I’ve never read any Proust.
Which book are you ashamed not to have read?
Question
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Identity & self
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
What would you like to be remembered for?
Death & what remains
Question
What does love feel like?
Relationships
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Ulysses by James Joyce, but I might make a start next week – or the week after that …
The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 July 2025 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 32 →Absolutely none. I’ve had three run-ups at Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and I conclude it must be boring because I’ve never finished it.
Ulysses – I’ve tried many times and never got through it.
I’m not really ashamed, but I haven’t read Lord of the Rings.
More from Ciarán Hinds
View profile →Hopeful, egalitarian, overweight.
An inability to get myself to bed at a reasonable hour.
As not being a total bollix.
Overwhelming, discombobulating, irrational and unreasonable.
We’re not here for long so don’t be wreaking havoc along the way.
I’m not fond of snakes.
More on taste & recommendation
Also answered this
Monica Dolan, Marcus Brigstocke, Gregory Porter, Kerry Godliman, Siobhán McSweeney, Romola Garai
Search the directory for somebody in particular.
Explore further
- All taste & recommendation questions
- The The Q&A questionnaire — 25 questions from the same format
- Explore the archive — by field, age, era, and subject