Books
My dad always used to tell people that I had a reading problem like other people had a drinking problem, but I disagree. I don't think it's possible to read too much. I've read hundreds of books, more likely thousands, but there are some that I read over and over again and never stop loving. There's a Chinese proverb which says that a book is like a garden carried in the pocket. Here are some of the gardens I like to visit.
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things – Jon McGregor
Publisher: Bloomsbury
There are books that are good because of their plot, but this one is good because of its description. There are two strands to the story: the last day of summer, and a terrible event that happened in the middle of the street; and the life of one of the girls who lived on the street, who is now looking back at that time and trying to understand it. At the end of the novel, she receives some terrible news which alters the way she remembers that summer, and also has to deal with some recent news in her own life.
Some reviewers have criticised it, saying that the description is at times pretentious and at other times hackneyed, but there are moments of beauty and clarity that I found really memorable. The two story lines are sometimes a little hard to follow, particularly since very few of the characters are named, but by the end everything has been tied up and when you re-read it (and you will) every detail falls into place. I particularly liked the opening section, which is a beautiful description of the sounds of a city.
Notes From a Big Country – Bill Bryson
Publisher: Black Swan
Bill Bryson's books are, almost without exception, brilliant. But this one is my particular favourite because it is a compilation of columns, each one commenting on a different aspect of life in America. It's packed with information (who knew, for example, that more people are injured by their clothing each year than by chainsaws?) but it's also extremely funny. It's not travel writing precisely; more like paper-based stand-up for dry-humoured English readers (and indeed any other kind of reader).
If you've only got time to read one or two sections, my favourites are "Junk Food Heaven", "Drowning in Red Tape" and "Your Tax Form Explained". The book as a whole is informative and amusing, and although it certainly can't be said to offer a complete all-inclusive description of the USA it's definitely worth reading for a flavour of Bryson's America. Not all of it is funny, but all of it is interesting and thought-provoking. If you haven't read any of Bryson's books yet, this is a good place to start. And if you have, you should now read this one too.
I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith
Publisher: Red Fox
I love everything about this book, from the beautiful orange cover to the believable characters and the fascinating plot. It's narrated by Cassandra, who is seventeen and living with her brother, sister, father and stepmother in a ramshackle castle deep in the countryside in almost ridiculous poverty. During the course of the novel both Cassandra and her elder sister fall in love, and their situation is drastically changed. They all discover that their dreams of how life could be do not necessarily turn out the way they had planned, and Cassandra in particular learns the difference between wealth and happiness.
The descriptions are elegant and tangible. I love the vividness of the setting and the realism of the characters, in particular Cassandra and the way she matures during the course of the story. Dodie Smith is probably best known for 101 Dalmations, but she should be known for this, undoubtedly my favourite novel of all.