The rise of the competitive book list

I’m a hopeless technophobe. I dislike the stylish laptop I’m using and its subdued pad pad pad. I still long for the clatter and ting of my old typewriter. It was a sturdy soul, utterly obedient, only needing a new ribbon occasionally. It lived for 40 years before being interred in a quiet corner of my attic. I’ve had several computers since and they have all been tricksy. I often fantasise about tracking down another ancient typewriter that could be coaxed back into service. There are still several writers determinedly tapping away. The American novelist Danielle Steel has achieved a billion sales by working on a 1946 typewriter. Jilly Cooper wrote her recent bestseller Tackle! on a red manual called Monica. And it’s not just literary ladies of a certain age who stay faithful to their typewriters. The eminent Alan Bennett, author, playwright, diarist, and reluctant National Treasure is still tapping his typewriter keys too, working on a new screenplay.

My network provider messages me frequently to upgrade my mobile.