Reading is the compliment to writing. I've been told that I'm a good writer (though I feel that is a major overstatement, I'll go with it to express my point). This is often followed with the question of how I start writing. I always reply, it starts with reading. I'm inspired to write because of what I read. Vice versa, I'm inspired to read because of what I write. Growing up, my sister was always the reader out of the two of us. She ran circles around me. Staying up past bedtime just to get in a few more chapters. Me? I welcomed sleep.
Although I didn't read quite at the pace she did, I never turned down a great book or a suggestion of a great book. This holds true to today. I seek out great books. My personal favorites are by unknown authors or a first publishing. There's something about reading a book that was an author's first attempt at succeeding. In some cases, I even enjoy reading the second book published by a particular author just to see the change in their writing, the new found confidence in it as a result of a successful first novel.
More times than not I'm drawn to period novels. There is of course my obsession with Pride & Prejudice....but...it goes beyond that. A few good reads that have recently graced my bookshelves and Kindle:
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova - A beautiful impressionist novel that follows the life and heartache of the painter Robert Oliver. Kostova's writing is extremely personal, as though she writes of people she knows, rather than of fictional characters. This is her second novel, a fantastic followup to her first, The Historian. Another highly recommended book! Dracula and vampires? Oh yes. I'm so there.
Camera Work by Alfred Stieglitz - Though a slight (more like huge) variation from my preferred genre, this, for me, was a must have. This book encompasses the entire collection of work in Stieglitz's prized publication Camera Work, dating from 1903 to 1917. The images, captured on black and white film, are images that we'll never see the likes of again. I've been fortunate to see some of these images in person in museums and am still in awe of them.
The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon - I love that on her website the first thing she talks about is why she started writing this series, "to learn what it took to write a novel and to decide whether I really wanted to do that for real." Incredibly honest and heartwarming, her novels take on the same emotions. I rarely cry, and for that matter I never cry when reading a book. Until this series. Whoa. It blew me away. I'm currently reading book five (of eight) and still am thoroughly engrossed in the story and lives of the main characters. The series takes you across time and place, traveling from 1700s Scotland to 1960s Boston.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - This series I've yet to read, though I've heard a lot about it. I'm still on the fence. Published in 2009 and 2010, this trilogy is supposedly a huge success to the point of being turned into a movie. And although I've heard great things, I've also heard one statement that makes me nervous to dive in, "if you liked the Twilight books, you'll love these!" Oh. no. I didn't love the Twilight series. Not at all. I felt much the opposite (apologies to all the Edward and Jacob fans out there). It may be unfair to judge this series based on one comparision, so I may take the bait and try the books.
Any new books I should be rushing off to Barnes & Noble for?Labels: Books, Personal