TPQ: What Are you currently reading?
CP: Richard J. Evans’s Eric Hobsbawm: A Life in History. Hobsbawm is one of the few historians whose life is as interesting as the events he’s writing about. I’m also reading Sophie White’s Corpsing and Doireann ní Ghríofa’s A Ghost in the Throat. Both exhilarating and unique. I’m glad I managed to get the two of them together for the Belfast Book Festival this year on 11 June (Book Here).
TPQ: Best and Worst Books You Have Ever Read?
CP: Ernest Hemmingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls is immaculate. Worst would be Kevin Meagher’s A United Ireland: How Unification is Inevitable and How it Will Come About. To be clear, I think there should be more books about future constitutional change and the unity debate (Paul Gosling’s book is a good start), but Meagher’s is very poor, falling back on old views on demographics and written by someone who does not understand Ireland, north or south.
TPQ: Most cherished book as a child?
CP: C.S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair. I wasn’t of the Harry Potter generation and got Lewis instead. Lucky on that.
CP: Richard J. Evans’s Eric Hobsbawm: A Life in History. Hobsbawm is one of the few historians whose life is as interesting as the events he’s writing about. I’m also reading Sophie White’s Corpsing and Doireann ní Ghríofa’s A Ghost in the Throat. Both exhilarating and unique. I’m glad I managed to get the two of them together for the Belfast Book Festival this year on 11 June (Book Here).
TPQ: Best and Worst Books You Have Ever Read?
CP: Ernest Hemmingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls is immaculate. Worst would be Kevin Meagher’s A United Ireland: How Unification is Inevitable and How it Will Come About. To be clear, I think there should be more books about future constitutional change and the unity debate (Paul Gosling’s book is a good start), but Meagher’s is very poor, falling back on old views on demographics and written by someone who does not understand Ireland, north or south.
TPQ: Most cherished book as a child?
CP: C.S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair. I wasn’t of the Harry Potter generation and got Lewis instead. Lucky on that.
TPQ: Favourite Childhood author?
CP: Say C. S. Lewis (again) and Tom McCaughren, author of Run Swift, Run Free.
TPQ: First book to really own you?
CP: The book that jolted, shook assumptions about language, and made me think about society was Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange. I picked it up randomly one day and had read it before doing it at school. Once your brain enters into the language, there’s nothing like it. It was like figuring out a puzzle, and then it made you think about the big questions and how to negotiate a dangerous world.
TPQ: First book to really own you?
CP: The book that jolted, shook assumptions about language, and made me think about society was Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange. I picked it up randomly one day and had read it before doing it at school. Once your brain enters into the language, there’s nothing like it. It was like figuring out a puzzle, and then it made you think about the big questions and how to negotiate a dangerous world.
CP: Bertolt Brecht and Marie Jones. For their life stories, as well as the work.
TPQ: A preference for fact or fiction?
CP: Tough one, but I’ll go with fiction. I read more non-fiction due to work, but there’s nothing like being made to feel by creative writers. That keeps us going.
TPQ: Biography, autobiography or memoir that most impressed you?
CP: John Osborne’s A Better Class of Person (published in 1981) is an extraordinary memoir about class and life in Britain before he makes it and changes British theatre. Evocative and funny. I also found Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom an immensely powerful read, though it was partly ghost-written. Sean O’Casey’s Autobiographies are also unforgettable.
TPQ: Any book or author you point blank refuse to read?
CP: Yes, any author who gets undue hype well beyond their ability, and a rash of journalists in Ireland whose egos could fill the Ritz. Also books promoting conservative politics that ruin our societies.
TPQ: A book to share with somebody so that they would more fully understand you?
CP: Brendan Behan’s Borstal Boy.
CP: Tough one, but I’ll go with fiction. I read more non-fiction due to work, but there’s nothing like being made to feel by creative writers. That keeps us going.
TPQ: Biography, autobiography or memoir that most impressed you?
CP: John Osborne’s A Better Class of Person (published in 1981) is an extraordinary memoir about class and life in Britain before he makes it and changes British theatre. Evocative and funny. I also found Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom an immensely powerful read, though it was partly ghost-written. Sean O’Casey’s Autobiographies are also unforgettable.
TPQ: Any book or author you point blank refuse to read?
CP: Yes, any author who gets undue hype well beyond their ability, and a rash of journalists in Ireland whose egos could fill the Ritz. Also books promoting conservative politics that ruin our societies.
TPQ: A book to share with somebody so that they would more fully understand you?
CP: Brendan Behan’s Borstal Boy.
CP: The Best Catholics in the World: The Irish, the Church and the End of a Special Relationship by Derek Scally.
TPQ: Book you would most like to see turned into a movie?
CP: One of Belfast author Rosemary Jenkinson’s short stories! I can see it now … Paul Mescal could guest star…
TPQ: Select one book you simply have to read before you close the last page on life.
CP: Chinua Achebe’s Home and Exile.
