I got this from Dot.
1. What was the last book you read?
“The Help” by Katherine Stockett
2. Recommend a book.
“What I Loved” by Siri Hustvedt.
3. Recommend a children’s book.
“The Giant Jam Sandwich” Story and pictures by John Vernon Lord with verses by Janet Burroway
4. My guilty pleasure is:
Well, I wouldn’t call it guilty precisely but I am a big Georgette Heyer fan.
5. This one was rubbish:
Where to begin? “Man and Boy” by Tony Parsons.
6. If you wrote a book, what would it be? (Adapt as desired if you are writing or have written a book.)
Fiction. I haven’t really thought this through, have I?
Off you go and do it yourself.
1. I’ve just finished re-reading Wise Children by Angela Carter,which according to the cover I first read in June 1993, though I haven’t the foggiest memory of it. nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed it (again)
2. I recommend Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (read for book group, at which we also read What I have Loved, which I loved too!)
3. A great children’s book is The Snail and the Whale by the inimitable Gruffalo duo of Julia Donaldson and Alex Schleffler – this is pure poetry! Love the way she works in the line “Save the Whale!”
4. My guilty pleasure is the weekly New Yorker – not exactly shameful but it does make me feel guilty that I spend so much time reading it pretty much over to cover
5. The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffennegger was pure rubbish – sorry if you are one of the zillions of fans!
6. Is it really true that everyone has at least one novel in them? I live in hope!
Thanks for doing the meme! I’m impressed how much reading you fit in around work, children and the internet. I take note of your recommendations.
1. “Anthill” E.O. Wilson
2. Same as above, and “Aloft”, Chang-rae Lee
3. I don’t have children, but I assume everyone enjoys Tintin?
4. Charlaine Harris – any one of her “Dead until” series. And academic murder mysteries, any and all.
5. At the risk of offending, i find Martin Amis to be full of hot air and not much else.
6. Am in the final stages of finishing a manuscript, but I’d hesitate to say that this is the book I intended to write.
C, wasn’t crazy about the Niffinger book either. Might try the Colm McCann, if I’m feeling strong.
D, more like avoiding children and work. Clearly the internet gets all my love.
J, haven’t heard of your recommendations before, will investigate. Quite like Martin Amis though…good luck with the MS.
Wilson is THE ant biologist – this is his first fiction book, and his description of ant colonies and parallels to human society are fantastic. Not at all like AS Byatt’s Angels&Insects (also a favorite), but a similarly wonderful narrative on humans and insects.
I often find myself quite alone on the anti-Martin Amis island. I like Kingsley though.
That does sound interesting J, must investigate further. Like Kingsley a bit too.
I’m on the anti-Martyn and his Da island. And you don’t need to be brave for Colum McCann – he’s fab
Well, C, I dunno, Colum McCann sounds a bit hard to me – we’ll see..