Daithi O’Donnabhain, answers thirteen questions in a Booker's Dozen.

TPQ: What are you currently reading?

DO'D: Unfinished Business by Marisa McGlinchey. I have had it a while, but I prefer to devour books when I have lots of free time, so its taking a while.

TPQ: Best book you have ever read?

DO'D: Quantitative Trading: How To Build Your Own Algorithmic Trading Business by Dr Ernerst Chan. A lot of the trading books up to the year 2015 (when I lost interest), I had read and coded their strategies for testing, and had done the research specifically for an another author's own trading book. So I'm well placed to say 99% of them upto that year are utter trash, and expensive trash (some books cost hundreds of pounds). I attended a conference the author was at, and got his book. It has workable examples, with data sets most people have access too, and it teaches you how to critically examine systems (rather than promising to contain the secrets of alpha!).

TPQ: A must-read before you die?

DO'D: Probably the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I loved the films and so bought the books some time ago. I have started off numerous summer or winter holidays with the intention of reading them, but never actually do because I feel I need to give my eyes a break from all the reading I do at work.

TPQ: A preference for fact or fiction?

DO'D: Fact, if you would call most books on the Provisional Campaign factual.

TPQ: Favourite female author?

DO'D: She doesn’t have extensive work, but Sylvia Plath. It's a very “studenty” answer, but she articulates despair in heart rending ways.

TPQ: Favourite male author?

DO'D: Yourself (Anthony McIntyre). I know you have one book and my copy is proudly signed by you with some additional written message I can’t decipher, but I like that because its enigmatic ... maybe it says ‘leave me the fuck alone’ though? Still, your body of work extends beyond that format, and I must have read everything you have written on the Blanket and Quill. I cry at your obituaries for people I’ve never met. Another dimension to a question such as this is the relationship the artist has with his work. Thus adjacent to content such as your critique of Provisional republicanism that still holds correct since, is the understanding that articulating it rendered you out of phase with, and at risk from, a movement you maintained fidelity to in spite of nearly two decades of grinding horror inflicted on you in Long Kesh.


TPQ: First book you ever read?

DO'D: Outside of the Bible which was a school mandated thing, the first one I purchased of my volition was Silence of the Lambs by Robert Harris. I couldn’t watch the film when it came out, but wanted to access the story that was being raved about on TV somehow, so managed to get a copy from a car boot sale.

TPQ: Favourite childhood author?

DO'D: Not a kids author per se, but the one I read most was Stephen King. Stuff like IT  Carrie Tommyknockers etc. Again, anything that was on a video store case that I couldn’t watch due to age restrictions.

TPQ: Any book you point blank refuse to read?

DO'D: Animal Farm by George Orwell. I saw the 1981 film adaptation starring Bodil Joensen and it was unfathomable to me how revered the narrative was. It was simply sickening!

TPQ: Any author you point blank refuse to read?

DO'D: Probably Gerry Adams. I have Before the Dawn but read it half distracted. He clearly has a very interesting story to tell (perhaps the most interesting story to tell), but he can never admit his truths at this stage. It makes me suspicious of the rest of his works. He is lost unto naked trampolining, I'm afraid.

TPQ: Pick a book to give to somebody so that they would more fully understand you.

DO'D: I, Partridge by Alan Partridge. Its a fictional account of a fictitious person. What I mean by that is: Partridge is a character played by Steve Coogan, and in character he has written a biography of events that we have seen play out on screen. But he has altered the facts in recalling them to make himself seem like he is having the last laugh in some cringe situations (needless to say!). On one level, to grasp the cringe aspect is important to me. That's what I experience on a daily basis around others: bowls full of cringe. It's also quite a meta way of saying in truth, I don’t want people to understand me better. For example, I will just lie if I am questioned about personal stuff by those not in my family because its safer that way. But I’m telling the truth now.

TPQ: Last book you gave as a present?

DO'D: Provos by Peter Taylor. I gave it to my sister on holiday, I just had it with me, no particular story or thought behind it.

