The Books That Made Ian

"I’ve owned the bookshop for over 10 years.  It was something of a surprise, including to me, when I bought the business from Ronald Timms.  When I heard from Cathy that Ronald might sell the business I thought ‘Hmm. Owning a bookshop sounds interesting.  I wonder how book-selling works?’  Sue helped with that and in September 2014 the deed was done.  It’s been, and still is fun, a source  of great pride, a terrific opportunity for spreadsheeting and often hilarious.  Thank you Team! Thank you to our lovely customers!

So, how does this bookselling thing work…?"

Why I Chose The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 
"This is Steinbeck’s epic story of the Joad’s, a desperate family of tenant farmers forced to leave Oklahoma when their land becomes dust and the Great Depression strikes.  With many others they head west to seek a new life in California only to find not enough work, discrimination and rejection.  This was my ‘O’ Level (now would be GCSE!) English set book, so I had no choice but to read it! The social issues are there but this is also a book with a strong story line, characters you care about and Steinbeck’s characteristic descriptive power.  For me, it has been a gateway to Steinbeck’s other books - my favourite is probably Cannery Row -  but Grapes of Wrath was the first."

Why I Chose Small is Beautiful by E.F Schumacher 
"I read Schumacher’s book in 1974 when I was still at school, and long before I was taught economics.  At the heart of the book was a conviction that global economic growth (ie income) was based on the mistaken assumption that natural capital - what we take from the earth - is effectively unlimited and doesn’t need to be accounted for.  Any business making that accounting mistake would soon be out of business.  Much has happened since then, but that insight has stayed with me."

Why I Chose The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
"Douglas Adams was a creative genius and something of a prophet.  The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Book) which features in the book - I know it’s a bit confusing -  is “..a sort of electronic book.  It tells you everything you need to know about anything.  That’s it’s job” .  Sound familiar?  Some of the things we learn are the importance of towels, where to put a Babel Fish, the meaning of life, the universe and everything, and that there is a restaurant at the end of the universe.  The humour and inventiveness of the 1978 BBC radio series, in which the legendary Peter Jones voices The Book, kept me going in my last year as an undergraduate.  It’s brilliant and unforgettable.   And, if you like it, there are four more books in the series. "

Why I Chose If This is a Man / The Truce by Primo Levi 
"In these two short books Primo Levi, an Italian Jew, tells of his survival in the camps  of Auschwitz and his incredible journey home at the end of the 2nd World War.  Beautifully written and translated, Levi tells of how it is possible to maintain a sense of worth and dignity against all the odds.  The characters are extraordinary and tone free from recrimination.  Both books are classics."

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