I love reading, and I love watching people read. Observing them drift into a state of deep concentration that sees them ignoring screaming babies, fires and once in a lifetime frisbee catches. It makes them forget that the cup of tea has gone cold and slightly soupy, and their toes are freezing despite 2 pairs of socks. They’re in another place, you can see it on their faces.
Of course, you need fuel to feed this fire. Here’s a list of alternative reading list suggestions – it could make for an interesting year…
- Read all the recipients of a major literary prize, e.g. every Booker.
- Read all the books with covers designed by Chipp Kidd.
- I am still very enthused about choosing books purely by colour. Have a red book month or for the teeth-grinders amongst you, black.
- Read the top ten books from the year of your birth.
- Or if you don’t like you birth year’s selection, how about 1971?
- Exclusively read books set in tiny Portuguese villages.
- Exclusively read novels by Alaskans.
- Delve into the classic books of your country – they are waiting for you. Or another nation’s novels – France, Spain, Canada. (Thanks Mausumi!)
- Find a theme that unnerves you. Grief, sexuality, loneliness. Happiness.
- Ask ten of your friends for their favourite book titles. Start there.
- Then ask ten people who are at least 10 years older than you.
- My Form 2 teacher (that’s age 12) gave me this list he photocopied (from gawd knows where) of the supposed top 100 must read books. I made a start and have been carrying it around ever since. You can do better than me!
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