Hello! It's been a little - ok, a really long while since I've written here. This is partly because I've been focusing on Ohayou Tokyo over here, partly because I've not had a great deal to say, and partly (mostly) (almost exclusively) because I'm really lazy and a bad blogger.
But anyway, I thought I'd nip back from OT in order to fill out this fun reading Q&A, which my lovely wife at Nekomentsu tagged me in.
I'm supposed to tag people into this too, but I don't want anyone to feel obliged. However I'd love to hear any and all responses - so consider this an open invitation!
Here are The Rules.
1. Post these rules
2. Post a photo of your favourite book cover
3. Answer the questions below
4. Tag a few people to answer them too
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them
6. Make sure you tell the person who tagged you that you've taken part!
It's not just the front cover of this wonderful book
that I like, although it is good...
The back and inside of the cover too is beautiful, evocative, wintry.
I enjoyed judging this book by it's cover.
What are you reading right now?
I have two on the go right now - one fiction, and one non-fiction. I've just started reading The Remains Of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, which is entirely not my usual kind of book - however since I came into possession of it through World Book Night, which aims to broaden people's literary horizons, this seems apt indeed.
What are your top five favourite authors?
Stephen King
What is your favourite book by a first-time author?
The Dark Winter by David Mark (and no, I'm not just saying that - it really is superb!)
What is your favourite classic book?
Rashomon And Seventeen Other Stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
5 other notable mentions?
The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson - it's more than just a nice cover!The Great Teacher Onizuka series by Tohru Fujisawa
I have two on the go right now - one fiction, and one non-fiction. I've just started reading The Remains Of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, which is entirely not my usual kind of book - however since I came into possession of it through World Book Night, which aims to broaden people's literary horizons, this seems apt indeed.
I've also just started reading Cuckoo In The Nest by Nat Luurtsema. I'm very few pages in at the moment, as it was only delivered today and I've been at work for most of the day. But I know it's going to be good - Nat is a stand-up and sketch comedian I've been following for a while. Her stand-up is great, as is her work with sketch troupe Jigsaw, and I know from her blog that she has a wonderful turn of phrase.
Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?
I'm torn between The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King, and To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Two very different books offering interesting perspectives on American life. I hold no specific interest in Americana - or at least I didn't think I did - but it appears to be creeping in to the things I read, watch and listen to.
What 5 books have you always wanted to read but haven’t got round to?
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Empire Of The Sun by JG Ballard
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
Smiley vs. Karla by John Le Carré
The Stand by Stephen King
What magazines do you have in your bathroom/lounge right now?
I only really read Olive, the cookery magazine from the BBC, as well as the occasional Private Eye. But also, thanks to my lovely wife, our house is well-stocked with copies of National Geographic, Oh Comely, Mollie Makes, BBC Wildlife and Lonely Planet
What’s the worst book you've ever read?
I found Twilight by Stephanie Meyer to be alarmingly sub-par. Considering the level of acclaim it 'earned', it's actually in my humble opinion rather badly written. Or overwritten, I should say. Each sentence is infused with superpowered adverbs and adjectives; characters never "speak", they "mutter intensely". I could go on, but I feel I'm in a minority here and don't wish to alienate anyone kind enough to read my thoughts here.
What book seems really popular but you actually hated?
Oh dear, I think I may have answered this one already. Never mind. Two birds, one stone and all that.
What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?
On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft, by Stephen King. He gets a bad rep, but King is a staggeringly good novelist, and writes well on the subject. In my job, I meet a lot of people who want to get into writing, and whether they aspire to pen a novel or simply rattle out a few 300-word theatre reviews, I always urge everyone to read this book. It's invaluable to anyone who wants to write - or read - at any level.
Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?
I'm torn between The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King, and To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Two very different books offering interesting perspectives on American life. I hold no specific interest in Americana - or at least I didn't think I did - but it appears to be creeping in to the things I read, watch and listen to.
What 5 books have you always wanted to read but haven’t got round to?
