Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[rhett7660]

Just finished "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" and loved it.

Next up, picked up two books by James Scott Bell:

Plot & Structure
How to Write Dazzling Dialogue

Should be an interesting read!

 

[SoggyCheese]

The Cossack, the debut novel of one KJ Lawrence. Rather enjoying it.

 

[0388631]

Reading Turrow's Testimony. Gripping synopsis, boring read.

 

[LizKat]

Just finished "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" and loved it.

Next up, picked up two books by James Scott Bell:

Plot & Structure
How to Write Dazzling Dialogue

Should be an interesting read!

I always like reading about what writers read, and how they approach their own writing. Of the latter sort, the one I’ve most recently read is John McPhee’s Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process.

McPhee is noted for his longform nonfiction, usually published first in The New Yorker but also available in books. He has written about --it would seem-- every subject from tennis to trucking to citrus farming to the plate tectonics of North America, and anything in between that happened to turn up sometime and interest him.

I enjoyed his description of how he assembles his article once he’s finished the research. Structure is crucial, of course, but only in the sense of defining the skeleton of the work. McPhee’s pretty clear on how important it is to let what you learned during research talk to you about where and how its discoveries and energies belong in the writing itself.

Anyway McPhee strikes me as a guy who’s living proof of what a great life can emerge from a decision to become an English major at university. Whenever another of his long works turned up in a New Yorker after I’d get home and fish it out of the mailbox, I’d be bleary eyed next morning from having stayed up late just to read the whole piece. To me he has always managed to make any topic into a set of tales I could never put down until finished. His piece about American shad -- The Founding Fish no less lol-- was no exception. Who’d think to write about what some call just a bait fish, and weave into the story among other things some fishing lore, historical references to our first President, to Thoreau and then throw in a bunch of pretty good recipes at the end? (Yes, the spring shad run is said to have saved George Washington’s army from starvation at Valley Forge.)

 

[0388631]

James Scott Bell sounds familiar. Wasn't he some screenwriter a few decades ago? Or is he guilty of having one of those popular name combinations and my brain presumes he's famous when he's not? Or the third likely answer is I have read his fiction novels (they look familiar) and probably have them in the home library somewhere. Hidden. Deep.

Last month I found a book in hardcover I don't recall buying with a sticky note asking me to email the author and tell them how much I liked or didn't like their novel. The email address was a Netscape email. That should tell you how long ago I bought that book. Eek.

Other books I've found in the last year when cleaning the dust off where a few biographies on historical figures such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Johannes Gutenberg, among other books I don't ever recall buying. One book not mentioned had a receipt from 1996 taped inside. It hadn't looked like I'd ever cracked it open.

Logically, the only answer I can come up with is in those days and up until the mid 2000s, book events for adults were common and they often served wine, appetizers and stiff drinks at a bar. Either that or I've got a shoddy memory when it comes to insignificant events.

 

[infinitejest]

Just finished Turtles All The Way Down by John Green. It was good but not his best book.

Currently reading:

Cain by Jose Saramago

I've read The Double by Saramago. The storyline was not bad but I hated his writing style. How did you like Cain?

 

[0388631]

The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I've read The Double by Saramago. The storyline was not bad but I hated his writing style. How did you like Cain?

How did you find Cain?

An intelligent re-telling (or re-imagining) of that story can be found in the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

I loved Cain. It was a nice humorous satire on various familiar Biblical stories. It had me glued and I read most of it in one day. But I will admit that Saramago's writing style is not for everyone. After reading 5 novels of his, I'm still not such a fan of it. I enjoy the stories but wish sometimes that he'd write "normally". In Cain, virtually no capitalization, no paragraph breaks, no quotation marks; it can be a little tedious. Cain was also his last novel and I think this style was at its extreme here. Not for everyone, but I will still recommend it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I loved Cain. It was a nice humorous satire on various familiar Biblical stories. It had me glued and I read most of it in one day. But I will admit that Saramago's writing style is not for everyone. After reading 5 novels of his, I'm still not such a fan of it. I enjoy the stories but wish sometimes that he'd write "normally". In Cain, virtually no capitalization, no paragraph breaks, no quotation marks; it can be a little tedious. Cain was also his last novel and I think this style was at its extreme here. Not for everyone, but I will still recommend it.

