20 Books of Summer 2016: Book Two
I threw a re-read into my list of books for the summer reading challenge hosted by Cathy746books. Most everything I’ve re-read from my high school days has been better now (see TGG, TKAM, and ASP). I assumed I’d feel similarly about Memoirs of a Geisha. But, nope. Not even close. read more
20 Books of Summer 2016: Book One
Finally! I’ve read seven of my 20 books for the summer reading challenge hosted by Cathy746books and now I need to catch up on reviewing. (Most have been good though one was terrible.) If you haven’t already, start here with my review of Haroun and the Sea of Stories. While you can read Luka and the Fire of Life without reading Haroun, it’s a richer experience if you’re already acquainted with the Khalifa family. As Haroun’s younger brother, Luka has grown up in the shadow of his brother’s great adventure and longs for one of his own. In comparing his quest to his brother’s, Luka defines his own place in his family’s magical history. read more
In college, I skimmed a terrible book* by Salman Rushdie and crossed my fingers that it would be relevant for two days of discussion then forgotten. It wasn’t and I tanked multiple papers in succession. This sour experience struck Rushdie from my list of intriguing authors. It wasn’t until a decade later when I perused a list of his books that I realized he didn’t write The Terrible Book. Only now do I realize how much I’ve missed out. Rushdie is brilliant! read more
It’s summer! Writing has been going well and it’s time to kick back with some books (and G&Ts). I’ve been looking forward to the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge hosted by Cathy746books since it ended last year. The challenge is to read 20 books (or 10 or 15) between June 1 and September 5. Visit Cathy’s blog for more information if you’d like to sign up! read more
There’s a narcissistic part of my brain that mulls the AMA questions I’ll answer when I’m an established writer. Which authors have most inspired/influenced you? Bradbury, Poe, Crichton—and now, J.G. Ballard. I only read High-Rise because of Tom Hiddleston, but Ballard’s bizarre story obliterated that gorgeous man’s face/voice/everything from my brain by the story’s close (which is a testament to its strength). What captivated me about High-Rise is how concept-driven it is—how it becomes more intense as it swerves into implausibility. It’s hard for me to get behind books that eschew sensible plot/characters for the sake of a message, but I love Ballard’s voice and unpredictability. He sells ideas that shouldn’t work and brings them to life. Don’t we all hope to write this way? read more