Monday, July 8, 2013

Wasnick Blog # 33 Twenty One Books


I’m considering embarking on a journey—a re-reading of the twenty one stories that best influenced, transported, soothed, seduced and inspired my imagination. For me a good story is a meaty carcass to gnaw on, a meal not to be hurried. I don’t read fast, never have. I like fiction that makes me think. Maybe some of these tales won’t have stood the test of time, but I doubt it, in my memory each still contains a bright hermetic integrity.
When it came to books I was a slow starter. I didn't realize reading was potentially a pleasure rather than a parentally inflicted chore until I stumbled upon Jerome K Jerome’s ‘Three Men in a Boat’ (which, as an eleven year old gave me my first laughter-stitch). 
The list bellow represents something of a Sophie’s Choice, no two books by the same author, which alone meant a drastic and painful cutting. The order is chronological, not in terms of when they were written, but from the selfish notion that only once I’d read them did they come into existence:
“Nine Billion Names of God”— Arthur C Clarke. A short story that opened my mind to infinite possibility.
“Siddhartha”—Hesse. Could also have been Steppenwolf but I chose this because it introduced an 18 year old to the concept of spiritual journey.
“The Count of Monte Cristo” —Dumas. Revenge served sweet and cold.
“The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”—Hugo. Profound pathos wrapped in a ripping yarn.
“The Foundation Trilogy” —Asimov. The ultimate in Science Fiction.
“Titus Groan”—Mervyn Peake. Although the Gormaghast trilogy fades in the last of the series (as Peak’s health collapsed), books one and two are truly remarkable feats of possibly the most underrated imagination in English literature. The guy was a good artist too!
“Cider With Rosie” —Laurie Lee. First of three effortless gems bridging pastoral England and sun-hardened Spain.
“Cat’s Cradle”— Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut made me feel like I wasn’t alone in the world.
“Cannery Row—Steinbeck. If this story don’t get to you, you aint human!
“Love for Lydia”— H.E. Bates. If I could write half as well as Bates I would die happy.
“First Love, Last Rights”—Ian McEwen. Along with his other early book of short stories, “Between the Sheets”, these wee tales are provocative, funny, and clever.
“The Wasp Factory” —Iain Banks. More extreme than McEwen, Banks is downright black.
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”—Le Carre. George Smiley, is one of the great character vehicles of modern fiction, brilliantly-flawed, a giant little man. 
“The Chymical Wedding”—Lindsay Clarke. It was this or John Fowels’ “The Magus”, and as Clarkes' book is about alchemy, that tipped the scales.
“Riddley Walker”—Russell Hoban. Written in a post-holocaustic language, it’s a one-off slice of genius. 
“Four Letters of Love” —Niall Williams. An affirmation of heart wrenching passion and tenacity. 
“Shadow of the Wind”— Zafon. From first to last paragraph, a story that overrules the humdrum. 
“Perfume”—Suskind. Dark as it comes. For sheer originality and cunning, Perfume is a sensory juggernaut. 
“The Fingersmith”—Sarah Waters. So well written. A tricky, conjurer of time and place. 
“The Fencing Master”—Perez-Reverte. It was a tough call between this and his Captain Alatriste series, but The Fencing Master ultimately won the day, because I identified with what he was fighting for. And...his female villain is a bloody marvelous creation. 
“Game of Thrones”—Martin. Having read all five books, mostly in the bath (and I hate cold bath water!) I confess total addiction to Martin’s brutally real parallel world

9 comments:

The Creative Beast said...

This is quite a list of reading material! I may have to check out some of these books for summer reading =-)

Unknown said...

Three weeks ago I found your 'the artful dodger' when looking in a book store on the Drive for the reason my car would not start because I was meant to fine something. Now have read most, via Amazon.ca. I am 80 and just decided to become an artist as I am finished pretty well raising my 6. Now, tonight, your blog and sent pieces of it off to various of my dearly beloveds.
Thanks for expressing yourself into my world.

Unknown said...

Some of the books are on my memory, some I didn't read. I'll start with Riddley Walker.

What are you reading now?

Sabina
(I assume I must say that is my real name.)

Laura said...

I suggest "What the Bee Knows: Reflections on Myth, Symbol, and Story" by P.L. Travers. Currently reading this, and it made me think of you. LK

guiltlessreader said...

I'm going to go through your list and see what I can get on my own TBR list. Interesting to see what has influenced you!

Gale Langseth Vester said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Freddy MaDearie said...

I like how you said these books didn't come into existence until you had read them. I find it hard to recommend my favorite books to other people, because they are my books and were written for me. :)

Shannon Lee said...

Hello, this is a long shot. I'm here in Ottawa and would like to pick your brain about how you went about publishing the Griffin/Sabine Trilogy.

I have what I think is a grand idea for a series of books that would include photos, lots of photos, and an eclectic group of stories.

Need your help, if possible. Just a suggestion or two would matter so much.

Best wishes, Shannon in Ottawa

dmbr said...

I wish you had not selected Sophie's Choice as an analogy. That movie is a nightmare from which, having watched it only once, I may never recover.