Books I Remember I have, in my lifetime, read a gazillion books. It is impossible to even attempt to put together a list of those that I loved. So I have set myself the task of writing down a list of books within 5 minutes. The theory being that I will end up with a list of books that must have got stuck in my brain for some or other reason, good or bad. Here is that list, in the order in which they popped into my head: Isaac Asimov – Foundation, Second Foundation and Foundation and Empire. Asimov is probably one of the most revered science fiction authors, best known for his creation of the three laws of robotics- 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. Page | 51
Maybe we can apply the three rules to AI today? The three Foundation books by Asimov are innovative, gripping novels around the theme of preventing the fall of an Empire by establishing a remote colony to serve as the focus of kickstarting life after the fall. One of those stories that, just when you think you know what is going to happen, smuggles with your brain. Eric Flint – 1635 What is not to like about this one – in 2018 some intergalactic pulse of energy switches 50ha of land in the USA with an entire town on it with 50ha of land in France in 1635. So, you wake up and you are in the middle of the 30 years’ war. Fortunately, you have your 2018 weapons. And a pharmacy and supermarket and stuff. And, of course, you have the history books in the library to tell you what is going on. And what is going to happen. But what if Cardinal Richelieu gets hold of one of those books and gets a glimpse into the future? Bernard Cornwell – The Last Kingdom Series This is a historical fiction series that tells the tale of Alfred the Great and his descendants through the Page | 52
eyes of Uhtred, an English boy born into the aristocracy of ninth-century Northumbria, captured by the Danes and taught the Viking ways. It gives a remarkable insight into life in those days in England. Cornwell has a gift of bringing his characters to life. It has always given me a jolt of pleasure to discover a new author and learn that the book is one of a series – The Last Kingdon consists of 13 books. Charles Williams – The Diamond Bikini Most of Williams’ books were written in the 50’s and 60’s – typical hardboiled crime novels common in that era. Ho hum. One book stands out, however, and this is it. It is written from the viewpoint of a 10- year-old boy. He and his father live on the road until a Welfare lady demands they settle somewhere wholesome. Not knowing anyplace wholesome, Billy's father takes him to Texas instead, to live on his brother Sagamore's farm. There Billy meets bootleggers, gangsters, and the beautiful Miss Choo- Choo Caroline, a Chicago stripper who was wearing nothing but a tiny, diamond-encrusted G-string when she disappears on the farm. Funny and original. Page | 53
Paolo Bacigalupi – The Windup Girl I quote: “Emiko is not human, she is an engineered being, creche-grown and programmed to satisfy the decadent whims of a Kyoto businessman, but now abandoned to the streets of Bangkok. Regarded as soulless beings by some, devils by others, New People are slaves, soldiers, and toys of the rich in a chilling near future in which calorie companies rule the world, the oil age has passed, and the side effects of bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe.” Jack McDevitt – the Alex Benedict Series. The main character of the series is Alex Benedict, an antiquities dealer who, with his sidekick Chase Kolpath, solves various mysteries while searching for and dealing in ancient space artifacts. Easy reading science fiction with good plots. Page | 54
Harold McGee – On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen Heston Blumenthal has stated it is \"the book that has had the greatest single impact on my cooking\". It is what the title says – a great reference to the science behind cooking. I have always maintained that some understanding of what goes on when you cook helps you to be a better cook. China Miéville – Kraken Probably one of the nuttiest, craziest books you will ever read. The London that comes to life in Kraken is a weird metropolis awash in secret currents of myth and magic, where criminals, police, cultists, and wizards are locked in a war to bring about—or prevent—the End of All Things. A qiant squid is involved…… David Niven – Bring on the Empty Horses David Niven recalls his time in Hollywood during its heyday. He recounts stories and anecdotes of the stars, producers, directors, tycoons and oddballs, many of whom were his friends. The title recalls the Page | 55
day when a Hungarian director decided that the right moment had come to order the entry on the scene of a hundred head of riderless horses. 'Okay,' he yelled into a megaphone — 'Bring on the empty horses!' Chaim Potok - My Name Is Asher Lev Asher Lev grows up in a cloistered Hasidic community in postwar Brooklyn, a world suffused by ritual and revolving around a charismatic Rebbe. But in time, his artistic gift threatens to estrange him from that world and the parents he adores. The book follows his struggle. If you have not yet read this book, do so forthwith….. C.J. Sansom – Dissolution This is the first Shardlake novel- there are 8. Set in the 16th century in the time of Henry VIII, it is a whodunnit featuring the hunchback lawyer as the rather unusual protagonist. Good storytelling although all 8 books get a bit too much hunchbackery – always the victim type of thing. Nevertheless, read the first one and maybe the second one. Page | 56
