contents
Library residency
Linda Snell
The book I'm reading currently
Agent Dmitri, the history of Russia's most daring spy by Emil Draitser and Strictly Ann the autobiography of Ann Widdecombe, the politician. Hopefully it will be interesting, I think she's got some guts. I like to read books centred on decency, honesty and social and political conscience.
A book that had a big impact on me
Riders in the chariot by Patrick White. He is one of the Nobel winners for literature, he won in 1973. An Australian writer. It was such a profound mediation on the nature of goodness; that goodness can be borne in an ugly physical vehicle. It's centred on the lives of four characters, all of whom are physically and or mentally ugly or unacceptable in one way or another. All four characters were profoundly good, they were the riders in the chariot. It is profound.
He has also written a book called Voss which is an astonishing tour de force.
Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres is another astonishing book; political conscience, personal conscience, emotion, love … it was just formidable.
My desert island reading
The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott. It's about the partition of India in the 1940s. It's a work largely of fiction, the characters are fictional but the historical and political backdrop is not. It's a vast tome, I would certainly be a very long time reading this, and I would never get bored because it's difficult to understand in places.
My choice of lifetime magazine subscription
I'm not particularly a magazine reader.
My must-see film
A film called Seven Pounds with Will Smith, it was extremely moving. This guy, Will Smith, attempts to repair the damage he felt he'd done by killing seven people, however unwittingly. He wanted to give seven people a chance for a happy and decent life.
My guilty-pleasure telly
Probably X-Factor. I like the singing, I like to hear people with good voices sing, my excuse for X-Factor!
My radio turn-on and turn-off
I like to listen to Woman's Hour on Radio 4.
My radio turn-off is obviously The Archers because there is this awful character on it called Lynda Snell, my namesake. I can't bear the music, I can't bear the content, I literally run to the radio to turn it off.
My favourite work of art
My uncle was an equine sculptor in bronze. I quite like a sculpture of a horse that he made. I've got a picture of it at home, it's not a static horse, I like the movement in the piece. Also, I do feel quite proud that a member of my family has managed to produce something that looks skilled. I do like art but I focus more on writing than visual medium.
The weekend paper I am most likely to pick up
The Guardian.
The section of the weekend paper I read first
I start at the beginning really and just work through.
A piece of music that makes me smile
I like Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.
A piece of music that makes me cry
Set Fire to the Rain by Adele. She's got such a beautiful voice.
There's a song by Dido too, White Flag. It's easier to think of pieces music that make you sad and cry than think of ones that make you laugh and smile.
