Books of consequence.....

Will from General Theory of Rubbish tagged both of the "lasses from Stroppyblog" re: books which have influenced you and blah, blah, blah, and so on. Here goes.........

1. Book(s) that changed your life: The Revolution Betrayed by Trotsky (I just had to include Him) and Is the Future Female by Lynne Segal (big influence on my socialist feminism).

2. Book(s) you have read more tham once: Not in Our Genes by Steven Rose et al. and Six Men of Dorset - a play in three-parts about the Tolpuddle martyrs by Miles Malleson.

The reason I have included this play is that it was given to me by an eighty-six year old socialist who I interviewed for my 'O' level History project on the '26 General Strike in 1985/1986. He told me about being active in the Strike, kicking Oswald Mosley and his fascist goons out of Smethwick (he was proud to be one of the organisers) and having a crush on Sylvia Pankhurst after he met her at an election campaign. A fascinating man and he gave me the book as he was pleased that, "young people are taking an interest in politics". I treasure the play a great deal.

3. Book I would take on a desert island: Nan Goldin - the ballad of sexual dependency by Nan Goldin and summat by Kollontai such as a re-read of A Great Love and/or Love of the Worker Bees or the excellent biography on her by Cathy Porter.

4. Book which made you laugh: Sex, Class and Socialism by Lindsey German....(well, wasn't it meant to be a comedy..? Pure theory-lite entertainment!)

5. Book which made you cry: Look, I am depressed enough already!

6. Book(s) you wish you had written: Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger and Faces in the Water by Janet Frame. They both describe alienation, isolation and break down in teenage years so honestly and realistically which I could relate to.

7. Book(s) which you wish had never been written: Bible and other god squad stuff.

8. Book which you are currently reading: When we Touched the Sky by David Renton

9. Book you are meaning to read: Loads as I am sooooo lazy! OK....
The 21st Century Brain by Steven Rose; Down and Dirty Pictures by Peter Biskind and Collective Works of Lenin (well, the weather has been bad lately)

Tag: Andrew, Jon, Marshajane, Winter and Kit