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Empire Of The Sun by JG Ballard
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
Smiley vs. Karla by John Le Carré
The Stand by Stephen King
What magazines do you have in your bathroom/lounge right now?
I only really read Olive, the cookery magazine from the BBC, as well as the occasional Private Eye. But also, thanks to my lovely wife, our house is well-stocked with copies of National Geographic, Oh Comely, Mollie Makes, BBC Wildlife and Lonely Planet
What’s the worst book you've ever read?
I found Twilight by Stephanie Meyer to be alarmingly sub-par. Considering the level of acclaim it 'earned', it's actually in my humble opinion rather badly written. Or overwritten, I should say. Each sentence is infused with superpowered adverbs and adjectives; characters never "speak", they "mutter intensely". I could go on, but I feel I'm in a minority here and don't wish to alienate anyone kind enough to read my thoughts here.
What book seems really popular but you actually hated?
Oh dear, I think I may have answered this one already. Never mind. Two birds, one stone and all that.
What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?
On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft, by Stephen King. He gets a bad rep, but King is a staggeringly good novelist, and writes well on the subject. In my job, I meet a lot of people who want to get into writing, and whether they aspire to pen a novel or simply rattle out a few 300-word theatre reviews, I always urge everyone to read this book. It's invaluable to anyone who wants to write - or read - at any level.
What are your 3 favourite poems?
If by Rudyard Kipling
The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe
This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin
Where do you usually get your books?
I have a part-time job which pays, conveniently, in Amazon vouchers rather than cash - so plenty of my books come from there. I also love old bookshops, and charity shops - I'd say it's an even split between those, with the occasional foray into Waterstones.
Where do you usually read your books?
More often than not in bed, either before sleeping or while delaying getting up.
When you were little, did you have any particular reading habits?
I had a nasty habit of reading whatever's the most new, leaving the old one unfinished. I was impatient like that. I'm ashamed to say that I still am, to an extent.
What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?
The last one I stayed up late reading was 11.22.63 by Stephen King, but recently I began reading The Old Man And The Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, one weekend morning. I'd woken up early, and intended to read a few pages before getting up and doing something useful. Unfortunately for the chores, it was so absorbing I just read the whole lot in one go, instead of getting up.
Have you ever “faked” reading a book?
I have never said I've read a book which I haven't, if that's what you mean. However I have, shall we say, created the impression I've been reading a book when a particularly interesting conversation was taking place on the seat next to me on a train...
Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the cover?
I bought a book for my wife based on the cover - The End Of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas. The edges of the pages were dyed black, and the cover was an enticing deep red, fading to gold in the centre... It looked glorious. And it was the worst book she has ever read, even to this day (and she's read Twilight...).
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula K. LeGuin. Both me and my older brother were obsessed with the first instalment at a young age - A Wizard Of Earthsea. It's tale of light and dark, good and evil, and everything having its place or use in the world probably prepared me well for life - it's certainly made me philosophical and pragmatic. Oh, and my dad made us both staffs too.
What book changed your life?
Hard to narrow this down to just one, so I'll indulge myself and mention three - for three very different reasons.
If by Rudyard Kipling
The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe
This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin
Where do you usually get your books?
I have a part-time job which pays, conveniently, in Amazon vouchers rather than cash - so plenty of my books come from there. I also love old bookshops, and charity shops - I'd say it's an even split between those, with the occasional foray into Waterstones.
Where do you usually read your books?
More often than not in bed, either before sleeping or while delaying getting up.
When you were little, did you have any particular reading habits?
I had a nasty habit of reading whatever's the most new, leaving the old one unfinished. I was impatient like that. I'm ashamed to say that I still am, to an extent.
What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?
The last one I stayed up late reading was 11.22.63 by Stephen King, but recently I began reading The Old Man And The Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, one weekend morning. I'd woken up early, and intended to read a few pages before getting up and doing something useful. Unfortunately for the chores, it was so absorbing I just read the whole lot in one go, instead of getting up.
Have you ever “faked” reading a book?
