Daniel has tagged me for a literary meme.
1. One Book That Changed Your Life
‘Acorn Electron User Guide’. It came with my first computer, one I saved for for most of 1984 It was a spiral bound book that introduced me to structured programming concepts – at the age of 14. My life has been tied up with computers ever since.
2. One Book You Have Read More Than Once
‘The Crow Road’. Iain Banks’ masterpiece. Everything he had written prior to this book lead to this crowning glory, everything since pales in comparison.
I think it had a lot to do with the central character being the age I was when I first read it but I’ll often pick it up and be hooked once again by the first line : “It was the day my grandmother exploded.”
3. One Book You’d Want On A Desert Island
Can I say ‘The Crow Road’ again? If not, um, ‘The Dummies Guide To Surviving On A Desert Island’ would be handy. Or ‘London Fields’ by Martin Amis.
4. One Book That Made You Giddy
‘Times Arrow’ by Martin Amis. Read this in one sitting, get up and go outside and try and figure out which direction your life is heading. It had me confused for days afterwards.
5. One Book That You Wish Had Been Written
‘How To Make A Boy Every Time’. We wouldn’t mind knowing, for the next one.
6. One Book That Wracked You With Sobs
I can’t remember the damn book’s name – it was about the IRA and one family’s struggles with a son who wanted to get out. Not quite sobs but very emotional.
7. One Book You Wish Had Never Been Written
‘Maths A’. Lynch, Parr, Pickering and Anderson. Made my year 12 in 1987 hell.
8. One Book You’re Currently Reading
A birthday gift from Daniel and Miss Marita, Douglas Coupland’s ‘JPod’
9. One Book You’ve Been Meaning To Read
I’ve had Vikram Seth’s ‘A Suitable Boy’ since its release in the early 90’s. One of these days…
10. Now Tag Five Bloggers
If you feel like, go for it.