Full of words

[katiefoolery]

I have been reading in the manner which is often referred to as “voraciously” or, alternatively, “as though it’s going out of fashion”.  In fact, it struck me the other day that I haven’t been this obsessed with reading since I was about fourteen or fifteen.  The internet didn’t really exist then, so the family computer was purely for, well, fighting over with my brother and my dad.  Three of us on the one computer, all needing it for various reasons of importance.  How did we cope?

So, as I was saying: when I couldn’t get my skinny but rather strong fingers on the keyboard of said computer, then all that was left to me was reading.  Or homework.  But who’d do homework when there’s a good book to be had?

I had a reputation as a Reader since primary school.  The librarian there fully expected me to read about three books overnight and would have passed out in shock if I’d only read two.  And when I moved on to secondary school, I had to factor in a bus-trip that took one hour one way and half an hour back... plenty of time for reading there.  And that’s what I did.  I read.  Voraciously.

That’s not to say that I stopped once I left secondary school – not at all.  But I no longer grabbed every spare minute for reading and I often had to spend my time on public transport reading books or notes for uni, which isn’t really recreational unless you’re a masochist.  In the last few years, most of my reading has been reserved for work and for travelling home from work.  Hardly any of it has been done at home.

But for the last few weeks, all that has changed.  Nothing pleases me more than to curl up in my reading chair (after having brushed copious amounts of Pickle-fur off first, of course) and to dive into my latest book.  I’ve even put aside the internet in favour of a book, which is quite a development, really.

And a most miraculous thing has happened.  I find I am stuffed full of words.  I have soaked up the words of these books and kept pouring them in until I was full up.  For the first time in a very long while, I have felt a genuine, physical need to write, to get the words out of me and into a story.  It seems that my previous level of reading was only just keeping my word-level at minimal: this sudden influx of thousands and thousands of words has well and truly brought my word-level right up to full.  To overflowing, in fact.

Everyone says reading is good for writers.  You can’t be a writer if you’re not a reader in the first place.  But it turns out that there’s no such thing as moderation in reading.  You shouldn’t cut back on books... for any reason.  It’s far too dangerous.  You cannot have too much of a good thing when it comes to books.  In fact, it’s quite possible to have too little.  I don’t think it’s fatal, but it can certainly make your writing quite anaemic.

So, I shall keep up this level of reading, if I possibly can.  I shall balance internet, reading and writing to the best of my ability.  And I shall ask for recommendations, because I’ve reached the bottom of my reading pile.  Once I finish The Eyre Affair, I’ll be needing some books to fill the void.  So, please tell me: what’s your favourite book and why should I read it?  I need to know, lest my word-level falls too far to be recovered.

Comments

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

When I was little, I was a voracious reader. The max number of books you were allowed to check out of the school library was 2, but they'd let me check out ten or twelve and I'd have them back to the teachers by the end of the week, usually sooner.

I spent every minute reading. I would read during class (after all, I had taught myself to add three years ago, why should I have to pay attention to something I already know?). I would read during dinner (never been a big talker). I would read while I was watching TV, while I was in the shower, while I was in the car.

And then I stopped.

I started going to an accelerated school, where I had to pay attention in class, since the stuff was too advanced for me to learn on my own. At home, we had a cable internet connection installed, so I would spend hours on the computer. I suppose you could call LJ reading, and I certainly read articles on various websites, but it's no the same as a good fiction book. After all, isn't it said that newspapers are geared toward 7th graders? And I'm not even going to dignify the level of intelligence evident in most LJs with a grade level.

In any case, now I'm in college for real. A friend bought me a book she thought I'd like for my birthday last December. I found a couple comic books I used to love had been released in graphic novel form. I'mstarting to get weary of the internet.

And now I'm reading again. I'm reading during class; I'm skipping classes to read. I'm reading while I watch movies, while I surf the net, while I ride the T to go to meetings. I have an addictive personality, so it's not surprising that I've become re-addicted to books, but I guess what I'm trying to say is yes. Yes, there is no such thing as moderation in reading. Yes, I am beginning to become full of words again. Yes yes yes!

