In the same year that I discovered the treasures of the school
library, my parents began reading the Narnia series to me (and my brothers) at
bedtime. At the tender age of seven, I was hooked – on Narnia of course – and on reading. I began to devour books at every
spare moment. My mother shook her head when my report card came home: “Jenny’s
spelling needs improvement. She should read more.” Rather than reading more, Mum
was encouraging me to read less. I had a quota – I was only allowed to read one
(chapter book) a day.
I’m still hooked on
reading as the piles of books on my floor waiting to find some non-existent
bookshelf space attest. I am sure many of you can tell similar childhood
stories of finding the enchantment and joy of reading. Books while away a dull
hour while we wait at bus stops and airports, comfort us when we are too sick
to do anything else, provide escape from the stresses and boredom of our
ordinary lives. Books transport us to other worlds; reaching across far flung distances
and centuries or maybe just the suburb next door. They reveal fascinating facts
and magnificent settings, unveil the mysteries of other cultures and mindsets, give
us insight into other people lives and motivations, take us to the heights and
the depths of human emotion, help us to confront our fears and challenge us to be better, to do better in our lives. There are many other ways to learn – going
out and doing, connecting with people, engaging with other media, spiritual
disciplines – but for me a life without books
is hard to imagine.
From wisdom of the Scriptures
to the avalanche of other books I have read over the decades, books have sculptured
my thoughts, led me to new insights and directed me down different paths. And this
is as true for the fiction that I’ve read – and yes, even fantasy – as of the
more serious, non-fiction tomes. From C S Lewis’ Narnia series, I learnt the meaning of forgiveness and the beauty, gentleness and untamability of God. Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans
resonated with my own feelings of isolation in my highly mobile childhood. Patricia
St John’s Treasures of the Snow and
particularly a Tangled Woods’ Secret
taught me to rely on God’s grace and power. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings spoke of the courage of ordinary people doing great things in the face of impossible odds. It exposed how the lure of power can
twist even those who desire to do good. One book (whose title and author I have
sadly forgotten) helped me understand that my perceptions of people can often
be a projection of my own insecurities. Elliot’s Middlemarch portrayed the unfairness and destructive nature of gossip. Austen’s
Mansfield Park intimated that character
is more important than beauty and poise even in romantic love. Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird and Griffin’s Black Like Me exposed the brutality and arbitrariness
of racism. I could go on – Little's Jungle Doctor Tales, Coolidge’s What Katy Did, Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Lewis’ Screwtape Letters and too many others to name or
even recall.
It is this legacy of reading that inspires my own desire to
write stories that inspire and challenge – as signposts to God’s love and
forgiveness – through well crafted and inspired story telling. And the writers who
have moved me along my journey are my role models – from the unforgettable stories of Old and
New Testaments and the parables of Jesus to the winsome tales of Lewis, Tolkien,
St John and company.
How about you – what books have inspired you and, if you are
writer, which ones do you wish to emulate?
Jeanette O’Hagan
Jeanette lives in Brisbane, has practiced medicine, taught
theology, spoken at various groups & is currently caring for her children,
studying writing at Swinburne & writing her Akrad series.
