A lover of books but far from bookish, we ask Josie Long five questions about one of her favourite pastimes...
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
I read The Book of Days by Will Self and I loved it. If you like London it’s so good because it’s brilliantly textured and there’s some really fascinating, well-researched bits. I read another one of his books I didn’t really enjoy before that but a friend told me to read this one and I didn't regret it, it's amazing.
What book do you find yourself recommending the most?
Timoleon Vieta Come Home by Dan Rhodes. It’s about love, it’s about lust and it’s basically a collection of short stories about heartbreak, put together with this dog as the main character. It’s beautiful.
What's your favourite quote from a book?
Probably a Kurt Vonnegut quote. I tend to collect them because I love him so much. There’s a bit where he says “You are what you pretend to be, so be careful what you pretend to be.” That’s quite good. That’s from Mother Night.
What book has affected the way you think the most?
Well one I bought recently which I’m hoping will make me think is called Injustice by Daniel Dorling. He’s a social geographer and it’s about how much social inequality is persisting in Britain and why people haven’t changed it. I haven’t read it yet but I think you can probably tell, I'm already on his side!
Who has more books, you or Robin Ince?
Robin Ince! Robin Ince has the most books in the world! Me and Robin are really similar, we have the same preoccupations and he mentored me a bit but he’s just better, so he reads more than I do and he buys more books than me. The man is an unstoppable book machine!
Josie Long: Be Honourable is at the Soho Theatre from Monday 25th-Saturday 30th October
See more London stand-up
Return to the London Comedy homepage
Add an event
Frieze Art Fair to launch new section for young galleries in 2012
Frieze have today announced details for the 2012 edition, their tenth art fair in London. Taking place...