MY LIFE IN BOOKS: ADAM ROWAN
The author discusses his favourite reads
THE CHILDHOOD BOOK THAT I CANNOT FORGET: MATILDA BY ROALD DAHL
Like many children, I remember devouring Dahl’s books in primary school, and I still revisit his books every now and then for a window into my childhood. Since I became a writer, I have developed a newfound admiration for how Dahl deftly endowed each of his books with an unforgettable, imaginative and fantastical premise. My favourite book of his will always be Matilda. Despite being a genius, she is such a relatable character with an incredibly cool superpower to boot. Who wouldn’t want telekinesis?
MY FAVOURITE CLASSIC READ: DON QUIXOTE BY MIGUEL DE CERVANTES
It’s pretty amazing to consider how this book came out all the way back in 1605, and yet its relevance and the humour still land so much. It was truly ahead of its time in so many ways — its structure, its psychological depth and its realism to name a few points. Most importantly, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza’s misadventures are simply uproarious fun to read, and they lack the self-serious tone of most other literature of the period.
THE BOOK I RECOMMEND TO OTHERS: A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES BY JOHN KENNEDY TOOLE
This is probably the funniest book I’ve read for several years. I don’t usually reread books but I often reread this one, as I find the ridiculously eccentric character of Ignatius J. Reilly never fails to get a laugh out of me with his idiosyncratic worldview and quick-witted remarks. Every page of this New Orleans-set book is overflowing with memorable scenes and quotes. It is a real shame that Toole decided to end his own life before he got any recognition for this picaresque novel.
FAVOURITE AUTHOR: JAMES JOYCE
I read Ulysses in college and I was predictably pretty bewildered by what I was reading — who isn’t at first with this famous book? But as I perused Joseph Campbell’s guides about it and have revisited it over the years, I have come to regard Ulysses as a masterpiece of modernist literature. It’s one of the most re-readable books ever written, attributable largely to its encyclopedic novel length and complex stream-of-consciousness writing style. Although I have heard many friends say ‘life’s too short to read Ulysses’, clearly I think it’s well worth the effort. Finnegans Wake, on the other hand…
THE BOOK THAT’S MADE THE MOST IMPACT: THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS
The Count of Monte Cristo remains one of the most influential stories of all time for a reason. Its enduring popularity is doubtless due in large part to its timeless themes — revenge against all odds, unjust persecution and unlikely heroism. Even though it was published all the way back in 1846, the novel has always resonated with me on account of Dantès’ hero’s journey that inspires perseverance in the face of inconceivable adversity. Reflecting on the challenges of pre-internet writing, I sometimes marvel at the skill required to craft such a book without spellcheck, or Google to check historical details.
MY COMFORT READ: MRS DALLOWAY BY VIRGINIA WOOLF
I enjoy pretty much all of Woolf’s books and am a firm proponent that she writes some of the most beautiful prose in the English language. As it also takes place over one day,
Mrs Dalloway is widely seen as her response to Ulysses, which she infamously criticised as being diffuse, brackish and pretentious. Accordingly, Mrs Dalloway has a smaller scope and is for the most part much simpler to read, with far fewer obscure words and references to juggle with. I have always appreciated Mrs Dalloway, albeit in a very different way than Ulysses. It’s a charming, relaxing little book to revisit.
THE BOOK FROM WHICH I TAKE INSPIRATION IS: HOUSE OF LEAVES BY MARK Z. DANIELEWSKI
I read House of Leaves for the first time last year in the winter season, and it did a good job keeping me company through the cold months. The book is one of the most experimental and originally written books I’ve ever read. It’s a fascinating, bulky tome containing a sinister plot. Reading this book feels more like looking through and being forced to interpret a series of obscure documents than reading a novel. Regardless,
House of Leaves definitely expanded my mind about the creative possibilities of literature.
The Crystalline Crucible by Adam Rowan is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud treasure-hunting adventure and comic fiction novel. Written over 2022-2023, it features an eccentric, neurodivergent protagonist called Maxwell Jacobs who embarks on a grand adventure to find treasure alongside his co-worker, Khalil Ahmed, who was formerly involved in the criminal underworld, and Maxwell’s best friend and quiz teammate, Rosie Shaw. Exploring themes of redemption, heroism and otherness, it is a thrilling, hilarious story teeming with cryptic clues and heart-stopping escapades