Simon's 'all about me' meme

    

      Simon T. has tagged me for a meme which involves choosing ten books at random and using them to say something about yourself. Read Simon's post and you'll see that cheating is allowed, so having selected a bunch of books myself - very hard to do, actually - I then asked my husband to find some which represent me either obliquely or obviously. Interestingly, we had a couple of books in common, but I've chucked one of Mr. C's other choices which I felt didn't quite fit and substituted one of my own.

   In size order, then, from the bottom of the pile:

The Isle of Man: A Book About the Manx by Christopher Killip. Extraordinary black and white photographs of the people and landscapes of the IoM (which is where I come from). I was flabbergasted to note the current price.

Montagu Don, The Sensuous Garden - fantastic photographs and a text full of passion.

Jane Grigson, Good Things - food!

Alexander McCall Smith, The Right Attitude to Rain. I love rain, so presumably my attitude is the right one.

Matthew Kneale, English Passengers. Have you read this tour de force? No? Why not? Do so forthwith! Seriously, it is a marvellous novel and it features a Manxman (see above).

Mr. C. chose The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters for my Mitford mania, although I'd already plumped for The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate, my most often read book(s).

Muriel Spark, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Mr. C. seems to think it represents my Edinburgh girls' school education.

Molly Keane, Good Behaviour. His choice again as I am rather keen on good behaviour. Oh! (Maybe that's connected to said Edin. girls' school? - I think not).

Bernadette Murphy, Zen and the Art of Knitting.

And finally, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird. Again, we both chose this as Atticus Finch has a lot to answer for; I became a lawyer because of him.

I seem to have more books but fewer 'topics' there than I ought. Do have a go at this yourself, if you wish.

Comments

[Simon T]

Thanks for participating! Having to choose the books myself would make this impossible, where to start! So I used mine as springboards for more tenuous links... but I like what you did. Although unleashing someone else into my book collection to find titles which represent me, that would be quite daunting... you're brave!

[Claire (Paperback Reader)]

Insightful post, Karen! Simon tagged me also and I'm hoping to complete this for tomorrow.

I hope that The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is only an oblique representation of your education and you didn't experience the abuse of power that the Brodie set did!

I have yet to read any Nancy Mitford and feel it is the most glaring gap in my reading; I intended to rectify it last year but the best laid plans of readers...

[Simon (Savidge Reads)]

I shall be doing this next week I think, I might ask The Converted One to throw one into the mix too after your other half did.

I loved yours, I must read English Passengers as my Gran has also been saying its an amazing book, I think the boat issue puts me off!

[Julie Fredericksen]

Curious - what does Atticus Finch have to answer for?

[Danielle]

I've read a few of those and have a few more on my pile to read! And I can't wait to get to the Molly Keane book (am reading her novels in the order they were written). I think that's considered her masterpiece!

[Thomas at My Porch]

Simon tagged me as well and Love in a Cold Climate leads my list.