Malu's Challenge (Top Ten Non Fiction Books)

Member Name: gillyman

Product:	Top Ten Non Fiction Books
Date:	03/11/03 (62 review reads)
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Advantages: Hope you enjoy

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this challenge was originally set by malu, please join in, read other people's entries and pass the challenge on to another bookworm! there isn't a category for this, but as it is just some fun for the weekend please forgive me.

My note: Going back a few years a list was published (I think in the Telegraph) of the top books of the 20th Century as voted for by readers and literary critics - I use that as a guide for what I "should" be reading and have been introduced to lots of interesting stuff as a result. But I also read lots of fun stuff too!!

q.1: what is your favourite genre?

I love reading "boys own" action adventure books - my particular favourites as you may have noticed from my ops, are Tom Clancy, Wilbur Smith, Jack Higgins and similar authors -I tend to find someone I like and devour whatever they have written. My latest "find" is Nelson DeMille.


q.2. do you read the classics, i.e., the great authors of the 18th and 19th century?

No - not at all. I'm the one who sits there nodding sagely when everyone talks about Jane Austen changing their lives or whatever whilst not having a clue what they're going on about.

q.3. are you interested in thrillers?

In as much as the boys own genre can be described as thrillers then very much so.

q.4. what about horror stories?

Oh no! I read in bed and would have nightmares. If not in bed then I generally fall asleep with a book (on buses, in my chair, at work......) - the only time I can be guaranteed to remain awake is when I walk to work with my nose in a book (somehow avoiding lamp posts)

q.5. do you read science fiction?

No never - has never rang my bell. Prefer to watch it.

q.6. how many harry potter books have you read?

All of them. Didn't enjoy the last one so much. Actually read the first one coz I'd run out of books and was intrigued.
Then just continued when the new ones came out. They really are good fun and if you haven't had a go grab the first one on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

q.7. have you ever read and enjoyed biographies or autobiographies?

Yes - lots. Fact is stranger than fiction so if you want a strange story, grab a biog or autobiog. Churchill was the most recent but any interesting historical figures, political leaders, generals, footballers - you name it I'll read it.

q.8. do you remember any of the books you read and loved as a child?

When I was very little I read Enid Blyton - Secret Seven, Famous Five and whatever else she could put a number after (Birmingham 6?!) Then I graduated to Just William and Biggles. I read them all over and over. Then for some reason I started on Jeffrey Archer - and things have never been the same.

q.9. have you re-read these books as a grown-up?

No - I think I'd find them a little childish (particularly Jeffrey Archer!) When I have my own kids though I will enjoy introducing them!

Q.10 Is there a book of which you can say it has influenced you?

The biographies and autobiographies are quite inspiring. By 25 Churchill was an MP, a published author and journalist and had fought in two wars. If that doesn't make you consider what you've been doing with your life then I'd be very surprised!

Q.11. Which are your favourite authors?

Clancy and Wilbur Smith have already received a mention. John Steinbeck is superb literature, Ben Elton I find tremendously entertaining and I love the way that Stephen Fry manipulates the language. Mike Gayle is amusing and incisive and I really like his stuff (think Bridget Jones with balls). Bill Bryson makes me laugh lots.

Q.12 Which book would you take with you on a desert island?

It would have to be something that I'd be happy to reread. Trainspotting is a big favourite as is Catcher i
n the Rye, both of which I have read several times. If the Lord of the Rings is counted as one book rather than three I might grab that.

Q.13 What is your attitude towards translations?

If they are done well then they can be fine but often they lead to a loss of nuance. Clearly however, there are a lot of superb writers who are only accessible through translation - I'm not going to learn a language fluently just so that I can read a book.

Q14. Do you buy your books/get them from the library/borrow them from friends/steal them?

I don't know why but I like to keep the books that I have read. I have built up quite a collection and am now on to my third IKEA unit full. I'm too nice to steal so that leaves me with the option of buying. I sometimes buy second hand but otherwise make for the 3 for a tenner rack. Do borrow sometimes from friends as otherwise it gets a bit expensive but make sure to give them back.

Q.15 When you buy books, do you prefer hardcover editions or pocket books?

Prefer pocket books because they are cheaper! Certain authors I buy in hardback coz I'm not prepared to wait that long (the aforementioned Clancy and Smith). I would really like to get my hands on some good leather bound hardbacks of some of the classics as they look really classy (albeit the IKEA bookcase spoils the effect somewhat!)

Q.16 Have you ever tried Audio Books?

No - that's cheating!
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