Thank you.

Oh, dear.

No capitalisation, no paragraph breaks, no quotation marks.......probably not for me, then.

I will admit that I am looking forward to reading Philip Pullman's most recent work (La Belle Sauvage - the first volume of his new trilogy, The Book of Dust) - which has just been published to critical acclaim - when I am next home.

 

[0388631]

I will admit that I am looking forward to reading Philip Pullman's most recent work (La Belle Sauvage - the first volume of his new trilogy, The Book of Dust) - which has just been published to critical acclaim - when I am next home.

I had an advanced copy roughly five months ago from the publisher. I think you're going to love it. Wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but it was an enjoyable read.

I currently have a few advanced copies of books coming out in the new year (2018) on my desk I need to get through and send back as they're due to be returned next week. Two from unknown authors (to me) and another from a favorite of mine. Which I'll read last and savor every damn page of.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I had an advanced copy roughly five months ago from the publisher. I think you're going to love it. Wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but it was an enjoyable read.

I currently have a few advanced copies of books coming out in the new year (2018) on my desk I need to get through and send back as they're due to be returned next week. Two from unknown authors (to me) and another from a favorite of mine. Which I'll read last and savor every damn page of.

I loved His Dark Materials - this is brilliant, and profound, funny, sweet, sad, and spell-binding - not to mention wonderfully philosophically thought-provoking; and has the bonus of some commendably strong (and recognisably human) female characters.

Unfortunately, I am abroad at the moment - in the sort of abroad where such things are not readily available; actually, where they are not available at all.

In any case, the hardback has been on order in my local book-shop, and will be there for me to take delivery of it when I am next home.

So, yes, I probably will love it.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I loved His Dark Materials too, though I believe I read it when I was 13, so it could benefit from a re-read. I'm certainly interested in this new series, though.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I will admit that I am looking forward to reading Philip Pullman's most recent work (La Belle Sauvage - the first volume of his new trilogy, The Book of Dust) - which has just been published to critical acclaim - when I am next home.

My copy arrives today. I'm looking forward to tucking in with a glass of wine this evening.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My copy arrives today. I'm looking forward to tucking in with a glass of wine this evening.

I await your comments with interest, as you are one of the those who post here whose views - and taste, and perspectives (in matters political and other) - I sincerely respect.

As you know, I loved the original series, (and regret that I will have to wait some time before this book - hardback, a fat, inviting hardback) is in my hands.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Of course, the real story I wish to read is that of the world Lyra grows into as an adult.....

 

[mobilehaathi]

Of course, the real story I wish to read is that of the world Lyra grows into as an adult.....

It sounds as if the last book will take place in that world...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It sounds as if the last book will take place in that world...

The second and third books, from what I gather, both involve a leap forward in time of around 20 years - which would be around ten years ahead of the time frame in His Dark Materials.

According to an interview Philip Pullman gave today, he has already completed the second book in the trilogy.
[doublepost=1508451758][/doublepost]Actually, today, Philip Pullman quipped that the new series (especially books two and three, dealing with the world of an adult Lyra, who is an undergraduate - and Lyra is a serious - and entirely wonderful - heroine) should perhaps be called "His Darker Materials" as it deals with........dark stuff.

 

[mobilehaathi]

The second and third books, from what I gather, both involve a leap forward in time of around 20 years - which would be around ten years ahead of the time frame in His Dark Materials.

According to an interview Philip Pullman gave today, he has already completed the second book in the trilogy.
[doublepost=1508451758][/doublepost]Actually, today, Philip Pullman quipped that the new series (especially books two and three, dealing with the world of an adult Lyra, who is an undergraduate - and Lyra is a serious - and entirely wonderful - heroine) should perhaps be called "His Darker Materials" as it deals with........dark stuff.

Excellent. I'm looking forward to devouring them all.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I await your comments with interest, as you are one of the those who post here whose views - and taste, and perspectives (in matters political and other) - I sincerely respect.

As you know, I loved the original series, (and regret that I will have to wait some time before this book - hardback, a fat, inviting hardback) is in my hands.

Well, I'll say that the first few chapters do not dissapoint. I will have to restrain myself, as I would like to savor this one for a bit.

 

[0388631]

Well, I'll say that the first few chapters do not dissapoint. I will have to restrain myself, as I would like to savor this one for a bit.

