Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Reading through the years
20 Years Ago: I had just changed to a new school and I think I was mixing SVH with more classic books. Titles that have stayed with me are The Little Princess, The Silver Sword, Back Home, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Secret Garden.
10 Years Ago: At University so I was reading a lot of text books and I think I had just discovered Jilly Cooper. I remember a long summer spent enjoying the romps of Rupert Campbell-Black. It was also round this time I started reading Historical Fiction beginning with Jean Plaidy.
5 Years Ago: I’d just begun teaching Year One and discovered the pleasure of books for children. Charlie and Lola and Guess how much I love you being particular favourites. For myself I fell in love with The Time Travellers Wife and like everyone else was reading Harry Potter.
3 Years ago: I’d been living in Mexico for a year. I remember taking the Da Vinci Code on holiday and being completely gripped form start to finish. Then thinking about it and realising how irritating it is. The main character is always amazed how few people knew some obscure historical/religious reference, which he then explains.
Last Year: I got married so books of poetry featured highly! Books that stand out are the last Harry Potter Book (HP goes camping), Cloud Atlas and The Dark is Rising. This was also the year I discovered Diana Gabaldon.
This Month: Well I think I have expressed my total love of E. Lockhart’s books here already but in case you missed it; The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and The Boy Book are new favourites.
3 Favourite Reading Locations: the sofa, the bookstore, the bath.
3 Reading habits: I read all the time. I fold down pages when I like a particular phrase or idea and copy it out later. I am tracking my books on Goodreads.
3 Things that distract me: Not a lot actually if I am involved I am oblivious to everything else!
3 Characters I’d love to be: Hermione in Harry Potter, although can I not marry Ron? Frankie Landau-Banks but I really don’t want to be 15 again. Lydia from the Pursuit of Love, although she does die young, so maybe not. So I guess no one I’ll just read about them!
3 Characters I despise: I’m trying to think of any moustache-twirling villains. The Magisterium in His Dark Materials are pretty despicable.
3 Favourite Book Beverages: Cinnamon Dolce Latte, tea, water.
3 Favourite bookmarks: a postcard of a girl with an umbrella, a laminated USA stamp, a little bit of card with happy faces stamped on.
3 Dead Writers I’d love to meet: Jane Austen, Nancy Mitford, Agatha Christie.
3 Alive Writers I’d love to meet: Phillip Pullman, E. Lockhart, Neil Gaiman – although I’d be shy so probably better not.
This is where I make you really envious and say I have met Philip Pullman several times – indeed, I have had breakfast with Philip Pullman, although I hasten to add it was at a conference and there were lots of other people there (well a few, not that many people make it to breakfast) including Jacqueline Wilson. They are both charming and wouldn’t let you be the slightest bit shy.
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Wow what a great memory you have! Great post.
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TableTalk – oh I am fantastically unbelievably jealous. I adore Philip Pullman’s books. Lucky you!!!!!
Yvonne – Five years ago was the hardest but I remember the places I read fave books so it was quite easy.
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