Well, dear readers, another end to a fine book reading year has come. It was a year in which classic American novels were devoured (The Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby), fine modern works of history read (Postwar, Rubicon), a fine feast of plays enjoyed (from misters Shakespeare and Gogol), much poetry lapped up (from Wilfred Owen to Seamus Heaney), key political texts considered (The Communist Manifesto, Machiavelli’s The Prince, and our old friend Tom Paine) as well as the usual smattering of the odd and damn right silly, including a scenario of Michael Portillo becoming Prime Minister as well as the invention of the toilet.
It is the second year of the Worm’s crusading book reading adventures; but alas, a year that fell short of the first volume in 2009-10. This year fifty-three books were devoured; in the shade to last year’s robust dollop of sixty-eight. The Worm hoists the white flag in submission, but truly believes in quality over quantity: and there was much quality in these pages! So, if we may, we move onto the top ten reads of the past twelve months:
The Top Ten Reads of 2010-11:
1. The Sound & The Fury (1929) – William Faulkner
Breathtaking book that concentrates on the three brothers of the Compson family, and each of their focus and relationships with their sister, Caddy (she of the muddy drawers climbing the pear tree!). A true modernist work of fiction, the Worm strongly urges to buy, beg, steal or borrow a copy today. 5 nods.
Read the review here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/06/sound-fury-william-faulkner.html
2. Common Sense (1776) – Thomas Paine
The book that helped to spark the American Revolution; Paine writes with an intensity and ferocity that all can understand and marvel in. He speaks with compassion for the ideals of democracy, and this pamphlet should be studied in schools across the world. 5 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2010/10/common-sense-thomas-paine.html
3. Poems (1920) – Wilfred Owen
Having found inspiration on the front line during the First World War, Owen wrote a batch of beautify and eye-opening poems before dying the week before Armistice Day in 1918. Tragedy and anguish lay on these pages, confirming Owen’s place as one of our most loved of poets. 5 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/07/poems-wilfred-owen.html
4. The Communist Manifesto (1848) – Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels
One of the key influential political texts of the past one hundred and fifty years, with a banking crisis around us, perhaps it is time to get back up to speed with pals Karl & Friedrich. Their prose still stirs a passion, calling all working men to unite! 5 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2010/09/communist-manifesto-marx-engels.html
5. The Catcher In The Rye (1945) – J.D. Salinger
A novel that excites and inflames all who read it; who cannot resist the efforts of Holden Caulfield to free himself from the grip of the phonies. Salinger’s classic is a must-read of modern literature. 5 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2010/08/catcher-in-rye-jd-salinger.html
6. Postwar (2005) – Tony Judt
Judt encompasses the chaotic and confusing recent decades of European history into one book – and very much succeeds. Postwar is for anybody who wishes to get to obtain a greater understanding of the continent of Europe. 5 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/06/postwar-tony-judt.html
7. Julius Caesar (1599) – William Shakespeare
Follow the trials and tribulations, not of Caesar, but of Brutus and his quest to safe the dying body of the Roman Republic. Shakespeare puts in his usual magic of oratory and gruesome deaths. 4 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/05/julius-caesar-william-shakespeare.html
8. Oryx & Crake (2003) – Margaret Atwood
A disturbing, frightening and yet thoroughly entertaining dystopian vision of a world of genetically modified creatures. With many similarities with previous classic texts such as Brave New World, this stands as a premier Atwood read. 4 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/05/oryx-and-crake-margaret-atwood.html
9. Rubicon (2003) – Tom Holland
Holland has made narrative history “sexy” once again. There is no easier read on the fall of the Roman Republic than this; re-engage with Caesar, Cato and Cicero with the popcorn ready. 4 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/03/rubicon-tom-holland.html
10. The Middle Parts of Fortune (1929) – Frederick Manning
One of the finest books on war ever written. Take not the Worm’s critique, but rather the great stature and recommendation of Hemingway. For anyone wishing to understanding conflict, grab a copy today. 4 nods.
Read it here: http://4eyedbookworm.blogspot.com/2011/01/middle-parts-of-fortune-frederick.html
The above are true classics, and perhaps the Worm feels a tad ashamed in not dishing out 5 nodders across the board for these top tens; but as many of you know, a 5 nodder is a hard fought thing and must surpass all of the Worm’s rigid and scientific nodder tests (kept in a secret laboratory beneath Worm Manor).
Including this top ten, there are honourable mentions for the following that fell just short of the top ten: Angela Carter’s The Passion of New Eve, Seamus Heaney’s collection of poems from 1966-1987, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven and Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector. Fantastic reads that kept the Worm aloft and full of hope over this past year.
With regards to author loyalty, a few familiar names reappeared (with various results), including Bill Bryson’s slightly disappointing History of Private Life and Bret Easton Ellis’ even more deflating novel The Rules of Attraction. Of course these chaps will return in the year ahead, let’s hope for more generous nods in future. Thank goodness for the recurring reads of Thomas Paine and William Shakespeare, true gold standards of the written word.
The 1 nodder sin-bin was enlarged by some truly terrible reads: Emma Mansfield’s cash-in Little Book of Cornwall and Wallace Reyburn’s dreadful Flushed With Pride. The Shredder Award goes to Michael Williams’ pathetic biography on Prince Charles and his role as Duke of Cornwall. To the bin with you all, foul creatures of the printed page!
And onto the awards of the past year, in what has been styled The Noddies:
Read of the Year:
The Sound & The Fury (1929) – William Faulkner
Novel of the Year:
The Sound & The Fury (1929) – William Faulkner
Short Fiction:
Dubliners (1914) – James Joyce
Play of the Year:
Julius Caesar (1599) – William Shakespeare
Poetry:
Poems (1920) – Wilfred Owen
History:
Postwar (2005) – Tony Judt
Political:
Common Sense (1776) – Thomas Paine
Auto/Biographical:
The Frock Coated Communist (2009) – Tristam Hunt
Local Book:
Cornwall A History (2004) – Philip Payton
Largest Read:
Postwar (2005) at 850 pages
Modest Read:
Charles Duke of Cornwall (1977) at 80 pages
Oldest Read:
The Prince (1532) - Niccolo Machiavelli
Niche Title:
Flushed With Pride: The Story of Thomas Crapper (1969) – Wallace Reyburn
The Shredder Award:
Charles Duke of Cornwall (1977)- Michael Williams.
Hooray for the winners, who will be canonised on this blog and emphasised and promoted to all who come into the path of the Worm.
The Worm will continue to read, to criticise and praise each page of prose that comes his way. A toast to the past two years, and a toast to those years of the future. The retinas are in focus, the four eyes have much life in them yet.
