Yet another literary meme...
One book that changed your life:
As a young person:
Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl.
As an Adult:
Hmm...very, very hard to say. Probably Good-bye to All That (Robert Graves), with Testament of Youth (Vera Brittain) somewhere behind it. War is hell.
One book that you've read more than once:
Only one? Okay, Brideshead (members of the audience begin to look pointedly at their watches, shuffle their programs, and wonder why the hell she mentions this book so often). Mr. Waugh, we have a standing date for Lent, okay?
One book you would want on a desert island:
The Complete William Shakespeare. If I'm marooned with a group of people, we'll perform the plays with all sorts of island-y props and have a marvelous time. If I'm by myself, a la Tom Hanks, I'll memorize my favorite monologues in between building magnificent sand castles and hatching wacky plans for rescue.
One book that made you laugh: Anything by Wodehouse, but most of all The Code of the Woosters.
One book that made you cry: 'Twould be unfair to use one of the books I've already named, even though all those listed above have, at one point or another have (sometimes not on the first reading, and that last one made me laugh until my sides hurt and tears streamed from my eyes) The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver.
One book that you wish had been written: Patton: A Biography by Bernard Law Montgomery.
One book that you wish had never been written: The Da Vinci Code. Steaming pile of...
The book that you are currently reading: A Fool's Errand
One book that you have been meaning to read: The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion.
As a young person:
Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl.
As an Adult:
Hmm...very, very hard to say. Probably Good-bye to All That (Robert Graves), with Testament of Youth (Vera Brittain) somewhere behind it. War is hell.
One book that you've read more than once:
Only one? Okay, Brideshead (members of the audience begin to look pointedly at their watches, shuffle their programs, and wonder why the hell she mentions this book so often). Mr. Waugh, we have a standing date for Lent, okay?
One book you would want on a desert island:
The Complete William Shakespeare. If I'm marooned with a group of people, we'll perform the plays with all sorts of island-y props and have a marvelous time. If I'm by myself, a la Tom Hanks, I'll memorize my favorite monologues in between building magnificent sand castles and hatching wacky plans for rescue.
One book that made you laugh: Anything by Wodehouse, but most of all The Code of the Woosters.
One book that made you cry: 'Twould be unfair to use one of the books I've already named, even though all those listed above have, at one point or another have (sometimes not on the first reading, and that last one made me laugh until my sides hurt and tears streamed from my eyes) The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver.
One book that you wish had been written: Patton: A Biography by Bernard Law Montgomery.
One book that you wish had never been written: The Da Vinci Code. Steaming pile of...
The book that you are currently reading: A Fool's Errand
One book that you have been meaning to read: The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion.