More Than Words: A Lifelong Love Affair with Books
Stephen King famously described books as "a uniquely portable magic." And for as long as I can remember, I've been under their spell. This blog, and indeed The Book Whisperer project as a whole, is all about sharing that magic.
My earliest reading memory is The Wishing-Chair by Enid Blyton. I vividly remember the colourful cover, the fantastic adventures, and the thrill of escaping into another world. I still own that very copy, although it now lives on my daughter's bookshelf – a testament to the enduring power of a good story.
As I grew up, books became more than just entertainment; they were companions, teachers, and escape hatches. There was a running joke in my family that I preferred the company of fictional characters to real people.
My teenage years were a literary journey filled with exciting discoveries. Stephen King was my gateway drug. I devoured everything he wrote, mostly for the buzz of being a bit frightened. Even though the horror genre isn't really my cup of tea any more, I still think his books are compulsive page-turning popular fiction and his memoir On Writing is a fantastic resource and an inspiring read for any aspiring writer.
Then came my "serious young man" phase. I immersed myself in the twentieth-century classics: the rebellious energy of the Beats (Kerouac's On the Road was a particular favourite), the transgressive explorations of the "Freaks" (Burroughs' Naked Lunch was certainly… an experience), and the counterculture musings of the Hippies (Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest left a lasting impression). I devoured the darlings of the British literary scene: Amis, McEwan, Barnes, and Rushdie. For a long time, Martin Amis's Money was my absolute favourite – the sheer energy and audacity of the writing blew me away. I've reread it recently, and while the prose still jumps off the page, it feels a bit… aggressively macho for my current, more middle-aged sensibilities.
It took me an embarrassingly long time to discover the joys of women authors (my younger self was a fool), but once I did, there was no turning back. Anne Tyler, in particular, has become a firm favourite, her insightful and compassionate portrayals of family life resonating deeply.
I've always had a weakness for "challenging" books – the ones that make you work for it, that stretch your mind and force you to grapple with complex ideas. I've attempted Moby Dick and Gravity's Rainbow more times than I care to admit, and still haven't conquered them. Ulysses, however, I finally managed to finish at the end of last year - after eight or nine attempts. It was a slog in parts (some very long parts), but ultimately a rewarding one. The power of the writing, the rich interior world felt real and deeply resonated with me. I also recently read Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann which is in the same stream of consciousness tradition. Absolutely incredible - but again not for the faint-hearted.
These days, my reading tastes are more diverse than ever. I've developed a non-fiction habit, especially popular science (a gap in my formal education). I'm currently on a (probably doomed) quest to understand quantum physics, one mind-bending concept at a time.
Through all these phases, one thing has remained constant: my love of books, both as objects and as vehicles for knowledge and experience. That's what led me to create The Book Whisperer. It's about sharing that passion, helping others discover great reads, and celebrating the "uniquely portable magic" that books offer.
Even if this website and project don't find an audience, creating it, curating reading lists and interacting with AI has been a real joy. I'm learning so much.
I hope you'll join me on this continuing adventure. What are some of your formative reading experiences? Share your recommendations in the comments!
