Every few years I find myself answering the Proust Questionnaire to see how my answers change over time. The famed questionnaire itself came from a French parlour game and, though not devised by Marcel Proust, he certainly popularised it with his belief that in answering these questions a correspondent reveals their true nature. As I’ve done on previous blogs, Facebook, and livejournal before it, I’ve answered all 35 but have chosen, here, 15 to post.
What is your current state of mind?
A little fragile but improving.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Driving through Glencoe, with my partner Marta. Mogwai was on in the car. I think it was Helicon 1. Bliss.
What is your greatest fear?
The big C. Can’t even bring myself to say it.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
The devil on my shoulder, the impossible, unrelenting impostor syndrome.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
An unearned sense of entitlement drives me bananas.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The aesthetic.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Simple mathematics wouldn’t go amiss.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting this far.
What is your greatest regret?
I’ve apologised to her.
Where would you most like to live?
I belong to Glasgow, dear old Glasgow town.
What is your most treasured possession?
My camera.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The Manosphere.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Despite my shyness, probably because of it, I talk. A lot. Often loudly. I imagine it’s annoying.
Who are your favourite writers?
Alasdair Gray, Iain Banks, and, recently, Brian K. Vaughan.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Rosencrantz or Guildenstern.
What are your favourite names?
First and middle.