Alan Ayckbourn recently offered an insight into his current and favourite reading habits.
The article reprinted here - originally published in The Scarborough News - offers an insight into the literary habits of the playwright.
I am currently reading - or rather should I say exploring - Building Stories by Chris Ware. It’s not really a book in the conventional sense but an interactive novel. It comes in a box containing an assortment of pieces of printed matter in various shapes and formats. A good deal of it is in the form of cartoons but don’t get the idea it is kids’ stuff. It’s a long way from the Beano and occasionally contains what we delicately refer to these days as ‘adult themes’. The speech bubbles hold strands of fairly complex narrative and occasionally strong emotions with each separate section seemingly related to another (or maybe they aren’t at all, time will tell). A series of interwoven stories which may be read in any order. Fascinating and absorbing. And for someone who has spent a lot of his life experimenting with theatrical forms, particularly exciting.
My favourite author? When I’m not writing or rehearsing, I spend a lot of my time reading crime fiction. I tend to move from author to author, alighting on one and devouring their entire output. I’m currently half way through Ian Rankin’s splendid Inspector Rebus cycle. Before that it was Michael Connelly with his Harry Bosch. And before that were the Scandinavians, Jo Nesbo, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo, Henning Mankell etc. etc. So my favourite author is usually the one I’m into at the time.
My favourite book? Undoubtedly Winnie the Pooh - with House at Pooh Corner a close second.
