Recap by Member David Castle.
It was a rare privilege for the Club to host Sydney’s foremost literati and book lover/speaker, Susannah Fullerton, on October 9. Such an occasion shows how far we have come as a cultural institution.
Susannah spoke for over one hour and answered questions on the subject of the 10 novels that changed the world. Not surprising were her choices of Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin and To Kill a Mockingbird. More controversial were The Cat in the Hat and Harry Potter. However, Susannah illustrated her talk with fantastic slides in full support of every choice. Most of us were challenged to read or re-read her selections.
We all came away not only with admiration for Susannah as a speaker and entertainer but with even greater respect for the authors and their influence from Cervantes through to JK Rowling. Where would we be without fiction?
Our own book club was favourably mentioned on a number of occasions and Susannah is an enormous supporter not only of the benefits of reading but also of critical reading and discussion, in the way our book club and other book clubs operate.
The icing on the cake was the pre-launch of Susannah’s book: “Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them”. In this beautifully presented book, she explores the special bond between cats and their famous owners, including Edward Lear, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway. We were privileged to be able to pick up autographed copies and talk to the author.
Finally, the Club put on a great banquet for the occasion and can be congratulated once again for the quality of its food and hospitality. The dining room must surely be one of the best locations in Sydney.
Literary lunches such as this need to be repeated at regular intervals, not only for pure enjoyment but also to show how far we have come as a cultural institution. In this regard, particular thanks to Himkala for organising the event and her unwavering support of our book club.
