My Question For Myself

In Granta 100, Tobias Wenzel writes,

'I have never been asked by a journalist what my favourite colour is,' Frank McCourt told me once, with a tinge of irony and some disappointment. His statement made a link to a problem that I have experienced for a long time as a literary journalist: the doubt that I might forget a question, a question that could be crucial to the person I was interviewing. So, two years ago, I decided to turn my anxiety into a game. At the end of each interview, I asked the writer to adopt the role of interviewer, asking him- or herself a question and then supplying the answer...

This interesting game ends up covering seventy seven writers and along with Carolin Seeliger's piercing portraits turns into a very appealing book. I'm looking forward to getting myself a copy sometime soon.

H & R

Recently I have been listening to a compilation CD of the hits of Harris Jayaraj & A R Rahman. I picked it up because the tracks were all jumbled together and I was curious to see how a HJ would sound next to a Rahman. After many loops and skips I can perhaps offer only this comparison of the music: you have two friends H and R. H is a pleasant woman and you love spending time with her. She is fun, addictive and knows a lot of people. A lot of people also know her. She entertains a great deal and many people visit her home. Is R pleasant? It depends. She is certainly mysterious and intelligent. Often engaging and friendly. At times very inspiring and touching. At other times she shakes your perception and offers new resonances. A lot of people like her too but they like her differently at different times. In all the years you've known these two friends of yours, R has grown with you while H is the same person she was when you first knew her. You still like them both. But maybe you love one more?