My bookshelf
Rhys Darby
The first book I recall reading was Spot Finds a Ball. This had a profound effect on me because . . . I’m kidding, but thinking back I do have fond memories of thoroughly enjoying the Tintin books. I loved the artwork, the characters, the humour and the adventure.
I was an active kid so I found it hard to sit still and casually read. Books with nothing but writing in them didn’t interest me because I saw them as more of a chore than a pleasure. I guess graphic novels were a gateway drug to big boys’ books for me. The trouble is I’m still on those gateway drugs (I’m not actually on gateway drugs — it’s books I’m talking about and books with illustrations in them).
My wife, Rosie, and I enjoy books and our kids enjoy them too. We keep all our books on bookshelves in our rooms and in Rosie’s office. I like to arrange all my personal books on the shelf in order of their genres. Comedy books on the top left, adventure travel guides next to them, graphic novels on the top right, rock ’n’ roll biographies and novelties along the bottom and spanning right across the middle, (the largest section) all my weird and wonderful cryptozoological and paranormal stuff.
My absolute favourite books of each genre will be facing out with their covers on display. This annoys my wife because she says we don’t live in a bookshop. Well, we may not live in a bookshop but we certainly live in a book world and long may that continue.
I’m a fan of non-fiction and have a rather large collection of books on the paranormal. I’m really into cryptozoology, ancient aliens and unknown
phenomena, so whenever I see books on these subjects, I purchase them. I remember rather vividly the first book that really inspired me. It was part of Usborne’s The World of the Unknown series, the one titled All About
Monsters. It blew me away that there were creatures on this planet yet to be classified by science. I think this definitely sparked my interest in mystery and all things unknown.
I can’t go past a good, glossy rock ’n’ roll biography. I’m a big fan of the British rock ’n’ roll boom of the 60s and 70s and fascinated with how music and rock style impacted the entire world. As a performer, I’m interested in the journey music stars took and how their work and fame has taken a toll on them.
There are countless books I would love to read but simply haven’t got around to yet. I have a tendency to purchase books on a whim if they tickle my boat. Then I stockpile them for a rainy day . . . but I live in LA and it never rains so my pile is mounting up. I’m trying to get through my Erich von Daniken collection; I’m halfway through his latest book The Gods Never Left Us, which he kindly gave me a signed copy of when I met him at Contact in the Desert, a UFO conference in Palm Springs this year.
It shouldn’t be embarrassing or shameful to read any particular book. Whatever tickles your fancy, as my mother used to say. We’re here on this planet for a short time so go with whatever floats your boat, as my dad used to say . . .