Welcome to Books I’m Grateful I’ve Read, a giveaway hop from Stuck in Books
It’s a funny thing – what is it about a book that makes you grateful you’ve read it? Some personal enrichment? A feeling that you understand the character and maybe it helps you understand yourself – or spurs you on to overcome things in your own life?
I confess that books that fall in this category are often not ones I’ve read of my own volition. Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up the Bodies, for example, I only read because it was a bookclub book – even though I’d heard good things about it and it was on my TBR list. Way down my TBR list. Jonas Jonasson’s the Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window and Disappeared was one I chose to read, and felt all the better for, since it is very life-affirming, and also funny in an off-beat way (and helped my grasp of 20th century history).
But the book I felt gave me most was Skallagrigg by William Horwood – possibly one of the saddest, but at the same time reaffirming stories, which gives you so much insight into the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for human beings to inflict suffering on each other. Skallagrigg is essentially about a spirit creature who will come to all those in need, but mainly to people with mental illness or disability. It tells the story of two people with the same syndrome (I think it’s cerebral palsy but it’s never defined) but separated by about fifty years – light years in terms of societal understanding and care.
The trouble is, thinking about this post, is that although we no longer incarcerate and abuse our mentally ill people, we seem to be repeating the syndrome with our aged people in so-called ‘care’ homes. I hope we’re putting an end to that too.
Skallagrigg was first published in 1987, which is strange since I thought I’d read it ten years earlier. One review rants about it not having been published in the US. It’s not in stock at Amazon UK (used copies only) and is possibly out of print. The Book Depository suggest trying AbeBooks, who do appear to have some second-hand copies. The publisher lists it as Fantasy, which it most certainly isn’t! I think I’d call it social history fiction, if there is such a thing.
Would you like to hunt for it on your favourite bookstore and also click the “ask the Publisher for it on Kindle” button on Amazon, in order to get it back into the public eye? Thanks.
My Giveaway
I’m giving away one copy of Skallagrigg internationally, with no promise about the condition since I can only find used copies to buy.
Enter using the Rafflecopter below and note that the “Tweet” option also tweets Penguin Books (UK) asking them to reissue it – you could take out the UK if you want to ask Penguin Books internationally.
Giveaway ends November 14th 2014.
Now go hopping!
Dang, I was just telling myself to cut back on blog hopping and then I get your email telling about this one. What an intriguing concept for a hop. I can’t wait to see what everyone offers.
I just finished The Luminous Heart of Jonah S.; by Gina B. Nahai. It’s about a family of Iranian Jewish refugees in Los Angeles. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it, but it’s published by Akashic Books and they rarely miss. I’m so glad I read it, it’s stunning. I lived in Iran briefly before the 1979 revolution. The book gives a lot of background about the family before they fled from the revolution. It took me back–in a good way. I’m so glad I read it.
I know what you mean about blog hopping, Martha – thank you for being discerning!
Your book sounds interesting. It reminds me about one I read written by a Persian woman who had to escape to the West after the fall of the Shah. Now I’ll have to find out what it was called.
maybe it was Not Without My Daughter, by an American woman who was married to an Iranian. It was rather negative and too sensational. All Iranian families were not like the one she married into.
The graphic novel The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is semi-autobiographical and gives an excellent picture of an Iranian family. It also gives some of the political background.
No, it wasn’t about an Anerican woman. Maybe I’ll search for the one I mean!
One I’m grateful I’ve read recently is Lost and Found by Brooke Davis.
I must say, those 80s style covers always draw me in!!
Thanks, Bruce!
I am grateful i read Stones Data by Jacob Whaler! I loved it and i am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
There are just too many good books to read!
I have to go with OUTLANDER.
Thanks, Mary!
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, the book inspires me a lot in life.
Interesting! Thanks, Mai
I’m grateful to have read a few different things (particularly nonfiction), but the one that I’ve read most recently and that’s lesser known is Josh Sundquist’s Just Don’t Fall. It’s the story of how he developed childhood cancer, had to have a leg amputated, and went on to compete on the US Paralympic ski team. Really great guy and one of my favorite YouTubers. He has a new book coming next month called We Should Hang Out Sometime, where he interviews a bunch of girls from his past.
Sounds interesting – thanks, Sarah!
Although I didn’t read it until I was an adult, I’m grateful I did read “Alice in Wonderland” because I finally got all the references that are made to it and can try to think of many impossible things before breakfast each day.
Good choice!
pride and prejudice
Ah, now you’re talking! I’m even more grateful for Colin Firth 😉
I’m grateful to have read Persuasion by Jane Austen! Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
Not one of my favourites, but you’re right, there’s a lot to be gained from Jane Austen!
have to go with OUTLANDER.
I’ll have to check that out, then! Thanks, Laurie.
“Dark Places” by Gillian Flynn. Thanks for the giveaway!
Mmm, nice idea!
Watchers by Dean Koontz, Yesterday’s Gone by Sean Platt and David Wright, Insomnia by Stephen King, and Damocles by S.G. Redling.
Oh,no! Three more for my list, although I may not add the Stephen King, he’s too scary for me!
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
I’ve never read that – must try it sometime.
A book that I am glad I read was one we had to read Gone With the Wind and then I have reread it numerous times, since, loved the book, being a real southern girl.
I suspect I would prefer the book to the film, so I’ll add it to my list, Dorothy!
Hello! I’m grateful to have read Stones from the River. It follows a handicapped girls life living in Germany during World War I. Thank-you!!
That must have been difficult. Hard enough to be handicapped at that time, let alone in wartime.
She Said Yes – about one of the girls killed in the Columbine school shooting.
Another fascinating tale – I wonder what people will make of these events fifty years hence? (following on from my response to Natalie’s comment)
the harry potter series
I considered that too – but I commented earlier this year about living through the series as published or reading the whole thing afterwards. Does it makes a difference, do you think?
I am grateful I read “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. I love the books for both their humor and sense of adventure. Reading these books changed my outlook on life forever.
I read Tom Sawyer last year for the first time – took me a while to get into it. Some of these stories are definitely best read when young and innocent 🙂
Vampire Academy.
Not one that attracts me, but each to his or her own! Thanks for visiting, Kristi – last of the Hop!