Wish I Was Here

Harrison, probably my favourite living author, has produced what he calls an anti-memoir, collated from 40 years worth of notebooks and journals. It is, in essence, a journey through the author's mind rather than through his life.

Never less than honest about himself, his writing and his struggles with identity, Harrison's usual melancholy permeates even this patchwork quilt of a book as he ponders on his life, his career, and the effect of place on his stories. It's a fascinating look behind the curtain of a writer that works hard to swim against the tide, to be true to his vision and true to the stories he tries to tell.

Interestingly the only book he mentions by title is Climbers, written after discovering a passion for rock climbing in the mid 70s. I think this is the author's favourite novel and was his first that moved away from genre fiction into something more grounded in reality, in place, in people. It's a great book and should be more widely read.

By the end Harrison is feeling his age (he's into his 70s now), but still pursuing his art. It's probably not the best place to start with Harrison, but for anyone familiar with his work it will be of huge interest.