Professor Carl R Trueman, MA, PhD,'s book blog!
(he gave us permission to post it on this undignified forum)
1. One book that changed my life: George Orwell, The Road to Wigan Pier
2. One book that I've read more than once: John Steinbeck, East of Eden
3. One book that I'd want on a desert island: George Orwell, Collected Essays. A combination of brilliant prose, cultural and political insight, and prophetic vision.
4. One book that made me laugh: I would place Flann O'Brien, The Third Policeman and Terry Eagleton, The Gatekeeper as first equal in this category. My wife was glad when I finished the latter as I kept her awake laughing about it at night.
5. One book that made me cry: I'm English so don't cry at books; but I find Barry Hines, A Kestrel for a Knave probably the most sad book I have ever read. A masterpiece. Ken Loach made it into a moving film, Kes, but even he backs out of depicting the devastating last chapter on the screen. One of the best books ever written about working class conditions in the north of England.
6. One book I wish had been written: The second volume of Edward Said's autobiography.
7. One book that I wish had never been written: Terry Eagleton's The Gatekeeper on the grounds that it reminds me of how unfunny my own writing is.
8. One book that I am currently reading: Harvey J Kaye, Thomas Paine and the Promise of America
9. One book that I have been meaning to read:
Marcus Zusak, The Book Thief
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'Professor Professor' ? Come come Ruben Ruben.