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Library residency
David Gilks
The book I'm reading currently
Two books at the moment, A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor and Russia and the Russians, a History by Geoffrey Hosking. I'm reading a lot about empires recently; China, Europe and empires in general.
A book that had a big impact on me
I'm going to be bold and say Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre. I think there is something in good spy novels that raises questions of morality of individual choice against the needs of the State.
My desert island reading
Something really humorous, I'd need to make myself laugh.
My choice of lifetime magazine subscription
National Geographic.
My must-see film
Glory it's about the first all-black army regiment in the American Civil War and how they are discounted. They are literally fighting the prejudice issue and their commanding officer's prejudices.
My guilty-pleasure telly
The Chase.
My radio turn-on and turn-off
Quite a few Radio 4 programmes, I like Any Questions because I can shout at the radio.
My radio turn off is John Humphries.
My favourite work of art
Anything by Grayson Perry. I really rate him as an interesting and thought provoking artist.
The weekend paper I am most likely to pick up
It would be unlikely that I would pick up a paper but The Independent if I did. I don't particularly enjoy reading newspapers.
The section of the weekend paper I read first
The sport section, so probably from back to front.
A piece of music that makes me smile
Quite a few actually but I can't think of one.
A piece of music that makes me cry
The Londonderry Air – Danny Boy – for the sense of loss it evokes.
