Hello, dear reader. I’m sorry I’ve been so lackadaisical about posting recently. The quarantine has me feeling very unproductive and I have been bombing on my resolutions chart.
For the first time in my adult life, I paid for a streaming service (Hulu) and I’m watching Law and Order: SVU from the beginning instead of doing anything worthwhile. I’ve read a little, but not much.
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere)
by Lisa Cron
I read this book over a course of a month, doing the exercises she recommends. It’s something to do, but I don’t know that her formula is the way to a great novel. I’m also not sure what brain science she’s referring to. We all like stories and we all like to know the why of things and if we elicit emotions all the better? Or something.
Narcopolis: A novel
by Jeet Thayil
We’re in India and China with opium and heroin addicts. Personally I thought the story wandered too much and I couldn’t get the characters, but at least two people who I like and respect really loved this book, so maybe decide for yourself.
At the very least, it’s prescient.
Eventually, Tung turned to Lee. “Wuhan is a test case,” he said. “Everything happens here: the plague, riots, surplus productivity, famine, tremendous industrial output, the end of everything.”
The Way of Kings
by Brandon Sanderson
This is a 1,000 page fantasy novel complete with world building and magic and heroes and the like. Sometimes I thought it was a bit wordy, but I enjoyed the story and the characters. It definitely passed the time.
It’s the first in a series, so there are thousands more pages to read about this world. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Hyperion
by Dan Simmons
This is a science fiction novel set far in the future on a planet called Hyperion. We have a group of seven travelers who are coming to this planet for their own reasons. We learn each of their reasons in turn. I liked one of the stories, but I don’t think I’d recommend this book overall. My friend lent it to me, so I feel a little lousy saying that.
Writing Without Rules: How to Write & Sell a Novel Without Guidelines, Experts, or (Occasionally) Pants
by Jeffrey Somers
This is another book on writing a novel. I greatly disliked it. There were way too many “funny” footnotes (that I felt didn’t add anything and, in fact, detracted, from the suggestions and weren’t funny). I wouldn’t recommend this book and I’m so ready for the library to reopen so I can give it back to them and stop seeing it on my desk.
American Dirt (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins
This book was heartbreaking to read. We’re following the plight of a mother and her son in Mexico. The cartel kills her whole family because her husband is a journalist. The mom and son are trying to get to the United States, to safety.
I had to put this book down several times because it was so sad and I was so worried about these characters. I think I would have stopped reading it early on if it wasn’t a book club book. The world is too sad of a place right now to be reading sad books.
Submergence
by J. M. Ledgard
This was a very quick read about two lovers. The man is a spy who gets captured in Somalia by radical religious zealots. The woman is an oceanographer of sorts. The writing is pretty.
“The longest golf drive recorded was hit on the moon. Man has yet to return to the Challenger Deep. The lesson from that is that it is easier for human beings to push outward than it is for them to explore inward. The wind that carries you away like a kite will blow you on your back if you turn to face it.”
I also made note of this line.
“The film was paused again near the end, at a scene where the forest was burning and Bambi fell in the flames and was bucked to his feet by his father, the great prince stag.”
Wait, Bambi was a boy? I guess I’ve never seen that movie.
Just to point out – you can definitely give yourself credit for being productive on the reading front. My reading habit, I’m not proud to say, is tiny compared to yours.
Comparison is the thief of joy. 😉
Well said
I didn’t make it up!
I’m looking forward to reading again, after the public libraries here reopen. I was reading about 36 books per year. My brain feels mushy without the exercise.
I’m so ready for the library to repoen too! It feels like a friend has gone away.
I like the feel of physical books, but our library has only old stuff due to no funding. However, they have a fantastic provincial online library with new books. Is there an online version of yours too or is your physical library a nice place to visit?
Yeah, but I don’t love reading books on my Kindle. I’m finding it hard to motivate to look for ebooks from the library.
Hi Thriftygal, I too commend you on still being able to read right now. Personally, all I can focus on is covid stuff, which is awful for my mental health, yet somehow I can’t peel myself away anyway. Interesting reading choices, too. “American Dirt” was very controversial when it came out, as I’m sure you know. And yes none of us need more sad stuff these days… Stay safe and give yourself a pat on the back just for trying to stay productive right now 😊
I get so depressed when I read Covid stuff. I stay away for my mental health, but it is very alluring to know what’s going on!
I always find your posts friendly, like talking over a fence with a smart person. For my part of the conversation I have two thoughts. First, yes, Bambi was male. Instead of the rather sad police procedurals like SVU, you might binge Disney. Sappy, but sweet. Second, like all other human endeavors, you get better at writing by practice, not reading about it.
Keep up the good work, and stay healthy.
Why isn’t Bambi a boy’s name today? Thanks for your kind words. 🙂
Well, if you also get netflix I’d recommend “community”. so funny… nice to see chevy chase be sorta good. Also, I read the “Way of Kings”, it was good, but the second one in the series I had trouble getting through – more female perspective however. And I haven’t started the third.
I loved Community! I need to rewatch that show. I’m torn about reading the second one. It’s so long and it takes so much time for a story I’m not that invested in.
Enjoyed the way of kings. Brandon Sanderson is an amazing author in terms of how much volume he can produce, whilst building worlds within worlds that manages to sell well and be reviewed highly. Definitely an author who has made a success of his niche.
Yeah, but some of the volume felt unnecessary. He spent so much time articulating a decision of one of the characters and then fifty pages later, the character changed his mind. Felt a little overdrawn.
Hope the writing is going well. I too am in the throes of a novel
All these books look so interesting to read! I’ll have to look into them after I am done with the decluttering and organizing that has kept me preoccupied for days now going on weeks. Lol
Oooh, I bet you’re having fun!
Nice! what’s it about?
You are reading and diverting your attention from Covid…that is the best part.
I hate Working from home and been doing it for 2 months now 🙁
And when we watch TV for news, it is all Covid… when the cases are few, there was lockdown and when cases are increasing, lockdown is removed….not sure where the world will land in next few months…
I’m still doing my share of despairing about the state of the world. 🙁
Hyperion and The Way of Kings are two of my all time favorites! Hyperion is the first in a 4-book series, but if you didn’t love the first one then you probably won’t want to keep goin.
What are the odds that I read them both in the same month?!