Let's see who's got a bookshelf like this...
I’ve been tasked today by the team to share what’s on my bookshelf on #LibraryShelfieDay. Do not judge!
From right to left:
The four slim books were my children’s favourites. Very well-used 20 or so years ago and ‘The Night Before Christmas’ still comes out to much embarrassment.
The next three books were my late father’s. A wartime RAF memoir, a fantastic Jorrock’s ‘jaunt’ - I love reading about taking a horse-drawn carriage from London Bridge for a weekend of ‘stag hunting’ in Croydon town (thankfully it was the 1800s). The hand-coloured illustration ‘plates’ in this are particularly special.
The third books is one of his original childhood books, printed in the 1930s at Hazell Watson and Viney, a printer I regularly visited in the 1980s.
Sebastian Faulks Birdsong - such a powerful read.
The Future We Choose – a must-read book considering our choices and the impact they make on our future and 2050. Currently reading this for a second time as so relevant.
McQueen’s Machines – I have admired Steve McQueen since childhood. I was unaware of his troubled existence, but I loved his cars and motorbikes. Unfortunately I never grew up to look like him, but I do own the same make of sunglasses! You can’t win them all!
We Can Be Heroes – full of amazing black and white images of the early 1980s club scene – Boy George as the cloakroom attendant at The Blitz Club and Steve Strange (Fade to Grey fame) in full makeup in a very rough Cardiff boozer with some very confused local fishermen. This image alone was worth the cover price!
In To The Red – musician Nick Mason’s classic car collection. Includes a CD of the various car engine noises – again, don’t judge!
Panoramas of Lost London – a fantastic large format picture book of rarely-seen photographs of lost London. Some date back to 1870 and showing signs of the ‘Oliver’ existence.
Muhammad Ali – kindly signed and given to me by Felix Dennis. This one will be kept forever.
Alexander McQueen – a fascinating record of his impact on fashion and the amazing V & A exhibition which I highly recommend.
Christian Louboutin – my wife’s favourite shoes. I’m still saving up.
So there you have it. That’s what’s on my bookshelf – anyone read any of these? Anyone else have as eclectic reading habits as me? All feedback welcomed!