The topics for July 2014
Hello Week Two! I am in you!
July 7th – Most chocolately novel -it’s National Chocolate Day! – I’ve literally got nothing for you! Nope, nothing. I haven’t even read Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Which seems like a horrendous oversight. Maybe this is my cue to do just that?
July 8th – Favourite Great War novel
I usually read non-fiction when it comes to the World Wars, but All Quiet on The Western Front has been sitting on my shelf for about a year now. So, having seen that this was to be a topic this week, I decided to read it. I finished it yesterday on the bus, and it was all I could do not to ding the bell and fling myself into the nearest field for a sob. I probably should have done, this will be a book that will stay with me forever, and perhaps having a break down in front of some cows may have given me some closure. But I want this book to stay with me, haunt me and inspire me.
July 9th – Most irritating character in a novel
This is a pretty easy one for me and he’s from a book I read very recently, its Aziz from Meatspace. God, he couldn’t disappear from the page quick enough!
July 10th – Novel with most memorable picnic for Teddy Bear Picnic Day!
The Wind in The Willows, who wouldn’t want to be stretched out on that riverbank with Rat and Mole? Bliss encapsulated.
July 11th – The book that made you cry
The second appearance of To Kill a Mockingbird already this month! But this book never fails to make me weep for all kind of reasons – man’s pointless anger, a father’s love, justice, hope…its all here, nudging that lump up your throat.
July 12th – Novel that best conjured a place for you
Vulgar Things – another recent read, and another topic that I probably have many examples to choose from, but this really made an impression on me. Southend-on-Sea is a place I know fairly well and this book really bought alive the almost sinister clash of nature and town.
July 13th – Best title for a novel
Again, I’m completely stumped by this, and didn’t want to rattle out Mole and Mockingbird again! I think I might make this a blog topic further down the line, and list a top ten or something.