It is said that
if you want to write, read. It is also important that you read widely. While I
do tend to go on reading tangents in a particular genre, lately I find myself
consciously following the sage advice of selecting from a diverse range of
material. I also have discovered that I enjoy having more than one book on the
go at a time. Who knew?
During my blue
pencil at the Surrey International Writers' Conference with Susanna Kearsley, she
recommended I check out Genevieve
Graham as a comparable to my 18th century historical novel. Her novels definitely parallel the
time-frame and setting of Raven's Path. And, despite the implication of the covers, these books also
challenge the category of romance. They are historical
adventure with a strong element of romance, but break the tropes in too many
ways to pass as a traditional romance. It is what I hope I have accomplished
with Raven's Path. I couldn't read just one and quickly devoured the trilogy. She is dabbling in another era now and her latest, Tides of Honour, is near the top of my TBR pile.
I just finished The
French Executioner by C.C. Humphreys. As historical fantasy, it was a
departure from my normal reading selection. I was engaged from the opening
sentence, and following the quest of the warm humorous characters was thoroughly
entertaining. I have his Jack Absolute
series on my bookshelf and will be delving into those in the near future. As an
added bonus, both Graham and Humphreys are Canadian. I love supporting our own.
I had a yen to
rediscover old favourites and read Wildfire
at Midnight by Mary Stewart on my Kobo. Since I enjoyed the French
Executioner so much, I think I will need to dig out Stewart's Merlin series. When I was thirteen, I
fell in love with Mary Stewart and that series in particular. Yep. Definitely up for some more historical fantasy.
I find my time on
the elliptical tedious. Reading makes it pass, but it has to be light. My brain
is too busy trying to convince me to stop the torture to focus on anything
dense. Plus, it must be a Kindle download, so that I can read it easily and
change the page with a quick tap on the iPad. My current elliptical reading is a
book by a fellow member of the writers' forum I haunt. Hands-On
Therapy by TL Watson is pure erotica and, by the end of each session, I'm
not quite sure if it's the exercise or the reading that's making me sweat. J
I dip into craft
books regularly, often revisiting ones that have been most enlightening. I
bought Stephen King's On
Writing while at the Surrey conference, but have only just started it.
It is perfect for bits and bites reading, much like DH approaches his
magazines.
As I write within such a
spectrum of genre now, I try to continue researching much in the way I read the
craft books. I have a variety of nonfiction books strewn about the house at any
given time, and pick them up when the mood strikes or when I need a change of
pace. My latest purchase is The
Profligate Son by Nicola Phillips. It is a little different than my
usual research books as it is literary nonfiction—a reconstruction of a real
Regency-era family from letters and court documents.
While I read many
a young adult novel in my role as adolescent literacy consultant, I have let my
collection slip. Now that I am writing in that genre, it has begun to grow once
again. This weekend I plan to lose myself in Dumplin'
by Julie Murphy. It has been highly reviewed but probably the best, most telling
praise, came from the clerk at checkout. She picked it up and caressed the
cover. "Oh, this is so
good!" That certainly made it go to the top of the TBR pile. J
And finally, the
reading material that has not left my side for the last few weeks and makes me
smile every time I look at it? West
Coast Seeds' Gardening Guide 2016. It is early February and I can read this
now and not just dream about spring. This weekend I will start seeds in my new
little greenhouse and, get this, I can sow some in the ground by the end of the
month! How can I not smile?
Ah! You've joined me in the Book Pusher category! ;-) I've just finished Jojo Moyes' YOU BEFORE ME. I'm starting its sequel--AFTER YOU. Two books that are coming in Tuesday are Phyllis Smith's DAUGHTERS OF PALATINE HILL and Joshilyn Jackson's THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE. Happy reading, Rose!
ReplyDeleteAh, but you are a regular book dealer whereas I just sneak it in from time to time. And look at you...dealin' right here too. My TBR is going to tip over!
ReplyDelete:-D Now, you know why my new blogging alias is The Book Dealer.
DeleteOoo, I need to add most of these to the TBR list. Thanks for all the new books. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, it's what we do for one another...encourage the addiction.
ReplyDelete