Read to work / Work to read

Most of my reading at the moment is being dictated by my work and it's turning out to be no bad thing.

I have just finished Janice Galloway's autobiography 'This Is Not About Me' in advance of her visit to my school in 4 weeks time. She will be coming to guide, advise and support our Advanced Higher English class who are studying her novels,'Foreign Parts' and 'The Trick is to Keep Breathing'. I devoured the TISTKB in two days, took a little longer with FP' and bulldozed through her memoir over a weekend.

'This Is Not About Me' was particularly enjoyable because of its setting in the Ayrshire town of Saltcoats. I used to be driven through this cold town on the Firth of Clyde when going to my Gran's house, so whilst reading, I had a very vivid image of the places Galloway grew up in.

What set this book apart from other memoirs was the style of writing. It felt at first like a memoir but later began to read as an engrossing story about a little girl growing up. There seemed to be a distance between Galloway as the narrator and Janice, the little girl, but with still with enough of a link to convey the emotions she felt. The final 10 pages were very powerful but not tainted by melodrama for the sake of dramatic effect or a bleeding heart seeking sympathy. What ultimately came across was a story that I'm sure many could relate to.

Again, in support of the Adv. Higher Class, I am going to read 'Coming Up for Air' by George Orwell. I love Orwell and have been enjoying his other books, beyond the standards of 'Animal Farm' and '1984'. I recommended him to one of the girls in the class so I feel it is only fair that I read this book so that I can support her. Having to read Orwell for work is no bad thing.

After that I am hoping to get the new Stephen King book, 'Under the Dome' from the library. I still have a few older King's to read but I am now reading all his new books as they come out as I feel the man is in one of his productive phases again.

Hopefully after that there will be enough time to read Janice Galloway's 'Clara', a novel based on the life of Clara Schumann, wife of the composer Robert. It's not one of the books being studied by the class but I feel I should be all-knowing vis-a-vis Galloway's works before she visits the school. Much like meeting James Ellroy, I am very excited about the prospect of this visit but hopefully her signature on my books will be better than his.

The Demon Dog Comes to Glasgow

Not much of a signature but it means a lot to me. The greatest book ever written (FACT) signed or at least initialled by the greatest author to have ever lived, the self styled 'Demon Dog' of American Literature, James Ellroy.

I met my friend Ian and his fiance Debbie for dinnerbefore heading to Glasgow Film Theatre for the talk. Ian was quite lucky to be there given that he had escaped from a burning tenemant block the night before.


Ellroy came on and quoted Tennessee Williams, W.H Auden amongst others before launching into a massive thank you to us, his readers:


"I kneel before you and thank you for worshipping the written word, bound in cloth"


To which we roared our approval!


Ellroy read from his new book 'Bloods a Rover' and Ian and I agreed after that it was fascinating to hear his voice read his own words, especially given the unique style in which he writes.


He thanked us again:


"I want to thank you for taking time out from your sex lives, drug addictions and infatuations with Barack Obama to come and hear me read tonight".


When the time came for autographs I was a nervous, simpering wreck but thankfully managed to compose myself by the time I shook his hand. Not only is his voice big but so is the man himself, probably 6ft 3" by my reckoning. He pointed at me as I walked away and he said "See you next year!". A reference to his next book, his second volume of autobiography "The Hilliker Curse".

Full steam ahead!

I am on a roll at the moment, reading lots of really great books. I'm averaging one a week which is not bad considering work and familt commitments. I also think the reason why I am ploughing on is because they have all been really good.

Dark Entries by Ian Rankin - my first Ian Rankin book. Not only was it a graphic novel but it was also a John Constantine (Hellblazer) story.

Fatherland by Robert Harris - Very good thriller and the first of the genre in years for me. I may try 'Archangel'.

Foreign Parts & The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway - TITKB was really good and I read it really quickly. I didn't enjoy Foreign parts as much but it was still pretty good. All in preparation for the visit to my school by Janice which I am very excited about.

The Pesthouse by Jim Crace - Not as good as the 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy but still a great example of dystopian literature.

Annapurna by Maurice Herzog - An account of the first ascent of Annapurna. The author lost all his fingers and toes due to frostbite and to be honest he deserved it given the risks that he put his fellow climbers in.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters - Very reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier.......

Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier - du maurier is a treat and this one is shaping up to be as good as Rebbeca. I have my next two planned as well, 'Frenchmans Creek' and 'The Loving Spirit'

Dracula by Bram Stoker - About time I read this classic!