⏩ Connal Parr is Senior Lecturer in History at Northumbria University and the author of Inventing the Myth: Political Passions and the Ulster Protestant Imagination.
CP: One of Belfast author Rosemary Jenkinson’s short stories! I can see it now … Paul Mescal could guest star…
TPQ: Select one book you simply have to read before you close the last page on life.
CP: Chinua Achebe’s Home and Exile.
⏩ Connal Parr is Senior Lecturer in History at Northumbria University and the author of Inventing the Myth: Political Passions and the Ulster Protestant Imagination.
Eric Hobsbaws works are interesting, providing the reader has a basic understanding and knowledge of the subject. I had the three, The Age of Empire, The Age of Revolution and The Age of Imperialism. Its a long time since I read them, but if Hobsbawn is as interesting and complex as his works A Life in History must be worth a read.
ReplyDeleteA Clockwork Orange, yes very controvertial, and had a negative input into football hooliganism in the seventies certainly within lower divisions. Some Man City fans adopted the "Clockwork" culture of the day.
Such slogans as YCFC CLOCKWORK BOOTBOYS RULE OK could be seen sprayed on walls around York. A very violent book, but again a sign of the times. Richard Allen wrote a series of books, "Skinhead" "Skinehad Farewell" "Boot Boys" and "Suedehead" which were on a similar vien to A Clockwork Orange, though less scientific if that is the right word. A Clockwork Orange depicts the Bowler Hat as a symbol, ring any bells?
I see nothing inevitable about a united Ireland, bringing us to Kevin Meaghers book (though I admit have not read it), I am sorry to say. Personally I would support a border poll, in the absence of an all Ireland plebsite. Connal is right, the age old barometer of demographics based on religious persuation is no longer a reliable measure of opinion. There are many other factors to be taken into account. To the west lies the USA, possibly bringing the NATO factor into play, and to the east are the occupying country, a leading NATO member. Not all Catholics favour unification, this is not 1969/70 Bombay Street, and not all Protestants wish partition to remain, though most do. Then there is the question of what kind of united Ireland do we want? To me, a united Ireland without socialism offers nothing to the working class, and that again is perhaps oversimplistic. Oh, what about agnostic and atheist republicans like me? Do we get burned at the stake😲? I could not care less what a Priest or Minister says from the pulpit but many people of both major denominations do and their views must be taken into account.
Leo Varadkar is on record as saying a united Ireland will happen. Again is he supporting a united Ireland within the Brit commonwealth? FG did invite DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson to their Ard Fheis (even though they dont call it that) suggesting that party have much in common with unionism, because that would not be a Republic? To say a united Ireland full stop is too vague and certainly not innevitable, neither is a border poll which we may not win. Take nothing for granted.
I too was an admirer of C.S Lewis, particularly The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Lewis's imagination knew no bounds, brilliant.
It is a long time since I read "The Borstal Boy" but do recall 'up the republic' being mentioned, given the fact Brendan was a young volunteer that figures. Again, a simple republic or, more significantly for me, a socialist republic? Perhaps those of us who wish a socialist republic should consentrate on the hardships affecting working class people on both sides of the oft termed "religious divide". It can be done, and has been done in the early 1930s.
I agree unreservedly with Connals views about books promoting conservative polcies. They are divisive and, to me, only a cockstride from fascism. They do ruin societies and communities, but that is what, from a conservative arrogant view point, they are suppossed to do. That said I would not refuse to read them if only to disagree.
Caoimhin - I always enjoyed Hobsbawn's history.
ReplyDeleteI never read Clockwork Orange - picked it up when young but the language they used put me off so I left it down never to be pocked up again. I did enjoy the film.
Borstal Boy is one I read in prison when 16.
As always I get immense enjoyment out of the series and Connal's contribution added to that.
Mick Hall comments
ReplyDeleteI was pleased to see Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls, the book was first published in 1940 not long after the Defeat of the Spanish Republic. It wasn't the book which I first came across but the movie. I think it was first released in 1943 but I first saw it in late 1960-early 70s when my political consciousness was developing and I loved it and still do. It starred Gary Cooper who like Spencer Tracy had an every man about his acting. That bridge was always coming down. A great book and film.
Mick - I have never actually read Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls.
DeleteI saw it lying around the wing libraries in the Blocks but never picked it up for some reason.
I should make a point of it given both your and Connal's view of it.
I remember reading "A clockwork orange" as a child when I was probably far too young for its graphic nature. Never read "For whom the bell tolls" but another I need to add to my list of Ebooks and audio books (I know technically audio books are cheating but it's the future Quillers) In all honesty though every time I read "Bookers dozen" I'm reminded of titles I promised I'd get to before they nail the lid down. This list is ever increasing which makes this one of my personal favourite parts of TPQ
ReplyDeleteGary - that is a different slant - and on reflection I don't see why audio books would be cheating. Some people think Kindle is not really book reading but I love it. If you fancy doing Booker's some time, feel free.
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