Thursday, May 19, 2005

In which I WILL NOT SHUT UP. Sorry.

(Today's post will be entirely conducted in an appalling mock-Swedish accent. If you don't know how that might sound chances are you never will because a) you can't hear me because I am writing not speaking and b) I'm not convinced that such an accent even exists.)

In my profile I wrote that my favourite books were The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie. I don't know if you've read either of them, or if you're REALLY lucky, both of them, but you should.
Stop reading my bullshit and go and find these books and then love me for the rest of your Adams/Rushdie enhanced life.

The reasons I love these books so much is that I have this strange reaction when I am reading a book. I don't know if this is just me that this happens to, or whether everybody experiences the same and, duh, I'm so THICK how could I not know that was normal, but..
So if I'm halfway through a book and I'm walking around trying to attempt some kind of normal
'existence', and all the while my whole consciousness has adopted the narrative style of the book I'm reading at the time.
The book in question will be lounging in my bag, winking seductively at me in a brazen manner, tantalizing me with the notion that I could just stop, sit down in the street and indulge wantonly in some hardcore book-reading action.
My brain on the other hand? Has sucked in the narrative style of the (I must say, rather sluttish) piece of literature and is claiming it as its own.
Examples, you say? (Oh you didn't? You said shut the fuck up and give us more quizzes? Tough. You're getting examples.)

Er.. right so I have this guilty passion for bad crime thrillers. Preferably complete with rebellious but brilliant police detectives and hauntingly evil sociopathic murderers. And also, inevitably, depressingly predictable storylines. When I've been sucked into one of those I cannot help but walk around feeling VERY suspicious of things. I develop a habit of catching things out of the corner of my eye that I feel are familiar but can't quite place, and feel certain that they will become relevant as other things unfold. I also watch people intently, quietly believing to myself that I, and only I, can tell that they are certainly off home to slice and dice and wreak havoc in the suburbs somewhere, as if I might be some sort of brilliant but unruly cop. Furthermore I become HIGHLY distrusting of anyone who looks like they might be thinking in italics, because EVERYONE knows that this is what evil sociopaths do.

(Or do they?)

So that is one example. Another is that when I was doing my English Literature degree I opted to write an essay on Labyrinths, by Jorge Luis Borges. The title gives you some indication of the nature of the book. To say it's a little bit slippery would be a similar understatement to saying, for example, that fitting an entire herd of buffalo in your pocket would be a wee bit tricky. Throughout the collection of stories you do get the unmistakable impression that Borges himself is crouching somewhere just out of sight, sniggering to himself with glee as you attempt to wrap your mind around his baffling prose. Anyway, my point is that when I was spending my days focussed on Labyrinths I was a bit of a gibbering mess, as my brain simply couldn't cope with seeing everything through his carefully constructed room of mirrors. Think he had the last laugh with that one.

I love the books I love because of the way they make me see my world. Douglas Adams is a genius. His wit and comic timing is rivalled only possibly by PG Wodehouse, but I still prefer Adams. Everything, to him, is funny. He himself points out how different the world is when you look at it from just three feet to the left. Just genius.
In Haroun and the Sea of Stories the world is a beautiful, magical place that is limited only by the boundaries of imagination. Anything you can imagine exists in this book, and I think the whole thing is about the power of the human imagination and its never-ending capacity for stretching and illuminating everything that we see as 'normal'. They are both incredibly well constructed, the type of book that is startlingly simple to read and absorb but only because it so so finely and elaborately woven.

I am writing all this bollocks because sometimes I feel like I have too much of a propensity to view the world in a comic, colourless and even humourless way. The only things that can drag me away from this is the notion that there exists somewhere a whole ocean that is made up of every story that has ever existed, or will ever exist, or that the human beings came to Earth through a freak accident involving thousands of marketing executives, hairdressers and telephone santitizers, who had been expelled from their home planet.
This my not make any sense to you if you haven't read these books, but please. Trust me on this. Even if you're not like me and don't go around stealing narrative styles and trussing them up in your own consciousness, both of these books will change your view of the world, and help you live a little easier in it.

Tell me. Are there any books that you love and think I should read?

41 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm reading Labyrinths at the moment. It's amazing. And difficult. And brilliant. Just as you think it's revealed itself, it tricks you again. Every story makes you question the value you are used to giving everything, including that of the book itself: as one of his characters states, 'There is no intellectual exercise which is not, in the end, useless'.

Books you should read... Have you ever read The Leopard, by Giuseppe Tomassi de Lampedusa? It's a wonderfully evocative story following the fall of a Sicilian noble family after Garibaldi. It's so rich and faded and redolent of dilapidated opulence that you could not just touch it but smell it, like a red velvet curtain spotted with dust and fraying at the corners with a lingering hint of lost perfumes. I'll lend it to you next time I see you.

4:26 pm

 
Blogger Leah said...

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. And its sequel, Tandia.

There are many others, but whenever I'm asked for recommendations, my mind becomes a complete blank. Sorry!

5:05 pm

 
Blogger chindi said...

I think you should try "The Man in the Maze" by Robert Silverberg (and this has nothing to do with the fact that you said Labyrinth's in your post).

6:21 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm fascinated by the idea of "telephone santitizers". (I'm supposed to be studying for tomorrow's evil exam so I'm easily waylaid and fascinated.)

ANYWHO I heart Dave Eggers and his fab books. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is aptly titled.. I also love crime novels. My gran shares her extensive collection of gruesome murder mysteries with me (no really).

10:50 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everything is Illuminated, by Jonathan Safran Foer

It's just so good; I'm dying to read is latest, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

11:16 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah - I get book personality disease with every book I read - I can't help but absorb book personality.

The worst case was when I was reading No Logo. 1984 wasn't much fun either (but great book).

But the best was probably when I was read Lewis Carroll. Poems and stories and riddles and everything. It makes me think ridiculous things, which is fun.

It's cliché but anything by Roald Dahl is absolutely fantastic. I could read his books over and over. And of course, I've already read Haroun and the Sea of Stories, and the entire Hitchhikers Guide.

I recommend Lewis Caroll, he's fun. And also try Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome. It's delighfully whimsical and silly and it made me realise that people in the "olden days" had a sense of humour too. And it'll make you want to drift dreamily down the Thames. Mmmmmm...

2:37 am

 
Blogger Bug said...

Ok, I'm giving you generic, easy-to-read-but-fun books:

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown - I know everyone in the world has read it, but it really does suck you in

My Fake Wedding by Mina Ford - I used to bus to work and I made the mistake of taking this book on the bus with me. Note: do not read in public because you WILL laugh and people WILL think you're crazy. Very crass but very, very funny

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer (or Jenny) Crusie - I admit I got sucked into the not-terribly-cerebral-but-totally-addictive chick lit thing and Jennifer Crusie's the best chick lit author I've read. Her stories are pretty much bodice-rippers on steroids but they're great: crime, small towns and lots and LOTS of sex. Great fun

4:47 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you, Pea - i was trying to think of Jonathan Safran Foer's book, but could only remember a quote: "First I will describe my eyes, and then I will begin the story. My eyes are blue and resplendant. Now I will begin the story".
Excellent.
And Jennifer Crusie - best chick lit evah.
By the by, the sequel to Three Men in a Boat is called Three Men on the Bummel. heh. (yeah. I'm four.)

6:54 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have so many books that I just adore, and read and re-read, but I can only come up with one book at the moment - A Million Little Peices - I think by James Frey?. Such a good read, well written and haunting. I had to stop reading it on the tube, not because I was laughing, but because I was crying!

2:43 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I do this too, get so sucked up in a book that I feel either depressed or happy depending on what is going on in the novel. I also tend to cry buckets either way, sad or happy tears.

Only if the book is great of course. I don't cry for tripe.

4:36 pm

 
Blogger chindi said...

The first book I think I cried reading was "Where the Red Fern Grows" way back in elementary school.

6:02 pm

 
Blogger Lauren said...

His Dark Materials trilogy (Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman is amazing. I tried to summarize what it's kinda about/keywords, but kept deleting/editing it so much I gave up. It's definitely in my top ten. Along with Sophie's Choice - William Styron, which is devastating and Nymphomation - Jeff Noon.

11:05 pm

 
Blogger Kevin said...

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

or

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

5:30 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

read crimson petal and the white. amazing writing.
victorian London prostitutes - you can't go wrong.

11:23 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi! I am 'merican, as you say...and a southerner. With that said, I will suggest two very good books written by southern writers: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) and The Sound and the Fury (his name has honsestly slipped my mind..and I don't feel like looking it up or anything. Anyway, AS SOON as I post this, I will remember!)

