When I doubt myself I turn to my favourite book. For inspiration and guidance and for funny and meaningful quotes. But most of all I go to escape. I escape the world around me and for however long - ten minutes or 3 hours - it's just me and my book. Just me and the story of Taylor Markham and how she finds she came to be on the Jellicoe Road.
That's the title you know? On The Jellicoe Road.
It's written by my cousin, Melina Marchetta.
To be completely honest with you I don't know what it is about this book that has me wrapped around it's (pages) so to speak. But there are times when I find myself completely lost and in need of reassurance. I don't sleep or eat my worries away like some would, I pick up this book and read it because for some unknown reason, the story of Taylor Markham's life and how she came to be on the Jellicoe Road, is my fix. Kind of like a drug. This book is my drug. It's not shortening my lifespan nor does it affect my relationship with those around me. It's a safe drug, my drug.
Sometimes I read my favourite chapters or sometimes I read the whole thing. I'm currently in the midst of reading it for the 9th time. And I don't have to exaggerate that fact.
Melina has set this book out beautifully and has the two-stories-in-one thing happening. But I'm not a reviewer so I'm not going to get into every damned detail to prove its worth to you. I'm simply going to say this...
Read it because it may change your life and, if it fails to do so (which it won't, but if it does), you have supported my wonderfully talented cousin, so thanks.
Anyway, I can't really put into words how or why this book is so close to me because I don't know yet. Maybe one day, when the fog clears something will hit me SMACK! in the face saying 'this is why you love it so much. This is why it's meaningful!' but until then I'm going to love it and read it 'til the edges are even more worn (if that's possible which I'm sure it is).
So here is a small piece of the Prologue. Enjoy.
--the girl in pink..
“My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die.
I counted.
It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La. We were going to the ocean, hundreds of miles away, because I wanted to see the ocean and my father said that it was about time the four of us made that journey. I remember asking, 'What’s the difference between a trip and a journey?' and my father said, 'Narnie, my love, when we get there, you’ll understand,' and that was the last thing he ever said.”
I counted.
It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La. We were going to the ocean, hundreds of miles away, because I wanted to see the ocean and my father said that it was about time the four of us made that journey. I remember asking, 'What’s the difference between a trip and a journey?' and my father said, 'Narnie, my love, when we get there, you’ll understand,' and that was the last thing he ever said.”
- On The Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta
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