Books.
I'm learning an interesting speech, perhaps only interesting to me because it rings so true (a good thing, all the same): Why did God make me so fucking mediocre? If there is a higher power and it's responsible for me it did a terrible job.
A survey culled:
*Which books are you reading right now?
James Joyce's 'Ulysses', the letters of William Burroughs, Yeats' Love Poems and 'King Lear'. (A habit of mine - I have a novel, some form of biography/criticism/non-lit, poetry and a play all on the go at the same time. If I have nothing particular to read.)
*When is your favorite time to read?
Any time. To really read I have to get into a certain frame of mind which bears no relation whatsoever to when I read. However, I do like reading lie-ins.
*Where is your favorite place to read?
Trains.
*What is your favorite quotation?
Oh, too many to even begin....
*Who is your favorite novelist?
That's difficult, because when it comes to novels I try to read widely... Maybe I just haven't found an absolute favourite yet. At this point, perhaps Dostoyevsky, although I shamefully haven't read ' The Brothers Karamazov' yet.
*Which school text did you most enjoy?
In sparse detail 'The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock'; in greater depth probably 'Return of the Native'... I hated it in part, but it was a huge eye-opener.
*What is the most difficult book you have ever read?
Personally, probably William Burroughs' 'Naked Lunch', but in terms of literary challenge, probably 'The Wasteland'.
*What is your most overrated book?
D. H. Lawrence - 'Sons and Lovers'. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not a fan.
*Who is your favorite character?
There are many. Hamlet, for sheer intrigue; Emma, because I identify with her ridiculous amounts; Heathcliff, because he's devastatingly attractive; Prufrock, because he's so contradictory and scattered and can be interpreted so many ways; Uriah Heep, because he's such a fantastic creation; Anna Karenina - just because.
*Which characters do you hate most?
Paul Morel, Fanny from 'Mansfield Park', any of Ann Radcliffe's heroines - all for irritation reasons.
*Who would be your ideal literary dining companions?
Shelley for intellect, Shakespeare for intrigue, Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde for wit.
*What is the worst screen adaptation?
'Emma' with Gwyneth Paltrow was fairly terrible; 'The Age of Innocence' was appallingly acted.
*Name three desert island choices.
Shakespeare Complete Works. Then it gets difficult... Shelley Complete Works? Or maybe Eliot. Probably 'High Fidelity' because it would remind me of home. Maybe 'War and Peace' because I'd probably get round to actually reading it.
*What is your favorite poem?
That's impossible. Just one... I suppose Prufrock or 'The Wasteland' because they work well in isolation. Otherwise probably something by Shelley. Keats and Yeats are growing on me particularly at the moment. And I'm almost a Smiths song...
*Which book changed your life?
Prufrock (again...) made me want to teach English; 'Notes from Underground'... I can't give a reason.
*Which book would you make compulsory reading?
Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', I think. But all of them, really.
A survey culled:
*Which books are you reading right now?
James Joyce's 'Ulysses', the letters of William Burroughs, Yeats' Love Poems and 'King Lear'. (A habit of mine - I have a novel, some form of biography/criticism/non-lit, poetry and a play all on the go at the same time. If I have nothing particular to read.)
*When is your favorite time to read?
Any time. To really read I have to get into a certain frame of mind which bears no relation whatsoever to when I read. However, I do like reading lie-ins.
*Where is your favorite place to read?
Trains.
*What is your favorite quotation?
Oh, too many to even begin....
*Who is your favorite novelist?
That's difficult, because when it comes to novels I try to read widely... Maybe I just haven't found an absolute favourite yet. At this point, perhaps Dostoyevsky, although I shamefully haven't read ' The Brothers Karamazov' yet.
*Which school text did you most enjoy?
In sparse detail 'The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock'; in greater depth probably 'Return of the Native'... I hated it in part, but it was a huge eye-opener.
*What is the most difficult book you have ever read?
Personally, probably William Burroughs' 'Naked Lunch', but in terms of literary challenge, probably 'The Wasteland'.
*What is your most overrated book?
D. H. Lawrence - 'Sons and Lovers'. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not a fan.
*Who is your favorite character?
There are many. Hamlet, for sheer intrigue; Emma, because I identify with her ridiculous amounts; Heathcliff, because he's devastatingly attractive; Prufrock, because he's so contradictory and scattered and can be interpreted so many ways; Uriah Heep, because he's such a fantastic creation; Anna Karenina - just because.
*Which characters do you hate most?
Paul Morel, Fanny from 'Mansfield Park', any of Ann Radcliffe's heroines - all for irritation reasons.
*Who would be your ideal literary dining companions?
Shelley for intellect, Shakespeare for intrigue, Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde for wit.
*What is the worst screen adaptation?
'Emma' with Gwyneth Paltrow was fairly terrible; 'The Age of Innocence' was appallingly acted.
*Name three desert island choices.
Shakespeare Complete Works. Then it gets difficult... Shelley Complete Works? Or maybe Eliot. Probably 'High Fidelity' because it would remind me of home. Maybe 'War and Peace' because I'd probably get round to actually reading it.
*What is your favorite poem?
That's impossible. Just one... I suppose Prufrock or 'The Wasteland' because they work well in isolation. Otherwise probably something by Shelley. Keats and Yeats are growing on me particularly at the moment. And I'm almost a Smiths song...
*Which book changed your life?
Prufrock (again...) made me want to teach English; 'Notes from Underground'... I can't give a reason.
*Which book would you make compulsory reading?
Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', I think. But all of them, really.