7:56 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Bible. Full of sex, drugs and rock and roll. But seriously, Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland. Starts by introducing a dead American Football player who is watching two old friends as a ghost and one of them falls into a coma. A great start to a great book.

11:48 am

 
Blogger Unknown said...

download the RRB Examination NTPC result from here, the RRB finally going to announce the RRB Result as very soon

1:59 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check Your CBSE 12th Class Result Here

6:26 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check your CBSE 12th Result Here

7:11 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check The Framce Vs Romania Live Streaming Here

10:22 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check The Albania Vs Switzerland Live Streaming Here

10:23 am

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check Your NEET Result Here

10:24 am

 
Anonymous friendship day images 2016 said...

happy friendship day
friendship day quotes
quotes on friendship

3:23 pm

 
Anonymous CBSE RESULT said...

Nice and informative

CBSE Result

CBSE 10th Class Result

CBSE 12th Class Result

12:09 pm

 
Blogger krishna said...



Hyderabad escort
Independent Hyderabad escorts

8:51 am

 
Blogger laxmi said...

thanks for the info and we love to write about these topics.. you can check
Holi Images
Happy Holi Images
Happy Holi 2017 Images
Happy Holi Wishes
Happy Holi HD Wallpapers
Holi Pictures
Holi Photos
Holi Messages
Happy Holi Images HD
Happy Holi HD Wallpapers

3:32 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Click here to get karnataka sslc result 2017.

12:13 pm

 
Blogger laxmi said...

Mother’s Day is celebrated for our family most special person our mother. Mother is a god gift for all people in the world. Every son/daughter is celebrated Mother’s Day for their mother; they express their feelings, love, and joy with their mom. Mother’s Day is celebrated in all over the world on different days;
Mothers Day 2017 Images
Happy Mothers Day Quotes
Mothers Day Quotes
Happy Mothers Day 2017 Quotes

12:08 pm

 
Blogger Shakshi said...

AP SSC Results 2017
HPBOSE 10th Result 2017

10:12 am

 
Blogger Unknown said...

CBSE 12th Result 2017
CBSE 10th Result 2017

6:38 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Click here to get "karnataka sslc results 2017" online.

11:43 am

 
Blogger Rajkumar Saini said...

Your article is very useful and has real knowledge. It's very helpful information. I will be waiting for your next post. Keep It up.
Memorial Day 2017
Memorial Day Thank You Quotes
Memorial Day Pictures

2:01 pm

 
Blogger pooja said...

First of all i am saying that i like your post very much.I am really impressed by the way in which you presented the content and also the
structure of the post. Hope you can gave us more posts like this and i really appreciate your hardwork.
Happy Fathers Day quotes
Happy Fathers Day Images From Daughter
Images of Fathers Day Cards
Fathers Day HD Wallpaepr

3:23 am

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Friendship Day Images
Images for Friendship Day
Friendship Day 2017 Images
Friendship Day Pictures Free Download

6:54 am

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Friendship Day Images
Friendship Day Photos
Friendship Day Pictures
Happy Friendship Day HD Pic

1:48 pm

 
Anonymous Modern Painter's said...

I really really appreciate this article Thanks For Sharing People also like this
Modern Painter's Awesome post


8:02 am

 
Blogger rajkingsh@85gmail.com said...

The information you have posted is very useful. The sites you have referred was good. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Mothers Day Photos
Happy Mothers Day 2019 Images

11:37 am

 
Blogger rajkingsh@85gmail.com said...

I like this website so much it's really awesome.I have also gone through your other posts too and they are also very much appreciate able and I'm just waiting for your next update to come as I like all your posts.
Happy Mothers Day 2019 Images

12:05 pm

 
Blogger roskey said...

you are truly a good webmaster. The web site loading pace is incredible. It kind of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Also, The contents are masterwork. you’ve performed a great activity on this subject!

Happy Easter Images 2019

10:53 am

 
Blogger roskey said...

I’m excited to find this page. I wanted to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely savored every bit of it and I have you book marked to see new stuff in your web site.

Happy Easter Images 2019
Happy Easter Wishes 2019 For Friends
Happy Easter Messages 2019 For Facebook
Happy Easter Greetings 2019 For Facebook
Happy Easter Captions 2019 For Facebook

10:53 am

 
Blogger rajkingsh@85gmail.com said...

Thanks for sharing a nice article really such a wonderful site you have done a great job once more thanks a lot
Mothers Day Images

7:13 am

 

Post a Comment

<< Home