I'm Paul Magrs - a writer based in Manchester, in the UK. I'll be posting videos to do with reading and also maybe the books I write, too. I read in every genre and i've filled my house with a lifetime's collection of books. I'm always in the midst of writing various things - my own fiction, as well as Doctor Who tie-ins, and I work on my art as well. Join me in my study with Bernard Socks - and maybe on some adventures out in the world (probably bookshopping!) too.
I loved Grinny and You Remember Me. I read them both to my older son later on. It's amazing to read that half of America is still lining up to vote for someone who's explicitly said he will establish an autocracy if he wins.
Thanks to your enthusiasm I have recently returned to some old puffins of mine and recently bought a joblot (my auto correct wanted to spell 'goblet'!) which includes You Remember Me! I shall get to it soon...The posting of this video today is sadly so relevant with recent happenings. Let's hope that more people will read and take note.
After listening to that beautiful book review ; I think I want to recommend a summer read Puffin ( it even says summer read on the cover) . It is called The Circle by Dave Eggers ; conceptually a sequel but obviously by a different author . I was always scared that books would end up as apologist on these occasions ; it happens . How's your ear ? Osmosis a calm process writ large.
I lived next door to Helene Hanff in New York. We were neighbors for about six years during the sixties. I found her to be rather rude and nasty, especially to my dog. If we were getting on the elevator, she'd wait for the next car. Maybe she was a cat person? I never knew exactly what she did for a living, but she was always with a book in her hand. I suspect she donated her papers (and letters) to the New York City Public Library as she was always there. I love your chats.
Paul, I agree with your views about Fascism. Here in the US, it’s quite frightening, and I’m 75 in August. But now, we have some hope with Harris as our Democratic candidate. As an artist and wayfinder, I have lost many family members as well as friends because of my beliefs in a free democracy, and I don’t care. Thanks for another great video! You must be a fast reader, I cannot believe how many books you get through in a week. Since I’ve been watching your channel I have been reading genres I’ve never read before which has enriched my life and creativity! Thank you so much. You’re adorable….first classs, for sure. Take care and happy reading❤❤❤finishing up The Hour Between, and I love Stuart’s writing and dialogue.
A non-fiction read but speaking of ‘fascism’ and ‘populism’ I’m currently part way through this insightful read: Democracy Under Siege: Don't Let Them Lock It Down! amzn.eu/d/0jd65xzc
I'm re-reading a book from my childhood and totally enjoying it in the most carefree way. Very much enjoying your videos. 📚 Also, I ADORED Beverly Cleary books.
Hi Paul. This was a nice trip down memory lane. Uninvited Ghosts was a book I always wanted to read but neither the school or local library had it. The Nicholas Fisk book cover scared the life out of me and I stayed clear to be honest, but always wished I had the courage to pick it up. I read The Children Of Green Knowe books though when I was about fourteen and loved them. Enjoy your reading time!
@@paulmagrs2474 There is a Waterstones in town still, in the arcade that Marks and Spencer's is in. For a while we had two branches which did seem a bit excessive. But I'd have preferred they kept the other one.
My copy of the Dickens is two books in one ; Reprinted Pieces ( all the politics) and The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices . I got the MacMillan 1925 ; which is identical to the much more expensive 1896 edition. Less than a fiver . Think I have enjoyed the Reprinted Pieces best to be honest meatier and not so frivolous . I suppose I come at Dickens as a man of serious intent On that note ; I learnt today that Thomas Hardy got himself shipped many miles to get cremated ; there seemed to have been few crematoriums at the time . I wonder how many writers pre-planned their funerals ; I may work on that one ; that would make an interesting gothic road trip . Probably just anticipating the Manamas arrival tomorrow, Do you know of any writers and artists that pre-planned their funerals ? Love Rabbit holes. I did that trip in the lakes when I was 17 Ruskin; Wordsworth ; Beatrix Potter etc. No money and a hell of a lot of walking ; not by train haha. Been diverted as well from Unica Zurin's The Man in Jasmine to Henri Michaux (liking his stuff a lot) . She is a beautiful writer and that begs another question ; how many writers landed up in Mental Hospitals ? and why.? If you know any ; help me out . I think that magical realism is quite far out man and am interested in that side of things . Take Richard Dadd ; his characters are not so much the production of a mad man but are based on the Bestiaries etc . ; what about the dude that helped write the Oxford dictionary . Insanity is all relative ; but when violence enters the ring ; these people are condemned to one very very long writing retreat . Hello Jeremy . P.S not forgetting Blake and De Quincies addiction etc . Maybe it represented people in search of Utopias for whom ordinary dreariness was never going to be enough perhaps. Maybe I should reread the Road to Xanadu . These road trip things have got my imagination going even if it is just an internalised trip.
I'm reading Michael Pollan's Ominore's Dilemma (very depressing), Mary Oliver poetry, Robert Aickman's The Wine-Dark Sea and Philip Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Wow! That Robin Hood book is gorgeous! I love retellings of Fairy Tales, especially Beauty and the Beast, Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland and anything Baba Yaga related! I have a pile of books I want to get through, but the Olympics have me a bit distracted! Still, I am determined to make a decent dent and if that means little sleep, so be it! I'll be sleepy, but happy!
On the subject of the Robin Hood book - which looks gorgeous - Victor Ambrus used to do the illustrations on Channel 4's Time Team. I loved seeing his vision of the archaeology come to life. He was really prolific as an illustrator. I believe he wrote and illustrated lots of Dracula books too. Sadly, he died two or three years ago. On that uplifting note, have a lovely holiday.
