Sign up for afaqs! Newsletters
Reading Room: I am partial to dark themes: Luke Kenny
Luke Kenny, head of programming, 9XO shares his reading interests, while mentioning that music and films too, are a huge part of his collection.
I often read more than one book, simultaneously. Currently, I am exploring two autobiographies, Keith Richards in his book, Life and Francois Truffaut in his book, The Films in my Life. Along with these two, I am also reading Stories, a collection of short stories put together by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio.
Francois Truffaut was a legendary filmmaker who contributed greatly to the cinematic landscape of the 20th century, yet even he was as inspired a filmmaker as anyone. In this book he talks about the films that inspired him, which is superb.
I favour most genres but I'm partial to the dark themes (horror, gothic, occult, classic literature, fantasy). Books about music and film are also part of my huge collection.
It by Stephen King was the first book by King that I read and I have been a lifelong fan since then. I own almost everything there is about the man and his work. Next, Lust for Life by Irving Stone is a beautifully told story.
Apart from these, my favourites include The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger, Chronicle by Bob Dylan, and Bob and My Autobiography by Charles Chaplin. Chaplin, I feel, is the genius creator of the history of cinema.
Next on my reading list is Neuromancer by William Gibson, the man who gave us the word 'cyberspace' and inspired the computer fiction genre including 'The Matrix'. It's been a rare book to find and I acquired it a few months ago, so hopefully will get around to reading it once any of the above is done.
Few of my favourite authors include Stephen King for his power over imagery; Edgar Alan Poe for sheer storytelling genius; Clive Barker writes twisted and juicy; Chuck Palahniuck, a slap-in-the-face writer; JRR Tolkien, a magician of words; Ursula LeGuin, the female psyche in sci-fi; Ray Bradbury, the grandpapa of sci-fi; Isaac Asimov, the brain of sci-fi; Simon Louvish, a superb biographist and Arthur Conan Doyle, elementary.