They say that the books you have say a lot about you. I haven’t read a non-technical or non business book in many years I’m ashamed to say. I have a varied collection of books from history books, poetry, political, fiction (black writers and classics such as Dickens). Here are my favourite books (off the top of my head) :-
1. Wild Swans by Jung Chang (real life story of Jung Chang and three generations of her family in China going back to her grandmother who was a concubine and life through Maoist China - the only book to make me cry. Amazing, amazing story! She left China and is now an academic in the UK. The book has enjoyed incredible success.)
2. The Collector by John Fowles (better known for the “French Lieutenant’s Woman” but this story is a disturbing story of a man’s abduction of a young woman and an insight into each of the character’s thoughts)
3. Anything written by Fergal Keane, “Season of Blood” and “Letter to Daniel” (Fergal Keane is a correspondent for the BBC and has written on Rwanda, South Africa and other things - he’s my personal hero, the person I would most like to meet above anyone else bar none! A man of absolute integrity and humanity. His broadcast “Letter to Daniel” on BBC 4’s “From Our Own Correspondent” about the birth of his son generated a huge response - hugely emotional and personal - listen to it here)
4. The Crossman Diaries by Richard Crossman - a seminal work from Richard Crossman, Secretary of State for Housing in the Harold Wilson Government in the 1960’s which blew open the inner workings of Government and the Civil Service - it’s what “Yes Minister” and “Yes Prime Minister” were based on. He was never forgiven by his colleagues for writing his diaries right up to the day he died.
I can’t really think of a fifth but have been meaning to read Meera Syal’s autobiography “Anita and Me” for a long time! Her parents are from the Punjab and she found out from the BBC Programme, “Who do you think you are?”, that her grandmother was a freedom protester in the days leading up to Indian Independence from the British. An amazing woman, writer, comedian and actress.
What are your favourite books and why?
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May 24th, 2007 at 1:22 am
Did you know there was a song called “Wild Swans” (about the book of the same name) by a Welsh folk duo called Huw & Tony Williams? Coincidentally, it is one of my favourite pieces of music.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Wow, I didn’t know! I would love to hear it sometime.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:53 am
I went for years without reading a non-technical book but made more of an effort and got hooked again right up until my daughter was born. We didn’t get the sleeping through thing sorted until she was ten months old so i got out of the habit. I’ve just started again and i’ve just finished ready Wayne Rooney’s book (it was a christmas present, and it wasn’t very good)
As for favourites….not entirely sure but off the top of my head but one that immediately springs to mind is
The Rats by James Herbert (also the follow up books, Domain and Lair) i read these while i was still at school and it scared the living daylights out of me. One of the only books i’ve read several times
May 24th, 2007 at 8:54 am
I really should proof read before posting…..
May 24th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Andy, the getting married and having kids thing does eat in to the time you have to do stuff. Also I probably get too much info from the Web now and need to refocus.
‘Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James is a great ghost story that has stood the test of time!