Always hate finishing up a standalone or book series and feeling that void that was once whole. As I said, not my type of genre, but I have immense respect for authors who create their own worlds from scratch and do as much as they do in depth.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Always hate finishing up a standalone or book series and feeling that void that was once whole. As I said, not my type of genre, but I have immense respect for authors who create their own worlds from scratch and do as much as they do in depth.

Northern Lights (The Golden Compass here in the US) was released when I was Lyra's age at the start of book. I read it then and was instantly captivated. There were a few things that resonated with me at the time (and still do). I've been waiting for this book since I first finished the last one: 17 years.

 

[0388631]

Northern Lights (The Golden Compass here in the US) was released when I was Lyra's age at the start of book. I read it then and was instantly captivated. There were a few things that resonated with me at the time (and still do). I've been waiting for this book since I first finished the last one: 17 years.

That's incredible. Especially if I did the math right. I don't believe any book resonated with me when I was that age, again assuming I did the math right. Come to think of it, few books have resonated with me to have had a strong impact on my life outlook.

Lord of the Flies is one novel that's stuck with me most of my life. I read it when I was nine or ten. I remember a few things that didn't make sense to me until I reread it again a few years down the road. It being many decades ago and me being young then, I somewhat wanted to live on an island and live off the land. You know, silly lad stuff. I blame the exploration books I read at the time. I had a strong appetite for those types of books and pirate adventures. Can't say I've seen a pirate adventure novel since the late 70s or early 80s. There's a few modern takes on the subject matter, especially one notable one by the late Crichton. I like swashbuckler films, too.

Reading the same formulaic tropes in the thriller genre gets boring after a while. The reason behind taking up historical fiction earlier this year. Someone had recommended the Brother Cadfael series to me. Great, great novels. There's a series on ancient Rome, too, but the name escapes me.

For me, the problem is I never read and analyzed a book. I read for entertainment only. So I've likely missed out on a lot of life-changing phenomena as a result.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Northern Lights (The Golden Compass here in the US) was released when I was Lyra's age at the start of book. I read it then and was instantly captivated. There were a few things that resonated with me at the time (and still do). I've been waiting for this book since I first finished the last one: 17 years.

Oh, yes.

Can understand that feeling very well.

And this is an intelligent series - with wonderful characters (above all, wonderful female characters). And Lyra rocks.

Have you read the Abhorsen trilogy?

.............
........ The reason behind taking up historical fiction earlier this year. Someone had recommended the Brother Cadfael series to me. Great, great novels. There's a series on ancient Rome, too, but the name escapes me.

For me, the problem is I never read and analyzed a book. I read for entertainment only. So I've likely missed out on a lot of life-changing phenomena as a result.

I might have recommended the Brother Cadfael novels, as I think them pretty good historical fiction (and the TV series, starring Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael, - complete with a first rate British cast was utterly charming)

You might be thinking of the books by Steven Saylor set in ancient Rome.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Oh, yes.

Can understand that feeling very well.

And this is an intelligent series - with wonderful characters (above all, wonderful female characters). And Lyra rocks.

Have you read the Abhorsen trilogy?

I haven't read that one. I presume you recommend it?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I haven't read that one. I presume you recommend it?

Madly, insanely, passionately. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Great story, terrific, unforgettable (and entirely internally logical) magic system, superb female characters (and very good male ones, too), wonderful world building (a sort of dystopian medieval world destroyed after centuries of war alongside an early twentieth century parallel universe England around the time of the First World War and early to mid 1920s - think Lord Peter Wimsey, and public school stuff, with a touch of the world of Downton Abbey - all beautifully evoked) and incredibly, deeply, dark at times, interspersed with some very, very funny moments.

The magical creatures are fantastic, too.

Garth Nix is the author - and a very decent individual, too; he responds to tweets, and - when I spotted a typo - or contradiction (the colour of a key character's hair was described differently in two books) he was genuinely delighted and grateful (rather than surly and defensive), when I pointed this out (very politely) on Twitter.

A gentleman.

His most recent book is hilarious - "Frogkisser" - a romp through fairy stories and the work of a man both thoroughly on top of his craft and hugely enjoying himself. And - again - populated with terrific female characters who are recognisably, hilariously, human.