@@paulmagrs2474 😄 I think they are kids' books about Dracula rather than the actual Dracula novel. I think one was 'Dracula: Everything You Always Wanted to Know, But Were Too Afraid to Ask' and there was a bedtime story book too.
The Lovecraft book cover reminds me of It Came From Beneath the Sea, an early Ray Harryhausen movie with a giant octopus attacking San Francisco after an atomic test. It's neither very long or complex, but it showcases Harryhausen because the tentacled and multi-limbed form is apparently hard to animate. A lazy day background watch, I think. When I hear people having a whinge about straight pride or international men's day, my standard response is to invite them to organise it. The events they envy are organised by women or queers, so straight men should get off their arses and organise the events they long fir. And we all know they never will. Sad news is that one of the two comics shops here where I live is closing in a couple of weeks. Lease is up, proposed new rent is also up, but thanks to cost of living issues, sales are down. So goodbye to Dee's Comics and Books, you'll be missed.
I highly recommend THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE by Thomas Ligotti. Examines the pessimist philosophical underpinnings of horror fiction. A deep, dark nihilist read. I was highlighting the bejeebus out of entire passages. 10:42
ah, in my writing I was adding words instead of removing them most of the time in editing, but was worried that was wrong. Good to hear a proper novelist like you does that!
@paulmagrs2474 Sounds like good directions: turn left at the lamppost, straight on to the Mountains of Madness. Take home all litter. I'll give it a go. Thanks, Paul. ⛰️ 🤪
Hi Paul. I'm reading Runaway Girl at the moment and loving it. Cathy has quite a bit of spunk about her. I must admit when the biscuit man tried it on I wanted to climb in the pages and give him a thump but Cathy did alright on her own. Mrs Sturrocks ia going to be a character I can tell. Her son and herself have a bit of a complicated relationship though don't they! So far everything I like in a family saga! 😊
I had the Lovecraft Cthulhu RPG with floor maps and all such paraphernalia as a kid ..I Loved the idea of Cthulhu ..however sweet Jesus the books are dry !
Anne Tyler is in my top ten favorite contemporary authors. Always a comfort read on rainy afternoons and Sundays. Thanks for the tour of your early twenties. 😺✌️
Have a wonderful HOLIDAY with Jereme and Socks! Thank you for another interesting video. Just did some research about Lovecraft…he died so young and his work wasn’t really noticed until after his death. That’s very sad. 😢❤
I just bought several versions of Arthurian myth. I really loved them as a teenager, its kind of soothing to get new ones. Have you read Mary Stewart? She has a saga she wrote based on King Arthur and Merlin. They're quite wonderful.
The edition of a book definitely affects my enjoyment of it. I love that Isherwood Folio Society Edition! I only started reading him several years ago. I am not sure he was even on my radar yet in the 90's. It was from Bowie's favorite book list that got me to check him out. I also bought Isherwood's diaries but have not yet started them. On a side note, and not to get preachy( and I realize you did not do it), but tortoises feel pain in their shells, whether temperature related or otherwise. They have lots of nerve endings in the shell and their spine is fused to the shell.
Now that is odd ; you said Mash Up novel in your last video so I dived in and found H.P Lovecraft meets the Beats on a road trip ; Burroughs etc . by Nick Mamatas ; my second ebay purchase in a very long time ; your idle apprentices thingy being the first ; one arriving tomorrow I hope and the other is coming Monday . They would not let me order your book at the library until it is on their system . So will be back on Monday to mither them. Also reading in the meantime short works by Unica Zurn after finding the Man in Jasmine lurking on my shelf . Weird but utterly fascinating stuff. My first cool typewriter was called Erica bought for a pittance as a teenager at an auction where I could buy boxes of leather bound gilt edge poetry book boxes for £3 . My first typewriter was also a blue petite . Thanks for squeezing one out.
I recently performed in an Alice in Wonderland musical, Alice by Heart, which combines the story of Alice in Wonderland with WWII, children in a hospital ward during the Blitz. That, to me, felt very much like a Doctor Who premise (well, many things do) and wondered why there wasn't more of an effort to mix the world of Wonderland with Who (I do love Zagreus, but so many things are happening there), that I'm really happy this book exists and will be reading it as soon as I have the time.
Can’t get enough of your channel, Paul! Another delightful ramble. I recently read the Hamilton Salinger biography and enjoyed it a lot more than some of the other stuff about him. I’m also a keeper of reading lists. Only for the last ten years but not planning to stop the cataloguing of my ‘symbolic autobiography’ any time soon! I love to see how much fun you have looking back.
This is such a great video! Unfortunately, all of my streaming tv channels charge for any Dr. Who. I ordered your new release Dr. Who in Wonderland and anxiously awaiting its arrival!❤If I was a TV producer in the UK, I would sign you up for your own television show filmed in your study with Socks. It would be a HIT!
Happy release day. I pre ordered on amazon. I hope it will arrive quickly here in Belgium. I especially loved your Robin Hood one, can't wait to read this 🎉
I must look out for this book on my travels. I’m sold on the idea of reality and fiction somehow melding together. I’m just waiting for the copy of Never the Bride I ordered earlier this week to arrive. I’m not the worlds fastest reader but you channel is certainly inspiring me to read more with multiple genres on the go at any one time (one fiction, one non-fiction and one children’s fiction). I have a lot of old puffin books I need to grab off the shelf. Perfect bedtime reading.
