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Robin Grant
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I am pretty good at mathematics and science but not a scientist. I managed to achieve GCSE grade C in English and GCSE grade D in English Literature. I remember the A-level coll...view moreAuthors credentials
I am pretty good at mathematics and science but not a scientist. I managed to achieve GCSE grade C in English and GCSE grade D in English Literature. I remember the A-level college I attended thought about forcing me to retake English but then saw my mathematics and science grades and let it go. Lucky break.
I remember revising for my English Literature exam with the comic book version of Macbeth and watching in the classroom the film by Franco Zeffirelli of Romeo and Juliet (1968). I'd highly recommend it as Juliet jumps out of bed mid way through the film and reveals all.
In retrospect I probably received a D for English Literature due to answering "Describe Romeo's character" with something akin to: "Romeo is a teenager and wears a cloak, he has a sword and likes sword fighting. He is keen on Juliet......." I remember the question vividly as I it was this point in the exam that my lack of understanding became humourous.
Background to the book
There are a few things you can do when trapped on a long train commute to pass the time. You can sleep, read books, do puzzles, stare out of the window, annoy other passengers with loud music or phone conversations, make friends or work. The latter is a mistake in my opinion but some people are just keen. Beer and nuts pass the time but can make you fat and disembark in the wrong town.
I spent roughly two and a half years in a job which required two hours of a commute (each way). I decided to make the commute productive and reclaim it as my time rather than leaving it in limbo. So in between reading books, drinking beer, sleeping, eating nuts and completing sukodo puzzles I decided to use an old laptop and write a book. The process was sporadic, sometimes drunken and structureless. A first draft was produced near the end of the two and half year period and progess halted. Well I had no more enforced spare time, I had to drive a car to my new job.
I printed the draft and over a period of about another two years I edited the book. Again the process was sporadic, sometimes drunken but fortunately due to its nature with some structure. My partner attempted to read the second draft but couldn't get past the first page due to the massive problems in grammar and general sentence construction however she did find sections I read her hilarious.
Hopefully someone will enjoy reading it. I enjoyed writing it.view less