Books Tag

I often read Mrs O’Neil’s education blog: inspiration galore for English teachers.  She has recently been tagged and left an open tag invitation to her readers.   I accepted. 

Three questions:

1. How many books do you own?
Probably about 200 in all (including 40-ish cookbooks).  Used to have many more but in the last year I bought my first house.  This led my parents to announce they were no longer prepared to devote half of their attic to my dusty books (fair dos) and so one weekend they joyfully dumped 6 box loads on my doorstep.  These boxes, plus the books I’d been collecting since, simply wouldn’t fit in my new wee house so I had to be ruthless.  Donated the cast-offs to local charity Blythswood.

2. What was the last book you read?

Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country’s Hidden Past by Giles Tremlett

Hugely informative and highly entertaining.

3.Five Books that mean a lot to me:

A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth

I read this when I lived in Finland.  It was the middle of a bitter winter and the days were short.  Going out was not appealing so I spent a lot of time alone during those few months.  Started reading this novel one icy, dark afternoon and was suddenly transported to a bright, bustling India.  Fell in love with the characters and cried when the book ended because I felt like I had lost some friends.  On the cover of my edition is a quotation from The Times’ book review.  It says, “Read this book: it’ll keep you company for the rest of your life.” It’s true.

 The Magic Faraway Tree Trilogy – Enid Blyton

Loved these books when I was a kid; love these books now.  I can see why some of Ms Blyton’s books could be conceived as less than PC, but I challenge anyone to read this trilogy and not wish they could just once try the biscuits that pop in your mouth, or stroke Silky’s hair or whizz down the tree’s slide on a pink satin cushion.

Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen

If I am feeling down Pride & Prejudice is what I turn to.  I love the sparring between Elizabeth and Darcy.  And Mr Bennet cracks me up –

“An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth.  From this day
you must be a stranger to one of your parents.  Your mother will
never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will
never see you again if you do.” 

In The Shadow of the Sun – Ryszard Kapuscinski

Essays from a Polish journalist who spent many years living and working in Africa.  Couldn’t even begin to tell you what the essays cover.  A very diverse collection.  All I can say is that after reading this I realised that my prior perceptions of Africa had been entirely based on stereotypes.  A real eye opener of a book.

Real Fast Food – Nigel Slater

I picked this out of my many cookbooks as it was the first cookbook I bought.  After using it for a couple of weeks I was totally hooked on cooking.  It’s still a firm favourite and I would recommend it to all.

 Going to follow Mrs O’Neil and make this an open tag.  If you fancy answering the three questions, consider yourself tagged,

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