March 14, 2008
Why reading?
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There comes a point in every habitual reader’s life when they start to dream about writing a novel. I am currently right there, living the hallucination. My wishful thinking is certainly fuelled by a lot of dissatisfaction with my job, and despair about my career path. However, there are probably worse things that I could waste my time on.
Leo Babauta at Write to Done recently posted How to Use Reading to Become a Better Writer. It is an interesting article and gave me a chance to congratulate myself - “Of course I can be a writer - I may have only written 3000 words in my “great novel”, but I read tonnes of books!”
Anyway, I particularly like his tenth point:
Expand beyond your normal genres. If you normally read one or two genres, break out beyond it. If you only read sci-fi and fantasy, read more mainstream literature, read romance or thrillers, read “chick lit” (a term I hate, but oh well). There’s a lot you can learn from writers beyond your normal scope.
That makes me feel at home. It sort of sums up what DrCris Reads is meant to be all about.
If you are a hopeful writer, take a look at the post.
March 13, 2008
What to Read
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I have just finished watching Jennifer Byrne Presents: Crime (produced for ABC1, Australia) I am not a great reader of good crime (I admit to reading US forensic blockbusters, but they aren’t renowned for good writing). However, on the suggestion of a previous episode of First Tuesday Bookclub, I recently read Peter Temple’s The Broken Shore (which for an awarded book is very difficult to get your hands on through second hand means). It did good things for me, and now I am keeping my eyes out for more quality crime fiction.
The discussors for this special were Jennifer Byrne, Graeme Blundell, Ian Callinan, Shane Maloney and Dorothy Porter. It was quite inspiring. They trashed forensic blockbusters, and most cosy mysteries. They also discussed the increasing growth of “literary crime fiction,” and each had a slightly different take on it.
Shane Moloney on the future of crime fiction:
I think it’s going to take over the world! … Anything that guarantees the reader a good time I think should be classified as crime!
So do you need to expand your reading horizons? Dipping into crime may be just right to freshen you up - apparently, it guarantees the reader a good time!
Recommendations:
So the panelists recommended their favourite crime novels (remember three are crime novellists, one is the host and one is a literary reviewer, so their recommendations are probably worthwhile):
Shane Moloney: The Big Sleep (Raymond Chandler) and Cadillac Jukebox (James Lee Burke)
Dorothy Porter: The Big Nowhere (James Elroy) and Death on the Nile (Agatha Christie)
Ian Callinan: Farewell my Lovely (Raymond Chandler) and The Big Sleep (Raymond Chandler)
Graeme Blundell: James Lee Burke, Spenser series - the first is Night Passage - (Robert Parker) and first novels with two private eyes - like A Drink Before the War - by Dennis Lehane
Jennifer Byrne: Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
My best crime novel at the moment would have to be The Broken Shore. What is your top recommendation?
March 13, 2008
Finding books
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Advanced reading programs are a great way to expand your reading beyond your normal boundaries. You write a short submission requesting a number of titles and a limited number of readers get selected to read each one. There are new books each month so you are always in with a chance. It is an excellent chance to maybe read a book you otherwise wouldn’t pick up and to spread it around your reading friends (mine end up joining the virtual world library at Bookcrossing).
I have been “applying” for books for three months and I “won” one, Eating Lolly by Corrie Hosking. They even printed part of my review:
Eating Lolly is a beautiful story of the gentle affair between Mister and Mumma. More importantly, it tells the story of Mumma’s intense relationship with her daughter, Lolly. … As a scaffolding to the relationship are lies and half-truths that Mumma has created to deal with the demons of her past, which flow into Lolly’s life. I enjoyed this book, particularly as the layers started to float to the surface. The pace slowed in the middle, around the second pregnancy, and Lolly’s primary school years. As Lolly started to “discover herself” the pace picked up again, and I read the final third in one sitting (despite two children under two). I think Lolly’s journey will stay with me for some time.
–Cris
Here is the Australian site:
Harper Collins Australia
Harper Collins have sites in most countries and there are other programs out there from other publishers. LibraryThing also has early reviewers, but they haven’t opened it up to Australia, yet. Does anyone know of any other early reviewer sites that we can access in AUS.