📚 Books

Some books that I've read & enjoyed.

The Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher

A gift from a friend. Glorious descriptions of food - and people and places - from France, Italy and Switzerland in the 1930's.

The Peregrine by JA Baker

I've enjoyed exploring Werner Herzog's films over the last year. I started with 'Encounters at the End of the World' after a tip from a friend and found it captivating. Since then I've also watched Grizzly Man, Fitzcarraldo and Queen of the Desert. He has a few pieces of advice for film-makers: get out into the world and start making, travel on foot where possible, and read this book. So I did. I've reflected on why this is his sole book recommendation for aspiring film-makers. I think it's because the language used is very unusual: non of the adjectives 'normally' fit with the nouns (eg. a 'hard' sky). So it challenges your preconceptions about description. It's also really intense. It's a masterpiece. Highly recommended.

Dune by Frank Herbert

I'm excited about the new Dune film so thought I should read the book. Sure enough it's epic.

Mythos by Stephen Fry

I feel like I missed out on a classics education and that I would have appreciated it. Throughout school I identified as a scientist which seems a little narrow minded in retrospect. Stephen Fry presents the Greek myths in a palatable and entertaining way.

The Odyssey by Homer (Penguin Classics)

For some reason I thought the Odyssey would be very hard work. I wasn't expecting it to as enjoyable as it is! And now I know what it means to 'pour one out' :)

Candide by Voltaire

My granny gets her pills delivered by a man who works part time for the local pharmacy. One day he arrived at her house and came to find her in her garden as she didn't answer the door. She was astonished when he quoted Voltaire saying "il faut cultiver notre jardin". It turns out he is a retired professor and speaks multiple languages! I saw a copy of Candide on a bookshelf recently and was surprised by how short it was. I knew it was an important philosophical work so thought I'd try reading it. I wasn't at all ready for the wild romp that unfolded. I think I need to read it again now that I understand that that's the point! Perhaps I'll try reading it in French next time!

Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz

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Some childhood books that had a big impact.

Swallows & Amazons by Arthur Ransome

For about three years I had a new years resolution to 'sail to an island'. I don't have a boat and am not very good at sailing so this was quite a challenge. But something about packing for an expedition, sailing to a destination, landing, exploring, then returning felt like a perfect little adventure. I realised this is the core of the Swallows & Amazons series which I read when I was little. I achieved my new year's resolution in 2016 - see 'Sailing, Greece, 2016' under /adventures.

Touching The Void by Joe Simpson

I read Touching The Void when I was six years old and became obsessed. On reflection that's quite young to read such an intense story! A seed/dream/ambition/fear of mountaineering was planted.

Brendon Chase by BB

An adventure classic from 1944. Three boys spend a summer living outdoors.