BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
LlOYD COLE
paulie - We have a section in Phacemag ‘Books That Changed Your Life’. Do you have one? It doesn’t have to be that drastic just something that moved you?
Lloyd Cole - Well there's a few. Michael Moorcock got me into reading when I was 14 or so. Joan Didion made me want to write. Jodie in Rattlesnakes is a combination of a couple of Joan's protagonists. Raymond Chandler taught me about dialogue - he's the best. Raymond Carver got me excited about using less words. Most recently George Saunders's early works are fantastic. |
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paulie - I think that's the top answer Lloyd!
I read somewhere that Morrissey was a fan of Yourself & The Commotions - I have to say between you and him I got quite a literary direction...Simone de Beauvoir amongst others from you and Oscar Wilde from him - were you friends?
I read somewhere that Morrissey was a fan of Yourself & The Commotions - I have to say between you and him I got quite a literary direction...Simone de Beauvoir amongst others from you and Oscar Wilde from him - were you friends?
JIM BOB - CARTER USM & AUTHOR
paulie - We have a section in Phacemag ‘Books that changed your life’ it doesn’t have to be that drastic just something that moved you, anything spring to mind?
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Jim Bob -
'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' by Dave Eggers. I was struggling with my Carter book at the time. It wasn't really working and was just another tedious pop singer's story. When I read 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' I realised there was another way of writing my book. Dave Eggers doesn't stick to any obvious rules. I liked how he explains how to read his book for example. He says if you don't believe it's true, pretend you're reading a novel. It also has a competition halfway through the book, which I nicked for my Carter book. I might never have finished 'Goodnight Jim Bob' if it wasn't for Dave Eggers' book. And then I wouldn't have followed it up with a novel and then three more novels and so on. |
DAVID GEDGE - THE WEDDING PRESENT
Paulie - Away from music David, I have a feature in Phacemag called books that changed your life', it doesn't have to be that drastic, just something that moved you?
Anything spring to mind? |
David Gedge -
I was infatuated by ‘The Trial’ by Franz Kafka and ‘The Outsider’ by Albert Camus for many years! Typical sixth form books, I guess. |
Bill Brewster
BILL -
Yes, there is one. I lived in a typical working class house when I was a kid and there were no books, apart from the Bible. I never read, apart from adventure comics. I was 17 in the heatwave summer of 1976. I also suffered from hay fever, so was hemmed into the house for most of the summer. One day I found a novel lying about upstairs. It was Mrs McGinty’s Dead by Agatha Christie. |
No idea where it came from. I read it one sitting and was hooked.
I spent the rest of the summer getting my mum to bring me more Agatha Christie books. From there, a world of books awaited me…. |
PAOLO HEWITT - AUTHOR/MUSIC JOURNALIST
Paolo - Yes, Dean Martin's biography by Nick Tosches. It took a story to another level . Made me want to follow..
PAUL ROBERTS
Paul Roberts on :'Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance'
If you read a book every ten years and it still makes you think, has it changed your life?
Does it have quality? Without a doubt.
Is it for everyone? No
By his own admission this book is not really about Zen or Motercycles.
It is about quality, it is about self examination and the lust for truth.
It is also about mental illness
Does it pit the romantic in me against the classicist?
Does it remimnd me of when I was young?
Hell yeah.
Sitting in the toilet of a petrol station in Germany
Hitch-hiking and failing to get a ride
It is cold and I am perched under the hand dryer
I guess I must have been cold
Reaching up to hit the button and make it work
The wind blowing the next page over
When I grew up and found myself in prison
I read it on some rocks
On the easterly point of England
12 steps, sober and on the verge
Focused, sober and with a vision
I read it again and it had different meaning
I think I should read it now
And see what it has to say
Will it bring on a new day?
If you read a book every ten years and it still makes you think, has it changed your life?
Does it have quality? Without a doubt.
Is it for everyone? No
By his own admission this book is not really about Zen or Motercycles.
It is about quality, it is about self examination and the lust for truth.
It is also about mental illness
Does it pit the romantic in me against the classicist?
Does it remimnd me of when I was young?
Hell yeah.
Sitting in the toilet of a petrol station in Germany
Hitch-hiking and failing to get a ride
It is cold and I am perched under the hand dryer
I guess I must have been cold
Reaching up to hit the button and make it work
The wind blowing the next page over
When I grew up and found myself in prison
I read it on some rocks
On the easterly point of England
12 steps, sober and on the verge
Focused, sober and with a vision
I read it again and it had different meaning
I think I should read it now
And see what it has to say
Will it bring on a new day?
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pauliepaul on :
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THE PLAY WAS CALLED : BILLY LIAR - and I was to read Billy.....
I wasn't nervous, I was a better reader than my age suggested. Although to this day I can't spell. You may have noticed if you have read my magazine for any length of time... (or ask Darren Porritt x)
I blame my left handed dis wotsit. The teachers did try and make me write with my right hand at an early school.
Anyway - from that afternoon, In that English lesson with Mr Clarke. Until this moment. I have had a love for Billy Liar.
After the play I graduated to the novel. The beauty of the play is that it was adapted by it's author. Keith Waterhouse, with help from (Willis Hall)
I wasn't nervous, I was a better reader than my age suggested. Although to this day I can't spell. You may have noticed if you have read my magazine for any length of time... (or ask Darren Porritt x)
I blame my left handed dis wotsit. The teachers did try and make me write with my right hand at an early school.
Anyway - from that afternoon, In that English lesson with Mr Clarke. Until this moment. I have had a love for Billy Liar.
After the play I graduated to the novel. The beauty of the play is that it was adapted by it's author. Keith Waterhouse, with help from (Willis Hall)
After devouring the Novel, my life was never the same. (ask my mum) As soon as I was old enough and could afford it. (around 17) I was visiting London on the train.
Something that Billy never got to do. (But he did have an imaginary country with Julie Christie.. (Liz)
My imagination started to expand as well, but only expressed itself as my confidence grew. As most things do. My writing included. Which started off as one page tales, then after my move to London (to pursue a degree) grew to include - film scripts, comedy, children's stories, and poetry.
I even performed on the stage 8 or 9 times just as Billy had done.
"Where's tha dog Billy?"
If I could change anything.... Well in my dreams I would play Billy Liar on the school stage, which would kick start my acting carreer... But that was unheard of ... in my school / life.
I'm still thankful to Mr Clarke though. Very thankful.
If you have a book that's changed your life? Will you tell us? [email protected] lovely. X
pauliepaul
Something that Billy never got to do. (But he did have an imaginary country with Julie Christie.. (Liz)
My imagination started to expand as well, but only expressed itself as my confidence grew. As most things do. My writing included. Which started off as one page tales, then after my move to London (to pursue a degree) grew to include - film scripts, comedy, children's stories, and poetry.
I even performed on the stage 8 or 9 times just as Billy had done.
"Where's tha dog Billy?"
If I could change anything.... Well in my dreams I would play Billy Liar on the school stage, which would kick start my acting carreer... But that was unheard of ... in my school / life.
I'm still thankful to Mr Clarke though. Very thankful.
If you have a book that's changed your life? Will you tell us? [email protected] lovely. X
pauliepaul
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