While I’m in the mood I thought I might as well do five more. I could keep doing this for some time. But I think I’ll stop for a bit after this set.
Robert Heinlein – Stranger in a Strange Land
Robert was criticised in some quarters for his right-wing bias and his portrayal of women. While I can see where that is coming from I do not altogether agree with it and certainly not in this book. He did espouse a free loving ethos with open relationships and strong women taking the lead which upset some. He also espoused a mystical sharing of spirits based around the sharing of water which fitted in with the sixties ethos nicely. But for me he was a great story teller. This is so readable.
Margaret Atwood – Oryx and Crake
Her dystopian book, the first in a trilogy, of a society that has broken down post genetic engineering. She is such a good writer that she draws you into the story and leads you through the characters so that you feel it. Not a nice world to live in when things go wrong and the scientists and politicians mess up.
Henry Miller – Tropic of Capricorn
Henry’s semi-autobiographical story of living a bohemian life in pre-war Paris. He was a precursor to the Beats and helped develop that stream of consciousness, outsider in society and sexual liberation. Some immense writing.
Lynne Reid-Banks – The L-Shaped Room
A book that really captured the social mores of the fifties with its snobbish hypocrisy. The tale of the fate of a young girl who becomes pregnant. In the days before good available contraception this was a common occurrence and led to back-street abortionists and despair. The girls were thrown into social exclusion and often disowned, ostracised and treated disgustingly. There was a racial element thrown into the mix and it captured the mood of the times superbly. Great social realism with good characterisation and a good story.
Gunter Grass – The Tin Drum
A multi-layered tale of Germany in the thirties that has great surreal touches and grabs you from the beginning. A book to get lost in.
OK. I’ve got that out of my system for a little while. I’ll do something else.
Remember – we are what we read!