I don't know how into YA fantasy you are, but I've always loved the The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper. I'm 19 now and I still pull them out on occaison to read. I'd suggest starting with The Dark is Rising; even though it isn't the first book, it's always been my favorite.

Adult-wise, I'm reading Prodigy by Michael Stewart right now. I think it's out of print, but I love it. It's about a genetically engineered little girl who posses two of the genes that lead to intelligence. It's a fascinating medical thriller; a better written version of Robin Cook. If you were a "smart kid" growing up, there's certain things that you'll identify with so strongly you'll want to weep a little.

Or maybe not. That could just be the new meds talking. ;-)

Yay for reading!

[frohike.livejournal.com]

My favourite book series is The DragonRiders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. I think theres like 20 books in the series now, But theres about half a dozen I love insanely. There are a few other good ones by her, but most of her series go downhill as they go along. I suspect its due to agent/ublisher/whatever saying 'write us another' when there wasn't necessarily going to be. Like the matrix.

Not sure how many you already know...

[disturbed-kiwi.livejournal.com]

God, don't make me choose favourites....
Melissa Michaels- Skirmish
Neil Gaiman- Everything and Anything with his touch on it...
Tad Williams- Otherland & Tailchaser's Song
Orson Scott Card- Ender's Game & The Tales of Alvin Maker
Alan Dean Foster- The Alien Movie Novelisations (better than the movies), Spellsinger, The Trilogy of the Damned

Jasper Fforde is great, work your way through all of his.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

I second Jasper Fforde! Read the whole series, you'll love them. I haven't gotten a hold of books from him that aren't related to the Eyre Affair, but hope to soon.

As for other books.... *thinks*
- Dragon Prince, though I can't remember who wrote it.
- The Dragonlords (I think that's what it's called, Dustin used to have the series but lost it during one of our many moves. Something that still pains him, as it was his favorite series, and mine as well).
- The DaVinci Code (just had it on CD and loved it)
- The Five People You Meet In Heaven
- any Nicholas Sparks books

There, that should keep you going for a while lol

[flippyfrog.livejournal.com]

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. No, not the film, the book was written way before the movie was. I gush about this book because i think it's the best sci/fi book ever written, and the fact that he mingles in the first plausible fascist democratic society i have ever read, with a character who is so believable it's just one of the best stories. It's not that easy to get a hold of, but if you can, it's more than worth it. I love it to death. Literally. I stole my Dad's copy of it and i seriously need to buy another one to replace...


and i totally agree with reading. And it's reading new things, too. I get ino a slump and i just read the same books over and over and over again, and it doesn't help. But as soon as i pick up a new book, i'm back in that writing mindset again. Usually. It doesn't always work, tho.

[wildebeth.livejournal.com]

I'm so behind on my reading. And my homework, but still. *two inches tall*

I suggest Library Thing (http://www.librarything.com) if you haven't already found it. You could spend a very, very long time t00bing around in random book collections, finding people with similar interests through shared books.

[decryption.livejournal.com]

I've read 3 books since I finished high school 4 years ago. Go go reading :D
But I was the same in primary school, the teacher would make me read 2 or 3 books a week (like a 300 page novel, for a 10 year old) because she knew I could and my mum loved it because her son was smart, hah
Oh well, I think I firmly blame the internet for a lack of "proper" book reading. I still read magazines, newspapers and non-fiction books like crazy though.

[purpletigress.livejournal.com]

I neglect my reading now because of the internet. I really must stop that. But on to recommendations - I'll pick two for different reasons.

'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac because it taught me about freedom. Then 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt. The latter I read after a long phase of reading what I can only term minimalist literature. Very stark, light on the adjectives and adverbs and advanced words. This was completely different, beautifully written, interesting characters and a captivating story.

