Monday, January 16, 2017

Four books that changed Rosalie Ham

Rosalie Ham's books include the bestselling novel The Dressmaker, which became a 2015 film starring Kate Winslet, and Summer at Mount Hope.

One of four books that changed the author, as shared at the Sydney Morning Herald:
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard

In The Transit of Venus, Shirley Hazzard writes everything, internally and externally, from a subtly objective third-person point of view. Carefully chosen images and words infuse every phrase, sentence and paragraph with atmosphere. Every event is complex and glints with subtext. Characters' impetus, motivation and physical appearance are succinct and precise, yet detailed, and I enjoy analysing her sharp, multilayered paragraphs with students. I would have loved to sit opposite Shirley Hazzard [who died aged 85 in December] in a foyer and watch her watching.
Read about another book on the list.

The Transit of Venus is among Zoƫ Heller's five best books on sisters and Jennifer Egan's five most important books.

--Marshal Zeringue