Like a number of other Reader’s of the Week, I first met Hàìghlèàgh through the AlphaSmart Flickr group but what quickly became obvious, aside from the fact that she is very well read, is the fact that we both have important things in common. We were born only 2 days apart, and we both have a passion for history and archaeology, a passion which extends to us both having earned degrees in the subject.

When it comes to archaeology though, my passion, as big as it is, pales in comparison to Hàìghlèàgh - this is one girl who really loves digging around in the mud (I think I must be more of an armchair archaeologist :o)) . Anyway I digress so without further delay, it’s time to pass you over to the real star of the show - here’s Hàìghlèàgh:

I was born in Portsmouth in 1967 with a head injury acquired at birth which has left me with a right hemiplegia. Handwriting has always been a huge problem as I am naturally right handed but reading is my strong point and during the years that I struggled in the mainstream education system I would often get a book off the shelf in the classroom and read instead of doing what the rest of the class was up to. Although I learnt to write in special school the level of education was abysmal so again I made up for this by loosing myself in a good book.

Things changed for me when I attended a girls boarding school for two years between the ages of 14-16 after which I went to the local sixth form college and took my O’Levels (as they were in those days). My disability meant that nobody thought at first that I would do well and had me down as a failure – I had to sit all my exams using an Amanuensis- a scribe which was a member of staff to whom I would dictate the answers to and they would write them down, but I worked hard and got the top grade in the O’Level History class and consequently won the college examination prize for O’Level history for 1984. History and archaeology has always been my passion. I now realise how important my O’Level History is as a foundation for my work as an archaeologist. I recently read an article on the Independent online about the historian Michael Wood’s education and was most surprised to discover that he did not take O’Level History but started with the A’Level. To me that would have left a gapping hole in the fabric of my education had I not had the opportunity to take the subject about which I was most enthusiastic and passionate about at O’Level. My history lecturer a chap called Pat Trewick (who sadly passed away a few years ago and so has not seen my professional growth as an archaeologist) was very committed to teaching history and was very animated in his delivery of the subject. Towards the end of the year he realised that I was in with a chance of passing the exam and after I came top of the class he nominated me for the examination prize which was the choice of a book and I choose Elizabeth I by Neville Williams in the Lives of the Kings and Queens of England series whose general editor was Antonia Fraser. This is one of my favourite books and was the start of my book collection of history and archaeology books which now some 24 years later must number around 800!

After sixth form college I attended King Alfred’s College (now the University of Winchester) and then the University of Southampton. At Winchester I started off studying for a BA in History with associated Archaeology, I left due to physical problems with the campus being on a hill and then finished my degree at Southampton studying for a single honours award in archaeology, but both history and archaeology remain my passion. During this time my library grew due to the acquisition of text books.

After my degree at the end of the 1990’s the internet was taking off and I discovered Amazon and in the past 9 years have bought the majority of my books from Amazon. Southampton, which I still visit for some retail therapy now, has some very good bookshops mainly Waterstones and also a coffee shop. I love going into a bookshop having a good browse and then buying a book and sitting down with a coffee to have a good read. I always get the feeling that you need not hurry but that you are welcome to sit there as long as you like reading and sipping your cup of coffee or tea.

I have also found a good charity shop in Petersfield that has a whole room dedicated to books and I have bought a few bargains in there to add to my ever growing collection of history and archaeology books. Amazon also now has the option of buying a second hand copy of a book and again I have picked up a few bargains that way as well.

So as life goes on I know that my book collection will steadily grow along with my love for reading and the English language.

1. Favourite Genre? With regard to non fiction my favourite genre is archaeology and history. I have a wide spectrum of fiction interests including Sci-fi and I like a good” who done it”.

2. Favourite Book? Fiction: My two most favourite books is the Flambards trilogy and Hideous Kinky, non fiction I have a whole list mostly archaeology and history – far too many to cite here!

3. Why do you love reading so much? Definitely the escapism when it comes to enjoying a good work of fiction and my unending quest for more knowledge when reading a good archaeology or history book.

4. Favourite reading place? I have what I call a very bad habit of reading in bed before I go to sleep, but then living on my own means that I can afford to indulge myself in this. I also like to snuggle up on the sofa to enjoy a good read if it’s during the day.

5. How BIG is your reading addiction? MASSIVE: I have five bookcases (two are made of two separate bookcases each that stack so perhaps that should be seven bookcases) in my bedroom full of my book collection which must number over 800 books. They are mostly archaeology and history books with about two shelves of fiction. The stackable bookcases where bought from Habitat during my time at University when my collection began to grow as they also fold up flat for easy transportation. I don’t think that a day goes by without me having a good read. These shelves hold most of my books including my favourite ones along with a few favourite things that I have collected over the years.

6. How do you normally add books to your collection? I use Amazon a lot well mostly I also buy 2nd hand copies from there and you can pick up a book at a good price often if you buy a 2nd hand copy rather than a new copy. One of the charity shops in Petersfield my local town has a good book section well it’s actually a whole room so I enjoy browsing through that.

Whenever I visit Oxford a trip to Blackwell’s is a must. Its archaeology and law sections are number one for size and variety of titles.

7. How do you decide what to read? Recommendations come from friends and online book reviews. I am a member of the local U3A and belong to their reading group with this I have just read “A Thousand Suns” by Khaled Hosseini which is about two women in Afghanistan during the time of the Soviet invasion and the Taliban. It was an excellent read and I could not put it down. Our next book which I am about to start is “The Other Side of You” by Sally Vickers.

8. Ebooks - love or hate? I have not yet had the opportunity to try an ebook but being a technophile I am definitely looking forward to the opportunity to use an ereader and read some titles in ebook format.

9. Has reading inspired you to do any serious writing yourself? Yes, I have worked on a couple of archaeological reports as a co-author. I am lumbering up to participate in NaNoWriMo this year with a historical novel called “Athelstan” about the C10th Saxon king of that name. I am about to launch an Ezine on Assistive Technology and Archaeology called @Guru. I find reading, whether non fiction or fiction inspires me to put “word to paper” - in my case putting pen to paper would result in an ineligible result, my head injury has meant that my hand writing has always been appalling. For me reading the work of other archaeologists and historians inspires me to write about my own experience and work as an archaeologist which is why @Guru has an archaeology section. Thanks to the internet its now very easy to self publish your own work. As the launch of an Ezine on assistive technology implies I use AT to compose my work. I have 3 AlphaSmarts: an AS 3000, Dana and Neo these are just great for dropping in a bag and taking away somewhere out of internet distraction range to get some quality writing in. I also use Dragon Naturally Speaking and an Olympus digital Dictaphone to write notes and compose my writing with.

10. What single piece of advice (or tip) would you give to fellow readers? All of the above: I find that listening to music when reading can be very inspiring and imaginative right now while writing this reply I am listening to “Causing a Commotion” by Madonna. I have never swapped books – I collect them, but have recently joined the above mentioned U3A reading group. The more you read the more you want to read and learn.

Hàìghlèàgh I want to thank you for giving me the time to conduct this interview. Good luck with NaNoWriMo in November. With me being a fellow historian you’d better pass on a copy for me to read.