing?
I’m not big into reading books about writing – I just prefer to write – but I really enjoyed Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Golly, she is just so honest and funny and practical. It totally had me laughing out loud.
What is one book, apart from the Bible, you’d encourage every Christian to read?
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton. If you’re an Aussie Christian, or know one, this is classic and essential reading. Winton forces you face to face with the rustic brutality of daily existence. Any book that exposes you to a humanity that is uncomfortable, awkward and foreign is always worth reading, as it subconsciously grows in you a deep empathy for others.
Which book, apart from the Bible, has most shaped your approach to ministry?
The book that has most shaped my approach to ministry is also the book that has most shaped my approach to life: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I like to practice believing something impossible every day, and I try to value people for what they are rather than what they’re not.