TPQ: Book you would most like to see turned into a movie?

DO'D: Its not the whole book, but The Dirty War by Martin Dillon had a chapter “Robert Nairac : Hero or Villain?” and I think the story of his adventures needs little editorialising for film. Bits of his story are dotted around various books like Bandit Country too, his role in the whole John Francis Green killing/Miami Showband Massacre stuff along with his final moments of trying to steal the gun trained on him. All form the main beats of something made for cinema. We could even use some artistic licence to have an a capella version of him singing ‘Danny Boy’ (Not’ Broad Black Brimmer’) interspersed with scenes as he meets his final demise. I've seen these scenes in my head so clearly for years.


Daithi O’Donnabhain describes himself as "a regular shit poster on TPQ when I can log on!”





Booker's Dozen @ Daithi O’Donnabhain

Daithi O’Donnabhain, answers thirteen questions in a Booker's Dozen.

TPQ: What are you currently reading?

DO'D: Unfinished Business by Marisa McGlinchey. I have had it a while, but I prefer to devour books when I have lots of free time, so its taking a while.

TPQ: Best book you have ever read?

DO'D: Quantitative Trading: How To Build Your Own Algorithmic Trading Business by Dr Ernerst Chan. A lot of the trading books up to the year 2015 (when I lost interest), I had read and coded their strategies for testing, and had done the research specifically for an another author's own trading book. So I'm well placed to say 99% of them upto that year are utter trash, and expensive trash (some books cost hundreds of pounds). I attended a conference the author was at, and got his book. It has workable examples, with data sets most people have access too, and it teaches you how to critically examine systems (rather than promising to contain the secrets of alpha!).

TPQ: A must-read before you die?

DO'D: Probably the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I loved the films and so bought the books some time ago. I have started off numerous summer or winter holidays with the intention of reading them, but never actually do because I feel I need to give my eyes a break from all the reading I do at work.

TPQ: A preference for fact or fiction?

DO'D: Fact, if you would call most books on the Provisional Campaign factual.

TPQ: Favourite female author?

DO'D: She doesn’t have extensive work, but Sylvia Plath. It's a very “studenty” answer, but she articulates despair in heart rending ways.

TPQ: Favourite male author?

DO'D: Yourself (Anthony McIntyre). I know you have one book and my copy is proudly signed by you with some additional written message I can’t decipher, but I like that because its enigmatic ... maybe it says ‘leave me the fuck alone’ though? Still, your body of work extends beyond that format, and I must have read everything you have written on the Blanket and Quill. I cry at your obituaries for people I’ve never met. Another dimension to a question such as this is the relationship the artist has with his work. Thus adjacent to content such as your critique of Provisional republicanism that still holds correct since, is the understanding that articulating it rendered you out of phase with, and at risk from, a movement you maintained fidelity to in spite of nearly two decades of grinding horror inflicted on you in Long Kesh.


TPQ: First book you ever read?

DO'D: Outside of the Bible which was a school mandated thing, the first one I purchased of my volition was Silence of the Lambs by Robert Harris. I couldn’t watch the film when it came out, but wanted to access the story that was being raved about on TV somehow, so managed to get a copy from a car boot sale.

TPQ: Favourite childhood author?

DO'D: Not a kids author per se, but the one I read most was Stephen King. Stuff like IT  Carrie Tommyknockers etc. Again, anything that was on a video store case that I couldn’t watch due to age restrictions.

TPQ: Any book you point blank refuse to read?

DO'D: Animal Farm by George Orwell. I saw the 1981 film adaptation starring Bodil Joensen and it was unfathomable to me how revered the narrative was. It was simply sickening!

TPQ: Any author you point blank refuse to read?

DO'D: Probably Gerry Adams. I have Before the Dawn but read it half distracted. He clearly has a very interesting story to tell (perhaps the most interesting story to tell), but he can never admit his truths at this stage. It makes me suspicious of the rest of his works. He is lost unto naked trampolining, I'm afraid.

TPQ: Pick a book to give to somebody so that they would more fully understand you.

