My Life in Books is an occasional feature on Random Things Through My Letterbox
I've asked authors and people in publishing to share with us a list of the books that are important to them and have made a lasting impression on their life


Here's a snippet from my review: "Lyn G Farrell writes with incredible insight, I don't know of her background, I don't know how she's captured Amanda's life so well, but she really is one of the most talented and gifted authors that I've come across for many years. Mental anguish, brutality, family relationships, fear and ignorance; these themes make up the heart of this story."
Follow her on Twitter @FarrellWrites
My Life in Books ~ Lyn Farrell
When I was asked to take part in this I was delighted. I’ve
enjoyed reader other authors’ choices and love going through the list to
discover I’ve also read and been captivated by many of their choices. As others
have noted, when it comes to listing your own, it’s a much harder thing to do.
My bookshelves and kindle groan under the weight, physical and virtual
respectively. However, I’ve gone for just some of the choices that were pivotal
in changing how I viewed the world.
Mr Dizzy – Roger Hargreaves I loved the Mr Men, so much so that I wrote to Roger
Hargreaves. He sent a lovely letter back with a picture of the World’s first
Mrs Dizzy (it was Mr Dizzy with a bow on the head!). My sister reckons it was
my letter – titled the Mrs Madams – that led to the Little Misses. As a small
child I loved Mr Dizzy the best because, like me, he was being bullied and he
gave me hope as he overcame it. I liked the sense of justice I got from the
baddies getting their comeuppance. If only life was always like that.

This book was hugely important to me as a ten year old. It
was my first encounter with a character that was suffering the extreme violence
I was at home. Ranofer, the Egyptian orphan in the story, was beaten and
starved by his half brother. Despite this, he clung to his dream of wanting to
be a goldsmith. I found a comrade in Ranofer, found comfort in the fact that
stories like this could be told. It also took me into an amazing world of exotic
foods and landscapes and let me escape my own surroundings. I read this book
countless times, over many years, and will never forget how much it helped me.

Possibly my first encounter with fantasy/dystopian writing.
I identified with Sophie, who was ‘different’ to other children. I found it a
terrifying but captivating tale and I remember gasping when Sophie’s wet footprint
on the boulder gave away her secret. Apparently it’s widely considered to be
Wyndham’s best novel and though I adored his other stories too, I’d have to
agree.

I have to confess that I’m quite jealous of people who can
weave comedy into their writing. I love books that are so funny they give me
hiccups and I hope it’s something I could do one day. The Hitchhikers’ guide was
the first book that I remember reading that made me laugh out loud until I felt
sick (I’ve never got along with the film or the radio series but the books
oddly enough). I fell in love with humorous writing at this point and have read
so many great books since, from Bill Bryson and Michael Carson to Roddy Doyle
and John Irving. Oh, and most recently, Jonathan Franzen. There are dozens more
that I’ve enjoyed but these spring to mind.

The Illywacker is actually beyond description.
If I tell you it’s about a 139 year old professional liar learning the art of
invisibility, it doesn’t do it justice. Some writers are in a different sphere
of excellence and Carey, for me, is one of them. Sometimes, when I get sad that
I cannot possibly read all of the best quality novels in one singly lifetime, I
cheer myself by saying ‘At least I read The Illywacker’.
I’ve chosen this book because it defeats the ‘write what you
know’ law us authors are supposed to obey and that gives me great hope. This is
a book set in China, about a British soldier who deserts the army during the
Korean war and surrenders to the Chinese. Everything about this story is
authentic to me, from the landscapes to the farming and houses and to the sense
of aloneness he has throughout the story. When I found out he’d never even set
foot in China, but used research to fuel the details in his story I almost
applauded. He’s another role model for my collection of ‘writing craft
heroes/heroines’

My favourite McCarthy book (2nd is No country for
old men). The way the style and vocabulary matches the story is a work of
genius. The no frills depiction that pares everything down to a journalistic
record of ‘what is’, dialogue that is bleak, sparse and only spoken when
absolutely necessary. There is absolute and gut wrenching horror in this book;
I had to snuggle up to my partner after reading some passages, to have the
comfort of the warmth of another human. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever
read, despite the nightmares.

Lyn Farrell - January 2017
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