A roam around my books 5 – books to be left alone

Inevitably, only a skeleton collection of books read during my teens, twenties and thirties remains. They have survived many removal boxes and stiff competition from newcomers for space. I remember savouring Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance during a dark, wintry afternoon in the bedroom of my student house, while listening to The Seven Seas of Rye. Yet it was unanimously derided by members of my book group – but not their twenty-something offspring – when they read the Robert M Persig’s road book for the first time. I did not attempt to re-read it. I did not wish to destroy fond memories, it has happened too many times before. Books have a time to be read, and to be left alone.

Guilt by Lynn Steinsondiceman A roam around my books 5 - books to be left alone

During visits to old uni friends’ houses a survey of their bookshelves, even today, reveals a startling similarity to some of my own. Among the blue-backed Pelican books there is often a thick black spine emblazoned in vibrant orange with the words, The Dice Man, Luke Rhinehart. Unlike Zen this book has been read on several occasions. It was recommended by my Sociology Lecturer, Laurie Taylor, during my first term at uni I think. He was a charismatic performer, easily packing lecture theatres at 9.15 a.m., a feat which was rarely, if ever, achieved by his department’s then nemesis the Department of Economics.

Guilt by Lynn Steinsondiceman A roam around my books 5 - books to be left alone

The university bookshop must have sold out, as everyone I knew suddenly seemed to have a copy, and it became the main topic of heated conversation between social scientists for a few days. I do not have the inclination to read very many of the browning pages now, although I am tempted to read the first few chapters and last. I recall it was very funny at times but unevenly paced. It certainly did not change my life but it has instigated many an imaginative evening when the throw of the dice determined what was to happen next.

There is a small selection of books of films and TV programmes. Nowadays it is easy to fulfil the desire to remind oneself of a moment in a TV programme, or even re-watch the entire show. During my childhood and years as a young adult there was no such luxury. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was screened at 7.30 on Thursday evenings. If you did not catch it then you missed it. No video, no plus TV, no catch up, no YouTube. The only way to prolong the enjoyment of a favourite series was to read the book, or buy the bubble gum cards.

Guilt by Lynn Steinsondiceman A roam around my books 5 - books to be left alone

The Thornbirds novel was adapted for television as a mini series and I read it with the characters and story already in my imagination. There was depth in the writing and it did not disappoint. Having seen a re-run of the television series I feel I could not re-read the book. I know the ending. That journey cannot be taken so innocently again.

Once a film had finished its run at the cinema usually the only chance of seeing it again was when it came to television. That could be many, many years later. There are some books of films I can remember reading but are missing. Joan Wilder’s Romancing the Stone, and Saturday Night Fever have not survived an historic book cull. The novel of the screenplay of Romancing was written as if Joan Wilder, the novelist Kathleen Turner plays in the film, had written it. Quite clever I thought at the time. In popular culture Night Fever is associated with John Travolta gyrating in a white suit to the Bee Gees’ music, but it has far darker urban themes. The tie-in novel picked up on these and was grittier than the film, I recall.
Guilt by Lynn Steinsondiceman A roam around my books 5 - books to be left aloneIt is rare that I have enjoyed watching a favourite novel adapted for the screen. Margaret Atwood’s stories filled my evenings in my twenties. I devoured the Handmaid’s Tale way before the film was made, so the well-thumbed pages of this paperback were not turned by me. I have no recollection how I acquired this version. I certainly haven’t re-read the novel. The work was compelling, but, like Lionel Shriver’s We need to talk about Kevin it was too raw, too bleak, too plausible for me to want to read again. Yet, these are both contenders for my best book award.

Guilt by Lynn Steinsondiceman A roam around my books 5 - books to be left alone

Guilt by Lynn Steinsondiceman A roam around my books 5 - books to be left aloneCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2016 Lynn Steinson
Guilt by Lynn Steinsondiceman A roam around my books 5 - books to be left alone
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About Lynn Steinson

Author of psychological thrillers "Deluded" and "Guilt" about members of The Sun pub quiz team.
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