DO'D: I, Partridge by Alan Partridge. Its a fictional account of a fictitious person. What I mean by that is: Partridge is a character played by Steve Coogan, and in character he has written a biography of events that we have seen play out on screen. But he has altered the facts in recalling them to make himself seem like he is having the last laugh in some cringe situations (needless to say!). On one level, to grasp the cringe aspect is important to me. That's what I experience on a daily basis around others: bowls full of cringe. It's also quite a meta way of saying in truth, I don’t want people to understand me better. For example, I will just lie if I am questioned about personal stuff by those not in my family because its safer that way. But I’m telling the truth now.

TPQ: Last book you gave as a present?

DO'D: Provos by Peter Taylor. I gave it to my sister on holiday, I just had it with me, no particular story or thought behind it.

TPQ: Book you would most like to see turned into a movie?

DO'D: Its not the whole book, but The Dirty War by Martin Dillon had a chapter “Robert Nairac : Hero or Villain?” and I think the story of his adventures needs little editorialising for film. Bits of his story are dotted around various books like Bandit Country too, his role in the whole John Francis Green killing/Miami Showband Massacre stuff along with his final moments of trying to steal the gun trained on him. All form the main beats of something made for cinema. We could even use some artistic licence to have an a capella version of him singing ‘Danny Boy’ (Not’ Broad Black Brimmer’) interspersed with scenes as he meets his final demise. I've seen these scenes in my head so clearly for years.


Daithi O’Donnabhain describes himself as "a regular shit poster on TPQ when I can log on!”





15 comments:

  1. Thanks Anthony.
    It still makes me giggle reading this back, yoy know the part I mean!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks DaithiD - enjoyed it immensely. Lot there that I have read including the King ones and Silence of the Lambs and of course Marisa's. Read Before The Dawn and Bandit Country as well plus The Dirty War. Yes - Animal Farm - definitely wasn't the Bodil one we saw in the jail!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Daithi

    Because you list the bible as one of the first books that you read I immediately thought 'indoctrination' while religions of the world ought to be taught at school I dont think any religion should control the education of children.

    Re: your avoidance of reading all things Adams maybe one day you will read his obitury with some satisfaction.

    Meant to get back you ages ago -you'll be the first to know if I ever get to do a book launch in London.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Christy, regarding Adams obituary, Years ago I actually asked Anthony to write it just incase an accident befell him just before he was required to. I’m not wishing harm on anyone to get there, but it will be required reading ! Putting some weight on his shoulders now talking it up !

    ReplyDelete
  5. DaithiD - I hope I write his rather than he writing mine - but I feel that way about everybody !! Doubt he would do a Booker's for us.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anthony, I felt a sh*t for even bringing it up, but I was gripped by some manic urgency in the need to tell you to write it just incase.
    I wondered if you would think I was telling you you looked ill or such like, but a selfish need to read it stifled such decorum!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ps Christy, even though I went to Catholic schools through the ages of 4 to 18, I still went on to science based degree, so my own experience of faith centred institutions was not prohibitive or stunting in the respect. Although the nuns that taught my parents in Ireland seem demonic from their recollections.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Get Morrison to do a Bookers!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. he would just lie about it and nobody would be any the wiser after it.

      Delete
  9. Great reading. Suitably iconoclastic (Animal Farm), reverent (Mackers) and ludicrous (Twilight) in places!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. have to say - I just didn't seem to fit in here at all!

      Delete
  10. Daithi

    I'd say Adams already has his own written to get ahead of rush --or got Danny Morrison to write it -I wounder who he will bequeath his cut of the ill gotten spoils of the Bobby Sands Trust?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very kind words Christopher, thank you

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ps now that some time has elapsed since this was published, I need to add for posterity : I have always been well aware that “Animal Farm” was not adapted into the bestiality film mentioned. I have never watched said film either, it’s something that was sort of ‘naughty teenager lore’ from pre-internet days, when you would need to find it on VHS tape to actually watch it.

    ReplyDelete