Enjoy :-)

[decryption.livejournal.com]

Oh, my favourite book. Well, my favourite is Underground, by Sullette Dreyfus, which is all about old-shcool Aussie computer hackers back in the 80s. When Melbourne was the epi-center of underground computing and BBS's and the world feared Melbourne hackers. It's really interesting, to me, as a computer dork anyways.

But, for you, I would recommend a book by Shuan Micallef, called Smithereens (you can borrow my copy if you want, I'm not using it :p). It's written wonderfully, with his usual eccentric words. There's 20 short stories varying from his train trip to the city, to an encounter with the Victorian Governor and the Queen, whilst riding a bike around.

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

I second (third? fourth?) the recommendation to read all of the Thursday Next series. They're all good.

I also particularly enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, though it bored my mother. I thought it was a rich, full book. Reading it reminded me of eating an entire box of Godiva chocolate. It was that much of an indulgence.

Read practically anything by Terry Pratchett, of course. The Wee Free Men is particularly good if you enjoy Celtic mythology.

If you enjoy stories about fiddlers, I recommend The Lark and the Wren by Mercedes Lackey. I enjoy a few of her books (definitely not all of them), and the few I enjoy I consider to be quite good. Of course. I also like what I refer to as her "Wizards" series, which begins with The Fire Rose. All of them that I've read so far are retellings of classic faerie tales, and they are excellent.

Kara Dalkey is another good author, especially if you like the Japanese mythos. She wrote a book called Little Sister that features tengu. She also wrote a book called The Nightingale that is a retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen tale by the same name, and her story takes place in Japan during the Fujiwara period. Much love for that well-researched work.

Speaking of well-researched, the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters is truly fantastic. It takes place in 12th-century England, and it comprises a series of murder mysteries solved by a wise--and believable--monk. I haven't finished the series, but every one of them that I have read has been engaging, involved, and wonderful.

Those are just a few of my favorites. ^_^ I wish I had more time to read fun things, though my textbooks are particularly fascinating this term.

Yes!

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

You've described me in a nutshell...

All my life I'd read anything and everything. (And I mean anything...)

I not only loved to read when I was younger, but I simply had to read! I'd always be 'stealing' books from other students in both grade school and high school, because I'd have read the books I'd checked out myself. (We had a limit back then and I was always far over it.)

This has waxed and waned my entire life, but I'm never reading less than four or five books at one time. (Never.) If I reasoned it out right now, I think I'd find it was around ten right now. (gulp)

However, as I've gotten older, this does include reading manuals and magazines (like "National Geographic" -- which I read cover to cover when I get it). I love learning new things, so since computers became important in my life, I read various manuals like crazy. (The reason I know various softwares better than others and end up teaching them.)

Though I'll always have a tremendous love for the reading of fiction, I find that all reading is a good thing. (Yes, I include fanfics in there! And LJ entries. And email and so on...) Even the reading done for work can be valuable from a reading sense...

I love the internet as a source of research and have read and read online, too.

And I agree that reading certainly does help with writing. (But the person I know who is the best writer doesn't always find time to read in this same way, interestingly enough! She uses her spare time to write more than she reads...)

I could spend hours just listing the books I read in a year, much less my favorites over my lifetime. Reading is such a joy!

(I've always been a bathroom reader, by the way. When there were no magazine there -- which always seem to be true when I was a child and teen -- then I'd read the outsides of the boxes and other containers there! Isn't that weird? I remember doing it. Thankfully since moving out, I've always had both magazines and books in my own bathrooms! Weird or no, I love bathroom reading. I spend longer in the bathroom than I need to, just to read away...)

(grin)

I'm appalled to discover that I don't have any reading-related icons!!! (I need to make one right away!)

(grin)

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

Just had to post again so I could use my new 'voracious reader' icon...

(I need to make YOU one, don't I?)

(smile)

[rigel-7.livejournal.com]

It's very hard to recommend a book, because what I find fascinating and rewarding to read, others would run from screaming :D

I am drawn to books that are dense with language, where the author really begins to layer their words. To me, the plot is not the essential element within the novel (though I won't complain if it turns out to be good) I look for the ideas behind the novel. The concepts that the author is playing with. Ultimately it might not be a successful book, but the imagery or the language will be what lingers.

