It was the best of books; it was the worst of books.
The Worm’s mission of devouring one hundred books fell a little short. After keeping up the pace until Christmas 2009, the Worm slackened in the New Year (blast gainful employment!). Yet the final figure – a handsome and rounded sixty-eight – was one full of many beauties, many fantastical reads, and, as always, the novelty and pointless.
First to the Worm’s top ten of 2009-2010:
1. Berlin Diary (1941) – William Shirer
The diary gives anyone with an interest in Hitler and Nazism a refreshing viewpoint. Based upon Shirer’s entries whilst in the German capital during 1930s, the author keeps his reader firmly entertained throughout. Unique and gripping. 5 nods.
2. Lord Jim (1900) – Joseph Conrad
Acclaimed as one of the prime writers in the English language, Lord Jim is arguably his finest achievement. A real heavyweight of literature. 5 nods.
3. Rights of Man (1792) – Thomas Paine
Required reading for anyone who seriously wishes to discuss liberty and all things political. An easy and accessible read. Paine remains a true legend. 5 nods.
4. The American Future (2008) – Simon Schama
The only “modern” 5 nodder the Worm read in the past year. Schama is rightfully known as a leading historian: opposite his analytical prowess is a talent to entertain. 5 nods.
5. Wuthering Heights (1847) – Emily Bronte
A true English classic. Victorian literature is known for its priggishness and clichéd love stories; but this Bronte does not fail to deliver a mesmerising and devastating tale. 5 nods.
6. The Annals of Imperial Rome (ed. 1956) – Tacitus
A history passed down hundreds upon hundreds of years. Tacitus’s observations remain valid to those in power today. 5 nods.
7. Macbeth (1606) – William Shakespeare
Shakespeare for the fast and furious: blood and gore and general overall madness. 4 nods.
8. The Selfish Gene (1976) – Richard Dawkins
Thought provoking prose from the equally heralded and despised Dawkins. Is chief failing is Dawkins overall storytelling. 4 nods.
9. War & Peace (1869) – Leo Tolstoy
Thrilling and gripping. But, of course, much too long. 4 nods.
10. Ghost Train to the Eastern Star (2008) – Paul Theroux
Theroux is the perfect travel companion. Take this journey with him across Europe and Asia. 4 nods.
Six genuine 5 nodders; unfortunately, a few other reads fell a little short. If these are the good, then the bad and distinctly ugly compete for the Worm’s Shredder Award. Entrants include the 1 nodders Great Political Eccentrics (1999) by disgraced former Tory MP Neil Hamilton, Ben Elton’s Popcorn (1996), Matt Forbeck’s fantasy novel Blood Bowl (2006), and Dribble (2007) by Harry Pearson. After much debating, the ultimate loser – or winner – goes to Matt Forbeck’s crazy and truly awful Blood Bowl (2006). I defended the novel in my review last year due to personal and long standing ties to the game – yet not even the Worm can save it from the shredder.
Apologies are sent out to Richard Dawkins’ God Delusion (2006), Bret Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero (1985), and Walter Allen’s The English Novel (1954). All were marked severely by a scolding Worm; and subsequent nagging doubt has raised their final grades by a nod.
Whilst special mentions go out to Bill Bryson and the historian Niall Ferguson. Both kept the Worm’s eyes warm on many a night this past year, each contributing three books to the final number of sixty eight (Bryson: Mother Tongue, African Diary, Down Under; Ferguson: The War of the World, Empire, Virtual History). If these constituted personal favourites, there are many authors who will never be revisited, such as the dull D.J. Bercuson & H.H. Herwig, as well as the previously mentioned 1 nodders.
A total of 21,860 pages were read and fingered, resulting in an average of 321 page book average, ranging from Bryson’s small African Diary (60 pages) to Tolstoy’s door-stopper War & Peace (1,300 pages). 5 nodders constituted nine percent of the 68 books; 4 nodders twenty-seven percent; 3 nodders being the largest on thirty-seven percent; many 2 nodders on twenty-six percent; whilst 1 nodders, thankfully, remained on a low six percent. Works of fiction dominated the Worms’ reading: from novels to short stories. Equally high upon the list were history books, from the Roman Empire to Plymothian fascists. Further favourites were politics and travel; whilst science related reads were boosted by Paul Strathern’s accessible reads.
2009-2010 is now over. A vintage year of reading; but yet the show must go on. The Worm is not yet dead – Long live the Worm!
Full awards:
Book of the Year: Berlin Diary (1941) by William Shirer
Recommended Fiction Read: Lord Jim (1900) by Joseph Conrad
Recommended History Read: American Future (2008) by Simon Schama
Recommended Science Related Read: The Selfish Gene (1976) by Richard Dawkins
Recommended Travel Read: Ghost Train to the Eastern Star (2006) by Paul Theroux
Recommended Autobiographical Read: All Because of Him (1995) by Klara Anderson
Recommended Political Read: Rights of Man (1792) by Thomas Paine
Longest Book Award: War & Peace (1869) by Leo Tolstoy
Shortest Book Award: African Diary (1998) by Bill Bryson
Shredder Award: Blood Bowl (2006) by Matt Forbeck
The Worm’s mission of devouring one hundred books fell a little short. After keeping up the pace until Christmas 2009, the Worm slackened in the New Year (blast gainful employment!). Yet the final figure – a handsome and rounded sixty-eight – was one full of many beauties, many fantastical reads, and, as always, the novelty and pointless.
