Books have rocked my world
I was never an avid reader until I left school. Although there was no one book that changed my life they have always been there shaping my interests and intellect.

When my first bout of real depression hit me at 18, having no money and no social life I hit the town library and never looked back. I discovered Orwell, Asimov, Anthony Burgess, Murial Spark and many many more. I went through books like a whirling dervish and they stopped me from feeling totally alone.

Jump forwards to my early twenties and starting Polytechnic to do fine art. As all budding artists need an ism, I decided feminism was going to be my thing and I devoured all the literature I could find on this subject, (as well as art of course). It was here my eyes were opened to the fact that history, philosophy, archaeology and many more ologies have been shaped by men's views of the world and have dismissed women's input completely. It also shaped my social life to some extent as I became more women orientated and even got a girlfriend. Although my lesbian phase wasn't contrived in any way, I feel my reading habits smoothed the journey somewhat and discovering lesbian erotica certainly helped. Don't get me wrong, I kept a tentative foot in the land of teh cock. After all I didn't want to burn my bridges as well as my bra. I still had some male friends and enjoyed their company.

We jump forward to my mid thirties and my second serious bout of depression. Again books were my solace and my escape. I even delved into a few high brow authors although it was heavy going. I battled Kafka, I tussled with Joyce and I even ploughed my way through Fermat's last theorem. I have never regretted reading a book, even those I've understood little of.

I still get a little tingle of excitement when I start a new book and I often get a little nervy when I've nearly finished one and haven't yet decided what to read next.

There is no one book that can change my life but there have been many books that have helped me through life and made me think and laugh and cry and hope.
( girlinthehole, Thu 15 May 2008, 18:53, 11 replies)

Perhaps try something a bit lighter...?
do you ever do Comedy? I can recommend a couple....used to devour fantasy and sci-fi(well, Frank Herbert and David Gemmell anyway) but now prefer nothing better than a bit of Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Clarkson. Work's serious enough, I don't want to spend my leisure time thinking too hard as well...which is why I'm about to turn on the Wii and veg out.

Thanks for the life details hun, it's a valuable insight :-)
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Thu 15 May 2008, 19:10, closed)

Love the humerous stuff as well you know.
I have just been pushed towards Terry Pratchett by a friend recently and I'm enjoying his stuff a lot. Never really been a fan of fantasy but his writing is very funny.
( girlinthehole, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:26, closed)

Lesbian eritoca rocks.
If you are into dark humor, try Christopher Moore. His stuff always makes me laugh no matter how many times I've already read it.
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Thu 15 May 2008, 19:48, closed)

^ Thanks I'll give him a go.
Best thing about this qotw is tips for new authors to try.
( girlinthehole, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:53, closed)

I think you've just summed it up
Here are some more suggestions though:

Barbara Trapido - her writing is spot on.
Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveller's Wife is lovely
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is a wonderful book (save it for when you're feeling all feministy again)
And I really like Philippa Gregory's books too.

Your turn to recommend something, I'm nearly at the end of my current book (which is Harry Potter 5... sorry...)
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:58, closed)

I've read the time travellers wife.
Loved it - a great idea and easy to follow. This is the nearest thing I can bear to romantic fiction. I'm not the touchy feely type but this made me all squishy inside.

Another newish one is The curious incident of the dog in the night time by Mark Haddon. Again a great idea for a book and a great read.
( girlinthehole, Thu 15 May 2008, 20:05, closed)

Ooh thanks
I'll look it out.

Also, have you read The Book Thief?
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 15 May 2008, 20:16, closed)

PG Wodehouse.
Now THERE was a man with a good gift of language and a great sense of humor. Jeeves & Wooster were fun, but he did a lot of other stuff that I liked better.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 15 May 2008, 20:26, closed)

@ Loon
Blandings?
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 15 May 2008, 20:30, closed)

No, haven't read the book thief.
There's lots of newish fiction I've not bothered with like Lovely Bones etc. I tend to go for those types of books if there are none of my favorite authors available.
( girlinthehole, Thu 15 May 2008, 20:30, closed)

The thing about Pratchett...
is he's a femenist of sorts. He loves to write about strong women , be they a 10-year old girl (Wee Free Men) or concubines/temple dancers/sacrificial virgins (Pyramids) or defiant old grannies (all the Witches ones, i.e. Wyrd Sisters, Lords and Ladies, Equal Rites etc) or just regualar feisty women (Guards! Guards! or The Truth) and even the malign evil bitches (The Fifth Elephant, Lords and Ladies again) and of course the good old 'coming-of-age nervous teenager finds her way to confidence (Maskerade, Carpe Jugulum). And Douglas Adams is the same with the female leads in Long Dark Teatime of the Soul. Haven't read the rest of the Dirk Gently books but I will. Oh yes.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Thu 15 May 2008, 21:09, closed)