I guess I look at them with the eyes of an artist. I seek what is behind it, the intent if you will. (funnily enough my latest LJ entry is a little bit about being full of words :P)

I will push you in the direction of Steinbeck though, there's something about him that really fascinates me.

Re: Not sure how many you already know...

[bunhusband.livejournal.com]

Ahhh Enders Game, the only book ive ever read where when i got to the last page, i immediately went back to the first and read it again. And i read the first couple of the Alvin books way back, but could never seem to find the rest. Are they all out now, and if so what are they called?

Thanks

Bunhubby

[bunhusband.livejournal.com]

Dont worry, i have a copy:) I love Heinlein.

[flippyfrog.livejournal.com]

He is def. much goodness. Leave it on her laptop and poke her to read it. Everyone should read Starship Troopers *hugs her copy; the back cover slides off*

Theres this one book i wanna read...

[bunhusband.livejournal.com]

There was this one book you should read, i read a bit of the first draft, im not sure if its been published yet. Its called "The Black...something, some sort of instrument, like a guitar, or a harp, or something..of Barnett." when i remember, ill tell you, the bit i read was great tho:):)

P.S Whats for dinner??:)

[disturbed-kiwi.livejournal.com]

The really great yet odd thing about Dan Brown (Da Vinci and more) is that he really isn't a great writer. He's probably noit even an adequete writer. While I read his stuff I can see all the bad sentances and silly formations. It's really annoying. I picked the answer to Digital Fortress' final brain teaser a good few chapters before the bloody characters had a hint...

And yet, I still rush through each of his books. He has great ideas. Very cinematic.

Re: Not sure how many you already know...

[disturbed-kiwi.livejournal.com]

Here's the amazon listing (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=br_ss_hs/104-6011107-1413508?search-alias=aps&keywords=alvin%20maker). I'm fairly sure it finishes at Crystal City. Unfortunately Card tends to get wierd by the end of his series (ever read the rest of Ender's saga? Gets wierd...) and that happens here.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

My goodness, Elfie - this is the reason that you're on my friends list: I've read almost every one of those books you just listed. Can you believe that? For a minute there, I thought I hadn't read any of the Kara Dalkey ones, but then I remembered reading Little Sister when I was at my old work.

I love Wee Free Men and also Lords and Ladies, because of its much truer depiction of the "elves" of Celtic mythology. Something similar features in Black Fiddle and I can definitely say that the inspiration to learn more about the sidhe came from Lords and Ladies.

I haven't read any Cadfael books for ages, but I remember being absolutely delighted when I solved one of the mysteries myself! Only one, mind you, but I was incredibly proud of myself.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I love the first few books in that series. They were the first fantasy/sf books I ever read and I adored them. I used to have some of the later ones, but I just can't bring myself to like them as much. She changes so many of the things I loved about the first books in the series and I just can't cope with it! A little while ago, I re-read the books just because it had been so long and I really felt like re-visiting them.

I tried to read one of the prequel books a while ago - Red Star Rising, I believe - and I gave up after the first few pages. It just didn't have the same magic as Dragonsinger or Dragonflight.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Well, this Library Thing looks plendiferous! I shall have to put some time aside for browsing away there. Thank-you muchly.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thank-you for those recommendations! They shall go on the list.

It's so easy to let the internet take the place of reading. After all, most of what I do on the internet involves reading... but it's just not the same. Thank goodness for the allure of books.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

By some bizarre coincidence, I was cataloguing a book called Smithereens today. The only difference is it's not by Shaun Micallef and it has one of the ugliest covers around. Gah. I'll keep a look-out for the Micallef book, though. I remember reading a column he did in the paper during one Summer (I think) and it was plendiferous.

Re: Theres this one book i wanna read...

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I love you. You're not going anywhere, you realise. You're staying RIGHT HERE.