I Am Not Sure How I Feel About This But DON’T PANIC
Sunday, 11 October 2009
My all time heroes in no particular order: Gerald Durrell, Douglas Adams, Helen Fisher, David Attenborough.
So. In a kind of literary relay race, Eoin Colfer is picking up Adams’ baton. It’s not a new idea, but it’s not happened before to someone’s writing I have loved so much. I discovered Douglas Adams when I was at a private fee-paying boarding school. Previously I had been educated at (very good with hindsight) ‘public’ (i.e. government funded – our terminology is so confusing) comprehensives. But various factors conspired with my acquiring a bursary at a, not particularly academic, ‘private’ school in Somerset to study my A’ Levels.
One of the side effects of this choice was, when my mates at ‘college’ had free-time, they did what they wanted. At our school though, free time was library periods. What’s bizarre, (and I am asiding somewhat, as I do – and this was about seventeen years ago) we had airport type security at the doors for book-stealers. In a fee-paying campus. All this presented was endless opportunities for kids to “stitch each other up” by secreting books, or just the alarm strips, into folders.
Anyway, (which is, I have been told, my favourite word), it was during these periods that I discovered Douglas Adams. I cannot remember how. I cannot remember why. All I can remember is the thirst that I had for his words once I found him. And that I should have been wearing glasses. Since I was in trouble with people for “blanking” them when I left the library. Whereas what had actually happened was that I had read him so avidly I had exhausted my eyes and actually was unable to see anything properly.
The thing about Adams, for me, is that he has everything. He’s incredibly funny, has huge ideas that bound out in your brain whilst the action and characters keep you glued to the page. He’s the most serious of writers for me, but because he makes jokes, he’s seen as not. I find this odd, and I spend a lot of time with comedians and watching and listening to comedy. And I don’t understand why being funny potentially makes you less credible as a commentator. In my mind, it makes you more. It’s lamp to the mirror.
But, ANYWAY, the point of this post, is that I wait to be dissuaded. For me, no-one can be him. Eoin can try, and when (and I have a massive backlog right now) I get to it, I promise to try to give it an objective view, but Douglas Adams to me was an utter genius and I don’t honestly believe anyone could fill his shoes. And thanks for all the fish.
No. 1 — October 11th, 2009 at 21:42
I’m no Douglas Adams authority … but I can relate, because when I was in college they also had the security detectors to make sure no one stole library books. Also a man who searched your book bag.
No. 2 — October 11th, 2009 at 21:46
Well, er, thank you George.
No. 3 — October 13th, 2009 at 19:40
I love the gerald Durrell books, but I also love the Alexandria Quartet written by his brother Laurence. My favourite Gerald book is ‘My Family and Other Animals’. When I read it I was astounded that a family could simply up and move – lock stock and barrel – to Corfu from rainy England. It was so far outside of my experience, how would they support themselves?
As to Douglas Adams – I watched the series where people talked about books that had affected their lives. Sanjeev Bhaskar told how ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide’ changed his life and lead directly to ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and then to ‘Number 42′. It was a truly fascinating programme and I went out and bought a copy of the book.
How I yearn for a ‘Babel Fish’!
No. 4 — October 13th, 2009 at 19:45
I’ve never read any of Laurence’s stuff. I really should. I know he’s considered the ‘better’ writer. I do try to get to Jersey every now and again to Gerald’s zoo. For me he is the father of conservation. What I love about all the Durrells is their ‘can do, just do’ attitude. They didn’t let anything stop them. Gerald was a difficult man and often struggled with alcohol. Romantically though I wish I was born earlier sometimes as I would have loved to have been his wife
I can’t believe I’ve only just made the connection with The Kumars at Number 42. Thanks Maureen!