Richard Stark – The Score One of 24 novels featuring Parker, a ruthless career criminal. He has almost no redeeming qualities- he is callous, meticulous, cruel and perfectly willing to commit murder if he deems it necessary. The novels follow his criminal career. The twisted viewpoint makes these books interesting. Quick reads. John Steinbeck – The Grapes of Wrath Pulitzer Prize winning novel (1940) by the Nobel Prize winner for fiction (1962). Set during the Great Depression, the novel relates the trials and tribulations of a poor family of tenant farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought and economic hardship. They set out for California along with thousands of other \"Okies\" seeking jobs, land, dignity, and a future. A tale of an era that now seems remote, yet it clutches at your heart. Page | 57
Saying Goodbye Our dear friend Christine Westermann wrote a book entitled “Manchmal ist es federleicht: Von kleinen und großen Abschieden” – “Sometimes it's as light as a feather: Of small and big goodbyes.” This idea has intrigued me ever since- that life is stitched together by a series of goodbyes, big ones and small ones. Heavy ones and some “as light as a feather”. The notion that life is a series of goodbyes is supported by the idea that we constantly encounter temporary farewells throughout our lives. These temporary goodbyes serve as preparation for more permanent and lasting goodbyes. These experiences of parting, though sometimes traumatic, also teach us important lessons about the transient nature of life. Goodbyes are not inherently negative; they hold profound meaning and value. They remind us of the beauty and fragility of life, prompting us to appreciate the people, experiences, and opportunities we encounter. Goodbyes provide closure and the opportunity for growth and self-discovery, propelling us towards new chapters. Page | 58
Life's intricate tapestry is interwoven with goodbyes, both temporary and permanent. From the lessons learned through temporary farewells to the profound realization of life's impermanence, the series of goodbyes we experience enriches our understanding of existence. Goodbyes evoke emotions, teach us resilience, and deepen our appreciation for the precious moments we share with others. By reflecting on our life stories and the role of goodbyes, we gain insights into our personal growth, values, and aspirations. Ultimately, embracing the premise that life is a series of goodbyes can lead to a more profound and meaningful journey. Some goodbyes have no immediate effect. Others are entwined with a corresponding “hello” and that signifies both an end and a beginning. Of course, none of that can define a life. Nothing that linear can. But it does offer a perspective that helps one to deal with stuff. Perhaps the bigger goodbyes also constitute a pivot point in one’s life- a point that directed your life in a new and unexpected direction. Page | 59
Saying goodbye also does not imply that one waves farewell to something that you are glad to be rid of. It is simply accepting that something is in the past, be it something that generates fond memories or not. The thing is one’s acceptance that it is in the past. Let me look at some goodbyes in my life- not all of them or even the most important ones: I said goodbye to being a complete self-conscious nerd when Rotary send me to the USA. This was just a goodbye, because nothing remarkable replaced it, but I gained enormously in self-confidence. Up to that point I was an outsider of sorts. After that point I was accepted as one of the crowd. Not that it made much difference to me – I still preferred my own company and still made no friends. But I was confidently alone, knowing that I am thus because I preferred it. I said goodbye to my illusion that I could achieve anything academically by my first-year failure at Tuks. A very large and very healthy slug of reality. The difference between school and varsity was far far greater than I imagined. I thought that I could pitch up and succeed. Not so. To my surprise, actual work was required. Page | 60
I said goodbye to my sister when I left for university. We were never close – 10 years age difference- but I realised later that leaving home meant that I would never be able to build the closeness that other siblings had. There is something that living together 24/7 adds to a sibling relationship that cannot be substituted later in life. I left home when she was 8 and we never had an opportunity to establish that bond. I said goodbye to my Dad when he succumbed to cancer. He was an enormous influence in my life, and I have fond memories of the times when we worked together in building industry and at the end, in building and running the hotel. His relationship with my Mom was a loving and caring one. I so wish I could sit down with him today over a whiskey and have a chat about stuff. I said goodbye to my one-eyed view of the world when I realised how terrible Apartheid was. This left a void that took some time to fill. I said goodbye to numerous dogs, each time learning anew how precious such a life was in mine and knowing that a new one would soon cuddle its own space in my heart. Page | 61
I said goodbye to the sure knowledge that I would never find a woman to love when I discovered that Lenie had fallen in love with me. I said goodbye to the sure knowledge that I would never find another woman to love when I discovered that Anna had fallen in love with me. Page | 62
Afterword There are people that you know and like. Then there are people that you love. Page | 63
Search
