Meet the 2011 Inky Judges: Kevin Lee
When I’m not reading, I try to plan my early retirement so I can read whenever I like!
Tell us a bit about yourself:
I currently work full time in the financial industry and also do a bit of maths teaching/tutoring. I still haven’t outgrown my love of children’s and young adult literature, and don’t intend that to change.
Your favourite book as a child?
Watership Down by Richard Adams. As a teenager it was Cloudstreet by Tim Winton.
What's a book that made you cry?
I’ve never cried over a book. However, books that have made me weep on the inside include: Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson, The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman, On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, and The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren.
A book that made you laugh?
Most recently it was Thai-riffic! by Oliver Phommavanh (who proved to be just as funny in person as his book).
What are you currently reading?
Merrow by Ananda Braxton-Smith.
Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
As a kid it was Vada from the My Girl films (ahem). I think I’ve gotten over her, but I will say no more to save further embarrassment *extracts foot from mouth*.
What’s your favourite reading place?
A warm, comfy bed. The only drawback is that I’ve fallen asleep with the light on too many times.
Who is the author you’d most like to meet? (Living or dead):
Where do I start? Tolkien, Michael Ende, Katherine Paterson, Leo Tolstoy, Astrid Lindgren, Guus Kuijer, Paul Maar, Torun Lian…too many to mention!
Favourite book-to-film adaptation?
The 1995 version of A Little Princess (that snowfall scene is sublime). I also can’t go past The Lord of the Rings, or Visconti’s lavish adaptation of Lampedusa’s The Leopard – a masterpiece novel getting the film it deserves.
On a quiz show, your special subject would be:
The music of Anton Bruckner. Bruckner’s symphonies have become the soundtrack to my life.
And what are you generally doing when you're not reading?
Apart from reading, I love films, classical music, investing (at least I try) and I am also a big political junkie. Recently, I’ve attempted amateur translations of foreign children’s novels and re-subtitling of foreign children’s films, mostly for my own enjoyment. After much procrastination, I make feeble efforts at blogging here.