First to the Worm’s top ten of 2009-2010:
1. Berlin Diary (1941) – William Shirer
The diary gives anyone with an interest in Hitler and Nazism a refreshing viewpoint. Based upon Shirer’s entries whilst in the German capital during 1930s, the author keeps his reader firmly entertained throughout. Unique and gripping. 5 nods.
2. Lord Jim (1900) – Joseph Conrad
Acclaimed as one of the prime writers in the English language, Lord Jim is arguably his finest achievement. A real heavyweight of literature. 5 nods.
3. Rights of Man (1792) – Thomas Paine
Required reading for anyone who seriously wishes to discuss liberty and all things political. An easy and accessible read. Paine remains a true legend. 5 nods.
4. The American Future (2008) – Simon Schama
The only “modern” 5 nodder the Worm read in the past year. Schama is rightfully known as a leading historian: opposite his analytical prowess is a talent to entertain. 5 nods.
5. Wuthering Heights (1847) – Emily Bronte
A true English classic. Victorian literature is known for its priggishness and clichéd love stories; but this Bronte does not fail to deliver a mesmerising and devastating tale. 5 nods.
6. The Annals of Imperial Rome (ed. 1956) – Tacitus
A history passed down hundreds upon hundreds of years. Tacitus’s observations remain valid to those in power today. 5 nods.
7. Macbeth (1606) – William Shakespeare
Shakespeare for the fast and furious: blood and gore and general overall madness. 4 nods.
8. The Selfish Gene (1976) – Richard Dawkins
Thought provoking prose from the equally heralded and despised Dawkins. Is chief failing is Dawkins overall storytelling. 4 nods.
9. War & Peace (1869) – Leo Tolstoy
Thrilling and gripping. But, of course, much too long. 4 nods.
10. Ghost Train to the Eastern Star (2008) – Paul Theroux
Theroux is the perfect travel companion. Take this journey with him across Europe and Asia. 4 nods.
Six genuine 5 nodders; unfortunately, a few other reads fell a little short. If these are the good, then the bad and distinctly ugly compete for the Worm’s Shredder Award. Entrants include the 1 nodders Great Political Eccentrics (1999) by disgraced former Tory MP Neil Hamilton, Ben Elton’s Popcorn (1996), Matt Forbeck’s fantasy novel Blood Bowl (2006), and Dribble (2007) by Harry Pearson. After much debating, the ultimate loser – or winner – goes to Matt Forbeck’s crazy and truly awful Blood Bowl (2006). I defended the novel in my review last year due to personal and long standing ties to the game – yet not even the Worm can save it from the shredder.
Apologies are sent out to Richard Dawkins’ God Delusion (2006), Bret Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero (1985), and Walter Allen’s The English Novel (1954). All were marked severely by a scolding Worm; and subsequent nagging doubt has raised their final grades by a nod.
Whilst special mentions go out to Bill Bryson and the historian Niall Ferguson. Both kept the Worm’s eyes warm on many a night this past year, each contributing three books to the final number of sixty eight (Bryson: Mother Tongue, African Diary, Down Under; Ferguson: The War of the World, Empire, Virtual History). If these constituted personal favourites, there are many authors who will never be revisited, such as the dull D.J. Bercuson & H.H. Herwig, as well as the previously mentioned 1 nodders.
A total of 21,860 pages were read and fingered, resulting in an average of 321 page book average, ranging from Bryson’s small African Diary (60 pages) to Tolstoy’s door-stopper War & Peace (1,300 pages). 5 nodders constituted nine percent of the 68 books; 4 nodders twenty-seven percent; 3 nodders being the largest on thirty-seven percent; many 2 nodders on twenty-six percent; whilst 1 nodders, thankfully, remained on a low six percent. Works of fiction dominated the Worms’ reading: from novels to short stories. Equally high upon the list were history books, from the Roman Empire to Plymothian fascists. Further favourites were politics and travel; whilst science related reads were boosted by Paul Strathern’s accessible reads.
2009-2010 is now over. A vintage year of reading; but yet the show must go on. The Worm is not yet dead – Long live the Worm!
Full awards:
Book of the Year: Berlin Diary (1941) by William Shirer
Recommended Fiction Read: Lord Jim (1900) by Joseph Conrad
Recommended History Read: American Future (2008) by Simon Schama
Recommended Science Related Read: The Selfish Gene (1976) by Richard Dawkins
Recommended Travel Read: Ghost Train to the Eastern Star (2006) by Paul Theroux
Recommended Autobiographical Read: All Because of Him (1995) by Klara Anderson
Recommended Political Read: Rights of Man (1792) by Thomas Paine
Longest Book Award: War & Peace (1869) by Leo Tolstoy
Shortest Book Award: African Diary (1998) by Bill Bryson
Shredder Award: Blood Bowl (2006) by Matt Forbeck