I have never said I've read a book which I haven't, if that's what you mean. However I have, shall we say, created the impression I've been reading a book when a particularly interesting conversation was taking place on the seat next to me on a train...
Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the cover?
I bought a book for my wife based on the cover - The End Of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas. The edges of the pages were dyed black, and the cover was an enticing deep red, fading to gold in the centre... It looked glorious. And it was the worst book she has ever read, even to this day (and she's read Twilight...).
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula K. LeGuin. Both me and my older brother were obsessed with the first instalment at a young age - A Wizard Of Earthsea. It's tale of light and dark, good and evil, and everything having its place or use in the world probably prepared me well for life - it's certainly made me philosophical and pragmatic. Oh, and my dad made us both staffs too.
What book changed your life?
Hard to narrow this down to just one, so I'll indulge myself and mention three - for three very different reasons.
Practically speaking, the aforementioned On Writing by Stephen King has given me the tools I need to be able to string a sentence together - which has earned me a job as a features writer.
Emotionally, 11.22.63, again by Stephen King, somehow fills me with confidence when I remember certain scenes. If I'm facing a challenge I think back to that book, and it seems less daunting. I'm not altogether sure that this is normal...
Finally, for a very different reason, The Dark Winter by my friend and colleague David Mark has had a big effect. Not only is it an excellent novel (I was privileged to read an early bound proof), but since it was picked up by Quercus last year, and released this month, it's shown me that these great successes do happen to real people. Plus, I'm covering his work while he swans off on book signings and whatnot for the next few months, which is an added bonus!
What is your favourite passage from a book?
There are many, but the one which springs to mind is from The Hellbound Heart, by Clive Barker (the book that became the movie Hellraiser):
What is your favourite passage from a book?
There are many, but the one which springs to mind is from The Hellbound Heart, by Clive Barker (the book that became the movie Hellraiser):
The seasons long for each other, like men and women, in order that they may be cured of
their excesses.
Spring, if it lingers more than a week beyond its span, starts to hunger for summer to end
the days of perpetual promise. Summer in its turn soon begins to sweat for something to quench its
heat, and the mellowest of autumns will tire of gentility at last, and ache for a quick sharp frost to
kill its fruitfulness.
Even winter-the hardest season, the most implacable-dreams, as February creeps on, of the
flame that will presently melt it away. Everything tires with time, and starts to seek some
opposition, to save it from itself.
So August gave way to September and there were few complaints.
What are your top five favourite authors?
Stephen King
Ursula K. LeGuin
Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Raymond Chandler
Tsugumi Ohba
What book has no one heard about but should read?
The Dark Winter, By David Mark. I wouldn't say no one's heard of it, but if you haven't - acquaint yourself!
What 3 books are you an “evangelist” for?
Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. A wonderful manga series: dark; twisted; well-plotted - and a fascinating morality tale.
The Elements Of Style by William Strunk Jr - Almost 100 years old now, this style manual is just as - if not more - relevant than ever. And it's remarkably witty in a dry, knowing way.
What book has no one heard about but should read?
The Dark Winter, By David Mark. I wouldn't say no one's heard of it, but if you haven't - acquaint yourself!
What 3 books are you an “evangelist” for?
Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. A wonderful manga series: dark; twisted; well-plotted - and a fascinating morality tale.
The Elements Of Style by William Strunk Jr - Almost 100 years old now, this style manual is just as - if not more - relevant than ever. And it's remarkably witty in a dry, knowing way.
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - The film was a wonderful blockbuster, but the book was a lot more thoughtful, considered and - yes - realistic.
What is your favourite book by a first-time author?
The Dark Winter by David Mark (and no, I'm not just saying that - it really is superb!)
What is your favourite classic book?
Rashomon And Seventeen Other Stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
5 other notable mentions?
The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson - it's more than just a nice cover!The Great Teacher Onizuka series by Tohru Fujisawa
The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger (I know, I know - but it really is good)
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by Yasutaka Tsutsui
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