Itisi

Found this on Facebook, OK, it’s a meme, but it’s quite interesting. No, really.

Rules: This can be a quick one. 10 Books that have stuck to you.
Don’t take too long to think about it!

1. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee ~ This is my favourite book! A lot of other peoples’ too, but I think that’s very telling.
2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley ~ It’s such a believable vision of the future.
3. Animal Farm by George Orwell ~ I read this when I was 10* and even then could see it was about more than just farm animals. The themes in it have stuck with me, even more than those in 1984.
4. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe ~ This is the book that convinced me the classics were worth reading. The text is surprisingly fresh, and many of the social situations it discusses are still relevant today.
5. The Childrens’ Book of Greek Mythology by Dunno** ~ This book both awoke an interest in mythology and opened my eyes to the idea that people believed in something other than Christianity. It truly was an eye opener.
6. The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles ~ It gives me hope. If he can get this published there is absolutely no reason why my stuff won’t be.
7. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman ~ It’s a funny and quite profound read, but also a great example of a thoroughly good story telling.
8. The Rats by James Herbert ~ This stuck to me because it’s horrible. Really! I still remember one scene with a shudder.
9. MacBeth by William Shakespeare ~ Not sure if it counts as a book, but I did read it in a book so I’m saying it does. Anyhoo, this was the book that made me realise Shakespeare could be interesting***. The problem is, it’s usually performed really badly.
10. A Yoga Book by Geri Halliwell ~ That’s not the title (I can’t remember it) and it’s not very good, but the images of her yoga instructor burnt themselves into my brain. Imagine a stringy man in his ’50s, clad in a vest and a pair of skimpy shorts which leave little to imagination, while adopting positions that overtly flaunt his wares, and you come somewhere close to my trauma. I think I’ll still be having nightmares about it in 40 years time.

Now that wasn’t too dreadful was it? I won’t tag anyone, but if you want to have go leave a comment so I can come over to have a read.

*  It was a birthday present from my uncle, who seemed to be determined I’d grow up to be somewhere to the left of Lenin.
** That’s not a person, I really don’t know.
** I grew up in Stratford and was particularly averse due to an excess of Shakespeare at an early age.

Currently listening to: Through the Barricades by Spandau Ballet – laugh, I don’t care

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