Dr Anne's friend Sandra emailed one night to say she had been watching My Life in Books. Dr Anne went on to BBC iplayer and watched all the programmes to date at the weekend and has made a point of watching the programmes each night this week.
So what are Dr Anne's 5 books and what do they tell about her. It sure was a difficult choice.
The first choice is 'What Katy Did' by Susan Coolidge. This was part of a series with What Katy did next and What Katy did at school. Katy held court from her bed when she fell off the forbidden swing. Everyone grew to love her as she learned from her mistakes. Money was very tight in the McArthur household so books were precious. What Katy Did was treasured and is to be found in the personal bookcase in the bedroom. This choice was closely followed by Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables and the adorable Gilbert Blyth. Dr Anne has 'Anne hanging around' in her hall, a present from Heather when she visited Prince Edward Island during a Rotary International Exchange.
Number 2 is the influences of the Canada years. Soul mate Susan sent Margaret Lawrence's books home to enable Dr Anne grow up. She advised to start with The Stone Angel where there are plans to put mother in an old folks home while reflecting on her life but Dr Anne much preferred the Jest of God and the Diviners. They were read time after time. The Diviners taught Dr Anne about men, love and life.
Dr Anne loved Freddie Forsyth's and Jeffrey Archer's as good thrillers which were page turners. She read all the early novels. Her favourite Archer is Cane and Abel. She has however chosen Forsyth's Odessa File over The Day of the Jackal. It was the reason for the pursuit of the evil ones that clinched the decision.
People who have had triumph over adversity in their lives absorb Dr Anne. Who can forget the release of Mandela, John McCarthy, Terry Waite. Dr Anne can remember what she was doing on these days. The story which really hit home was Brian Keenan's 'The Evil Cradling'. His descriptions of his imprisonment haunted Dr Anne. None of the others matched it.
Dr Anne's final choice comes down to Mintzberg or Handy. Their management books shaped her later career. Dr Anne has chosen Handy's - The Alchemists. Again these are scenarios about people with focus who over come adversity.
So what does the choice of books say about Dr Anne? She really is an emotional romantic who loves to see triumph over adversity. It is maybe for Grey Granite to comment?
