The Book Tower

It’s that time of year when I’m musing over my holiday reading. We’re away next week, and although seven days isn’t really that long I appear to have set aside a mini library for our trip. I’ve realised that it’s always wise to pack more books than you’d ever possibly read. Why? Well, I’m firmly starting to believe that a bad choice of book can seriously spoil a holiday. When I recently visited Chicago I took The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfield. Although this book received some good reviews I couldn’t stand it, and I unfortunately now associate Chicago with this tedious and badly written novel. Similarly,I associate The Sea by John Banville with Sicily, another novel I found overrated, but I also associate Sicily with The Bedtime Secrets of the Masterchefs by Irvine Welsh. Light, funny, unputdownable. A perfect holiday read.

Luckily, most of my holiday choices ove the years have worked out fine and I have happy book associations with far flung destinations. Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières with Turkey. Travels With my Aunt by Graham Greene and, strangely, Dracula by Bram Stoker with Corsica. Great Expectations with the Algarve. Our Mutual Friend with California. Dickens works abroad – don’t ask me why. I’ll Go To Bed at Noon by Gerard Woodward and The Long Firm Trilogy by Jake Arnott with France. An Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler with Cyprus. The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson with Florida. And, although it’s a very daft book, Bridget Jones’ Diary with Spain. Books can also make being stranded at an airport more or less bearable. Star of the Sea worked, Mary Reilly didn’t.

So I’m going well prepared this year. I’m packing authors that work on holiday for me, with a Graham Greene and the latest Irvine Welsh. I’m also taking some Cormac McCarthy, an author that appears to work for me generally, and Love in the Time of Cholera, a book I’ve been unable to settle into but may work well on the sunbed. I’m also backing up with a mystery read, usually a last minute airport buy. I discovered Welsh and de Bernières this way.

So picture me at my most comfortable. Usually the first by the pool to reserve my sunbed and reading space. Alternating between the book, the bar and the pool as the day goes on. Usually the last to leave the pool, reading as the sun sets. Happy holidays!

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Tony Wilson founded Factory Records, rightly famous forever for Joy Division and New Order. He was portrayed by Steve Coogan in the film 24 Hour Party People. A crazy, inspirational guy. In his big hair and bigger collars, he fronted the brilliant So it Goes in the late 70s, and I have several editions on battered video to prove that the excellent Ian Curtis really did exist and wasn’t just something of legend.

I take my hat off to Tony Wilson – I always found him interesting, amusing and infinitely wise. So long!

In Pictures: Tony Wilson’s Career

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Lee Hazlewood was probably best known for writing These Boots Were Made For Walkin’ for Nancy Sinatra. They also recorded several albums together during the 1960s, notably Nancy and Lee in 1968. I have this album on vinyl but have been tempted to download it from iTunes after hearing about his death.

He was also instrumental in creating the distinctive Duane Eddy guitar twang, and continued recording as a solo artist until very recently with his final release Cake or Death.

But the sixties claim him forever. If you’re looking for a gravelly voiced and dark vision of that decade then look no further. He looked great too. I love Lee Hazlewood because he’s remained on the fringes, not as fashionable as Scott Walker or The Velvet Underground – although he’s arguably more important and influential than his more famous peers. There’s also the country element to his songwriting, an influence evident in current artists such as Richard Hawley.

And in the time I’ve taken to write this post I’ve made my decision, downloaded the album and I’m listening to it now. The wonders of modern technology. The wonders of Lee Hazlewood.

Lee on MySpace

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