So in what might pass as a fairytale elsewhere in the world, a Canberra mum-of-four is being paid $1500 to read a literary classic in quiet solitude without anyone nagging her every five minutes. For real.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Moira Christie, of Pearce, received the grant from the Spanish Embassy to read the 400,000-word epic Don Quixote within a month, all part of events to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of author Miguel de Cervantes
She will read the book, in silence, a bit at a time in the foyer of the National Library and then upload a video blog of her impressions via YouTube as she works her way through the literary classic.
A confirmed book lover - her Twitter handle is @moria_reads - Ms Christie said she would have done the reading for free.
"Don Quixote is a book I've never read," she said. "I knew a little bit about it and was intrigued to know more."
Mum to four children aged five to 13 with husband John Frezza, Moira is going to savour reading the book in the cool, quiet confines of the library.
She secured the gig after submitting a written proposal and then reading an excerpt chosen for her on video.
Spanish art group mmmm was also involved in the Money to Read program, which was about "drawing attention to the importance of reading our universal classics, or reading in general, and the lack of it".
Ms Christie, who writes for a project company in Manuka, said she would use some of her $1500 to help pay for her oldest son to attend an upcoming taekwondo competition, coincidentally being held in Spain.
"And the rest I will fritter on books," she said, happily.
