Welcome to My World: Lucy Irvine

Welcome to My World: Lucy Irvine


14 September 2008

AS PART of the forthcoming Wigtown Book Festival, Castaway author Lucy Irvine will reveal her desert island books (Saturday, October 4, 1.30pm).



1. Describe your perfect weekend.

I'd be where I am now, in beautifully bucolic Bulgaria, preserving my peaches while thinking about seeing my sons soon. It's achievable.

2. What would you do if you ruled the world?

Dither between joy and despair at creation and be surrounded by wiser heads than mine.

3. What one thing would improve your life?

More healthy years ahead than I probably deserve.]

4. What's your guiltiest pleasure?

Swiss chocolate with Bulgaria's Balkanski yoghurt last thing, while reading. The combination is soporific, resulting in blobby books and grubby teeth.

5. When did you last feel sorry for yourself?

When the water supply here failed. I've had enough water problems on desert islands.

6. Would your mother be proud of you?

Yes, but worried too.

7. Who does the cleaning in your house?

I do. But I take the archipelago approach: only keep islands where I sleep, cook and wash pristine. Life's too short to worry about a little dust. But I do sweep the courtyard weekly if the oregahn – Bulgaria's version of the mistral – hasn't done it for me.

8. What is the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you?

Being caught after eating rationed fruit on my first desert island. Raisin skins between my teeth were the giveaway. Oh, the shame!

9. When were you last naked in front of another person?

Last week. I got up to admire an orange moon and suddenly realised there was a man about 150 yards away. Luckily, he was busy with a call of nature.

10. Who was your favourite teacher?

Peter Scupham, the poet. He only taught me for a term but was marvellous.

11. What would you do if you were invisible?

Smack people who are being unkind.

12. What is your most treasured possession?

My brain, tiny and inefficient though it is.

13. Which do you remember better, your first car or first kiss?

The kiss – I didn't know what to do with the spit.

14. What do you think of celebrity?

We should celebrate more local-level heroes – people who perform admirable, quietly influential deeds – and fewer people dependent on image.