I used to write about books here fairly often, but I moved away from writing about other people’s books as I tried to stretch my own creative muscles. Every year, I set a non-specific goal to increase the number of books I read. No set numbers, just a few more books than the year before. I keep a record of these on my goodreads page, with a rating and occasionally a short blurb with my highly subjective, non-intellectual thoughts. For example, this gem on Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother:
“Girlfriend is crazy. But don’t you know, I kind of wish I could pull off this kind of parenting, without all the yelling and belittling, of course. Her kids will obviously be my kids boss someday;)”
If you’re looking for such witticisms to show up in your inbox, then by all means, friend me on goodreads. Be sure to drop me a line over there and mention you found me through my blog. In order to pre-empt any shock and dismay over my book choices, please know that swear words, real life scenarios, sexuality, and difficult subject matter don’t bother me. I draw the line at thinly veiled pornography posing as erotic “literature”, but other than that, I have few guidelines, only personal preferences. My reading choices have a case of wanderlust, as my books tend to gather from all four corners of the bookstore. There’s a little something for everyone.
I want to know what you’re reading right now, so please share your last few books in the comments. I’ll get us started with my last three good reads:
1. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Oh, this book. This one will live inside me for a long time. My goodreads blurb, “I gutted my way through this one. I wanted to put it down numerous times for the sheer hopelessness I felt on behalf of the main character. But I didn’t, I kept reading because while this is fiction, I have no doubt that this is some child’s story. Alone, grieving, unwanted, abused, addicted. I can’t stop thinking about it. I felt uncomfortable reading it, and sometimes that’s the best you can ask for in a book.”
2. Spiritual Misfit by Michelle DeRusha. I received an advanced copy of this book; your copy is waiting at Amazon (pre-order now!). It lands on shelves April 15th, and I have a lot to say about it, so come back on the 15th. Let’s discuss.
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s a classic, and I’m woefully behind in my classics education. This is one in a series of books I assigned to myself, so as to appear somewhat intelligent about anything written outside of the dire canon of books assigned in my high school English classes. This book gave me lots of complicated feelings. Mostly about money and Leonardo DiCaprio and how certain areas of New Jersey resemble the Valley of Ashes.
What’s your last good read?
……………………………………..
A few friends asked me recently about the book proposal and pitching process. It’s not something I mention too often here, except to say that I’m writing/have written/will write another one in my never-ending quest for publication. Will you join me next week for a mini-series on writing? It might bore you, it might inspire you, it might move you to tears (of desperation, or maybe that’s just me). But, I want to get honest about writing and the pursuit of publishing. Everything you never wanted to know from someone who knows next to nothing. How’s that for a pitch? Come with your questions and your observations. See you next week!
