Why do I want a blog about the books I read, have read and want to read well all book lover know, there is nothing as fantastic or exciting when reading a book you just can’t put down. For most of us, the relationship starts early in life being read to by our parents, grand-parents and such and then with one of the first books you learn how to read with i.e. The John & Jane Books, or the “Ladybird Books such as “Chicken Licken”.
Then we grow older and if we were lucky, books or book vouchers became a part of our birthdays and Christmas, and we then started to read at school I remember that some of my favourite books were the ones we read as part of English literature lessons.
Maybe we then start to read what is in fashion/popular for myself;
In the 1960’s it “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess and “To kill A Mocking Bird” by Harper Lee or how about “Valley of the Dolls” by Jacqueline Susann, although I have to say that I only read these from 1968 onwards.
In the 1970’s it was “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams, “All Creatures Great, and Small” by James Herriot, “Master, and Commander” by Patrick O’Brian, the spy novels of John le Carré and the crime novels of P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, the books by Dick Francis and don’t forget the fantasy of J. R. Tolkien.
In the 1980’s, some of us started going through a fantasy and horror period, with books such as The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike, Pyramids by Terry Pratchett, the horror stories from Stephen King, sci-fi from Frank Herbert, and some of my favourites are from Terry Brooks, I mean of course today’s teenager’s have twilight, but;
in the 1990s we had “interview with the vampire” from Anne Rice, and don’t forget the power of the magical wizard blockbuster from a writer like J. K. Rowling, or “The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman or an addictive piece of historical fiction.
Fiction or Non-Fiction, Fantasy or Thrillers, Legal or Medical Mysteries, Naval or Ancient Rome Novels, I resolutely believe that reading is a treat and one that’s very good for you did you know the united nations acknowledges literacy with all kinds of essential things, including ”ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy.”?
Who am I? My name is John I am 58 years old and have been married to Maureen for 38 years; I love reading and have been reading for what seems like all my life it was actually when I was 5 years old when I started to read seriously, and I had started to build quite a collection of first editions from my favourite authors by the time I was 14 years old. Sometime in the late 80’s and early 90’s I found myself reading less and less this was due to work I just did not have the time for my books I did however start to build up a rather large list of books to read.
I became ill and disabled and thus unable to work in 1995, however I was not in any condition to read and as you can imagine with finances being a bit tight I sold off my collection of books, however, when I became well enough to start once again to take an interest in reading, instead of buying books I started to visit my local Library in Pimlico, which has since moved to the Pimlico Academy see my review of it by clicking on the link.
It is here where I find entry into the worlds that good storyteller’s can guide me, and my appreciation knows no bounds for all their hard work and imagination.
My list of books to read is still growing more or less daily, and I discover that there are brand new works and fresh authors that I would like to read, and so I realize I am reading more books and watching less television, although I still like to watch a good film either on the TV or a DVD.
My favourite books are as you would expect some of the first I read when I was younger, these are “Call of the Wild”, “White Fang”, “David Copperfield”, “Oliver Twist”, and “Gone with the Wind”.
Some of my favourite authors include Bernard Cornwell, Charles Brokaw, Charles Dickens, Conn Igggulden, Dennis Wheatley, Jack London, John Stack, Michael Ford Curtis, Robyn Young, Sam Barone, Scott Mariani, Simon Scarrow, Steve Berry, Steven Pressfield, Tim Severin, Tom Harper and many more some of who I know and many I have yet to discover.
I do hope that you like my reviews and come back to read more and I would very much appreciate any comments and criticisms you have.
The Book Shelf, My Book Blog 