So I saw a programme called "My Life In Books" on TV guide the other day and thought it would make quite an interesting blog post. Here we goooooooooooooo:
1. The first book that I ever remember reading/having read to me was The Tiger who came to Tea.
It's about a tiger who comes to a little girl's house to have tea (self-explanatory...) and eats all of the little girl's food. Later that day Sophie (I think that's what she's called) goes out with her mum to buy a massive can of tiger food in case the tiger returns again (he ate them out of all the food they have in the house), and then they end up having to go to a restaurant for tea because the tiger has eaten all of their food and drank all of their water.
I used to pretend that I was Sophie - I had a little stuffed lion (close enough) and made him come and invade my pretend picnics :)
2. The Happy Prince
A moving book about a statue of a Prince who weeps over the state of the city that he once ruled. He is so upset/angry about all the poverty and injustice that has developed since he died that he employs a little sparrow to try and help his people. The sparrow is at first reluctant to chip away at the gold-covering of the statue and give it to the poor, but as the story goes on he becomes ever more loyal... giving away every part of the Prince (his jewelled eyes, his diamond-encrusted crown, etc) until there is nothing left but a bare stone statue and a city full of happy people. I remember reading this at bedtime with my mum when I was about 8. It's her favourite children's story. It still inspires me, because it is proof that you are at your happiest when you give everything you have away to those who need it more than you do.
3. The Magic Faraway Tree
The first of a series of books by Enid Blyton, and they were the first books that I read on my own. I can't exactly remember what they were about, apart from a group of kids climb up a tree to find a magical land at the top. Every time they go up they enter a different land... Oh yeah and there's a man with a moon for a head in it.
4. The tale of Peter Rabbit/any book by Beatrix Potter
I am a big Beatrix Potter fan. She had the most incredible yet humble life and her books are lovely. I am proud to say I have read every single one. Peter Rabbit was my brother's favourite, and I think I liked The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck the most. If for nothing else, read them for her amazing watercolour paintings.
5. Just So Stories
My great uncle Jumbo was mortified when he realised I had not read the Just So stories - they're a collection of short stories: how the leopard got his spots, etc - and so he bought me a copy when I was about 11. They have been treasured ever since. I read the whole book during my summer holidays before I started secondary school, so when I pick them up I think of that excitement/worry that I experienced then.
6. The Chronicles of Narnia
Who doesn't have some sort of connection with these books?! During year 7 I was off school for about a week with some sort of chest infection and I read the whole series from beginning to end. My favourite is The Last Battle, mainly because of how it defined my idea of Heaven and life after death. C.S. Lewis is still probably my favourite writer just because he tackles so many difficult topics through a language that anyone can understand; even children.
7. The Indian in the Cupboard
A story about a little boy who is given an old cupboard with a little lock and key. He discovers that when he puts items in his cupboard, locks it, and then unlocks it, the item comes to life. He becomes friends with one of his little plastic figurines - a Native American indian - and fight together in a battle or something... Again I used to have a little cupboard in my bedroom and I used to put little animal figurines in there. When I opened it again, I would pretend that the figurine had turned into one of my stuffed animals and was alive... I also used to wish that my Playmobil people were real, although however much I tried to bring them to life I was never successful :(
8. The Thief Lord
A book by Cornelia Funke. I went through a Cornelia Funke stage when I was about 12. She's a german children's author and has written so many amazing novels. My favourite is The Thief Lord. Mainly because of her imagination. It's set in Venice and is about two orphans who are trying to escape their evil auntie and uncle. They team up with a gang of teenage "thieves" and end up robbing a magical artefact as part of an assignment. When I first went to Venice a couple of years ago all the memories of that story came back, and I felt like I was a character out of her book. If a book can do that, it is most definitely a success!
9. Harry Potter
Again, pretty much everybody has read these books. I only started reading them when I was 13 during the school summer holidays (a pattern is emerging here... guess when I read the most!) when we went on a camping trip around Germany and Switzerland. Reading the 5th and 6th books especially make me think of when I became so engrossed that I forgot to be sociable. My family would be outside cooking dinner and I'd be lying in the tent imagining that I was Hermione Granger. Me reading the Harry Potter books was a great source of stress for my mum, who thought that I had become depressed.
10. You are mine
A book that is meant for small children but I only discovered it in my early teens. It's an amazing little book about a wooden puppet called Punchinello, who thinks that he isn't worth anything. In the end he meets the puppet-maker, who tells him that he is "fearfully and wonderfully made", and that he is worth everything to the person who made him. Little book of truth right there! I did a shadow puppet performance of this with my sister and her friend. Made my grannie cry...
11. The Diary of Anne Frank
I think this was the start of the transition where I started to read more adult books. I never actually got to the end because I was so horrified at what happened to her. She is actually one of the (many) people who inspires me, mainly for her bravery and honesty, but also for her patience. I don't think I could maintain such hope whilst being stuck in a hole for two years!
12. And Then There Were None
I LOVE AGATHA CHRISTIE!! I went through a mad phase of reading Agatha Christie books when I was 15. I've got a list of all her murder mystery books pinned up in my bedroom, and I am slowly ticking them all off (there are about 80 though). My favourite is this one. It is so original and SO scary that when I was reading it I literally didn't know which was best: carry on reading to find out the truth, or put the book down because it was freaking me out!
13. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Perhaps not the best novel to choose to read on a holiday visiting some German friends... To make matters worse, my mum was reading "On Hitler's mountain" at the same time. A half autobiography of a jewish girl living in Berlin during the Second World War, and about all the measures her family have to take to keep her safe. It's an amazing story of survival, seen through the eyes of a little girl. This girl actually grew up to be the woman who wrote The Tiger Who Came to Tea, which is a slight coincidence to say the least!!
14. David Copperfield
This book defines me mainly because I haven't read it. I have tried many a time, but have never managed it. What a trawl! I still want to though - everyone who has read it loves it.
15. The Screwtape Letters
One of C.S. Lewis' less famous books, that I finished reading last week. It's about a senior devil who writes letters to his nephew about how to successfully tempt his "subject". It's very challenging. I had to read each chapter at least 3 times to fully understand it, but it was well worth the effort. I feel like I can see my behaviour from the Devil's point of view now ;)
Hope you enjoyed it!
You do not know the pain and anguish I have been through to get this post online. Two hours. Argh.
Love ya,
- R -
