You Must Read This Book

So this weekend I broke the rules and headed out for some week night culture at the University College London's Festival of the Arts.

Now in its third year the literary and arts spectacular takes over the University campus (and the lives of their leading Professors and Doctors) for five days. During the week, students and the general public are treated to a wide selection of free events ranging from talks on Shakespeare to British cinema-going in the 1960s and today. As a literary fanatic, anything which involves learning more about some of my favourite authors or finding inspiration for another great read will always catch my interest.

So on Wednesday evening I found myself attending one of their most popular events called "You Must Read This Book" chaired by UCL President and Provost Michael Arthur. Now this wasn't your average lecture. Oh no! Eight top academics took to the stand to declare, fight, plead and persuade you that the book they love is one you absolutely must read. It was almost like a Dragon's Den of literature and I had to hold myself back from saying I like you and I'd like to invest. 

From spies to sagas, fact to fiction all genres were covered off in the evening. So which books were on the pitch list?

The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers (championed by Professor Ian Stevenson)

Don Casmurro by Machado de Assis (championed by Dr Ana Claudia da Silva)

On Snooker by Mordecai Richler (championed by Dr Michael Berkowitz)

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (championed by Dr Samantha Rayner)

The Divine Comedy by Dante (championed by Professor John Took)

Egil's Saga (championed by Dr Erin Michelle Goeres)

My Wounded Heart:The Life of Lilli Jahn, 1900-1944 by Martin Doerry (championed by Dr Julia Wagner)

Here by Richard McGuire (championed by Dr Nick Shepley)

After listening to each passionate speech (each one was excellent) the audience had to decide who pitched best and which book they felt most inspired to read. The book with the most votes won (a lovely bottle of champers for the speaker) but there was also the chance for the audience to win a copy of each book if they were fortunate enough to have their name drawn from the voting box. 

As I am currently absorbed in the world of spies and James Bond I naturally gave my vote to The Riddle of the Sands. Did I win? No naturally. Guess I've just confirmed that I'll be head my next trip to the bookshop. 

Sadly the festival is over, but there are plenty of other events taking place at the University throughout the year which are worth checking out. Visit http://events.ucl.ac.uk/highlights/ for more information.