Monday, March 14, 2011 |
The books you read and love can say a lot about you.
With this in mind, CBC Radio 2's Kelly Cutrara regularly approaches Canadian musicians and asks, "what is the book you think everyone should read?" Here's what singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith had to say.
"I love Cormac McCarthy. I read The Road, and I just thought it was amazing. It was biblical, you know? I'm a big Dickens fan, too. I've read almost everything that he's written."
What is it that you love about Dickens?
"I love Dickens because I think he's funny. People see him as long-winded, but the way he'll describe a situation is sometimes just hilarious.
"I remember this one scene in Great Expectations where the main character, Pip, is at this long table with all of his aunts, and everyone was kind of picking on him or criticising him. And this guy Joe, who was always kind to him and a sort of beaten-down character, he kept piling more mashed potatoes on his plate because all the other women were picking on him.
"[Dickens] is so visual; he lays it all out for you. Just the way he talks about the different classes — it's just so vivid. And he's very honest. He had a kind of tragic childhood, but he has such a good outlook, and he's always rooting for the underdog. So I've always loved Dickens."
