Book Meme

Like languagehat, from whom I got this, I don’t usually do memes, but I will do this one.

You’re stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

I gather from Wikipedia that people in Fahrenheit 451 each memorize a book for after the books have been destroyed. I think if I were in a situation where this was necessary it would be something like The Complete Monty Python’s Flying Circus vol. 1, or Pete and Dud’s Dagenham Dialogues.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

No comment.

The last book you bought is?

Günter Stössel, Nürnberg bei Fürth. Stössel collects quotes and from 1007 to the present he explains why Nurembergers, especially taxi drivers, are so snotty about Fürth. Every time I have to listen to this, I have wondered why the inhabitants of the bigger and more famous town could get so hot under the collar about the other. I have got to the point where the newer railway is deliberately deviated past Fürth.

What are you currently reading?

Nürnberg bei Fürth, see above. I was re-reading I, Claudius and Claudius the God, but I’ve abandoned the latter (after eight chapters) as it was more boring than I remembered it. The Times London History Atlas, edited by Hugh Clout. Brandwood, Davison and Slaughter, Licensed to Sell. The History and Heritage of the Public House. This is for reasons of family history research. I promised a friend I’d read Dan Brown, Angels and Demons, and see if I could finish it, but I haven’t started yet. Parry & Clark, The Law of Succession (tenth ed.), for work reasons. Wolfram von Eschenbach, Willehalm (Middle High German).

Five books you would take to a deserted island:

I prefer to read novels, but one wouldn’t be enough, and might be disappointing.
1. A very full anthology of English or German poetry, from Old English/Old High German to the present day.
2. A very fully illustrated history of world art.
3. The OED, although I am afraid it would have to be the one with a magnifying glass.
4. Seymour’s Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency or something similar.
5. A history or collection of historical texts on philosophy. Maybe The Oxford Companion to Philosophy would be OK.

Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

I’m not either. But if Trevor, Des or Mark Liberman wants to, let them, because I would be interested in their lists.

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