Last month, we reported that Mr Pullman had been invited to showcase his favourite books at Waterstone’s Writer’s Table. He has now exclusively revealed to the TimesOnline what those books are and how he chose them.
Philip Pullman names his top 40 books
August 30, 2008
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FIRST HAHA Check the comments on Gabriel’s drawing of lord Asriel, i’m sure you will find something interesting there…
I also take advantage of this article to make the suggestion of making a petition for the subtle knife film to be made. I know production is starting to move right now, but let’s make them hurry up, we don’t want to see a sequel in ten years with another girl starting as Lyra because dakota grew too old as a result of the lateness of the production.
sorry for righting something that has nothing to do with the article
…and I can be first for being on topic.
For a while I didn’t think there were going to be many I had read or knew of, but there are. I haven’t read John Cowper Powys’ Wolf Solent, but I tackled his A Glastonbury Romance some years ago (about the length of HDM, but in one volume), and still remember that distinctive style of his. Art and Illusion by EH Gombrich, no, but The Story of Art, yes, like many an art student. Norman Lindsay wrote The Magic Pudding sure that young boys would find a story about food and fighting irresisistable, and 90 years later, it’s still in print. HG Wells, of course, Molesworth, yes; (at least it’s unlikely they will try to make a film of this, unlike the companion volume The Terror of St Trinian’s). I’ll even admit to reading the Moomintrolls, but it was a long time ago.
Funny there’s no mention of Paradise Lost. I should try and read that again soon – some of the others sound like they’re worth seeking out; let us know if anybody there’s read them.
hmm… He chose Art Spiegelman’s Maus. THE most powerful graphic novel I have ever read. I would recommend it for all.
Uh, I haven’t read any of those.
Somehow I find odd that there’s nothing of Charles Dickens.
Nice selection, and a suggestion worth taking into account. I just hope Pullman now gets to write his next “real book,” not just short stories. He’s too good a writer to be so lazy.
Buzz, please get over it.
The people on here were nice one time
They talked to each other on posts
Now everyone’s an individualist trying to post their opinions writing them as the only ones
Grumman, stop making yourself believe to be so smart by trying dumb and fruitless efforts of being sarcastically funny, and what kind of a dumb guy are you to call Pullman lazy? you write some of the best books of the latest years and then you’ll be able to post a righteaous opinion.
Goodbye, forever
Indeed! I’m not a gifted writer like Pullman, that’s precisely why I wish he were more prolific. I think it should be more important to him to get ahead with his career, rather than staying stagnant at the Dark Materials movies problems. It’s just not worth it.
Oi, Finn family Moomintroll!
Veeery surprised to find A Voyage To Arcturus. I thought I was the only person in the universe to have read it….
Delighted to see Lovecraft, Wodehouse, Wilkie Collins and especially Arthur Ransome’s superb We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea.
For those people wondering why he didn’t include classic works by Charles Dickens, Milton, etc., if you follow the link about “how he chose them”, you will see that he sensibly decided not to include the great classics. The classics are already well known, and readers can find their own way to them.