Writing the city
Christos Tsiolkas, Andrea James, Kerry Greenwood and
Barry Dickins talked about their writing and how they depict the city of Melbourne in their work. I was interested by the concept Kerry raised that when writing the city, the city itself should be treated as a character, just like living, breathing characters.
Barry was hilarious as he spoke of the suburb he grew up in, Reservoir, which is very close to where I grew up. He imitated the macho tough guys of Reservoir explaining that you can never win, and that’s why he loves it: “You looking at my girl?” they would threaten, and when the innocent bystander fearfully answers “no” the macho guy replies “Why not? What’s wrong with my girl?”
Christos spoke about migrants coming to Australia by “accident” and it is through the experiences of that accident that he writes. And just when I thought I couldn’t love Christos’s work anymore, he reads my favourite passage from Loaded “Hit the North” and I can feel Ari’s anger through Christos’s voice.
Ari’s screams are still resonating in my head.
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MWF:Writing the city
August 26, 2009 at 4:47 am (Creative commentary, Reviews) (Andrea James, Barry Dickins, Christos Tsiolkas, Kerry Greenwood, Melbourne Writer's Festival, writer's festival, Writing the City)
Writing the city
Christos Tsiolkas, Andrea James, Kerry Greenwood and
Barry Dickins talked about their writing and how they depict the city of Melbourne in their work. I was interested by the concept Kerry raised that when writing the city, the city itself should be treated as a character, just like living, breathing characters.
Barry was hilarious as he spoke of the suburb he grew up in, Reservoir, which is very close to where I grew up. He imitated the macho tough guys of Reservoir explaining that you can never win, and that’s why he loves it: “You looking at my girl?” they would threaten, and when the innocent bystander fearfully answers “no” the macho guy replies “Why not? What’s wrong with my girl?”
Christos spoke about migrants coming to Australia by “accident” and it is through the experiences of that accident that he writes. And just when I thought I couldn’t love Christos’s work anymore, he reads my favourite passage from Loaded “Hit the North” and I can feel Ari’s anger through Christos’s voice.
Ari’s screams are still resonating in my head.
Like this: