Time for reading
Many people say it’s crucial to read if you want to be a writer. It seems logical, but the case could be made for spending that time on one’s own writing? I share a concern with others that my writing might be influenced by things I’ve read. But, I keep reading.
I love books and used to read more than I have of late. At the start of the year I vowed to read memoirs only, as that’s what I’m writing, but I haven’t stayed with that plan. I am rereading Jane Juska’s A Round Heeled Woman and just started Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman.
Cruising through blogs one day I came upon a new one, Writer Musings. Tabitha decided to start a personal book challenge, to read 100 books in 2010. I’ve decided to do the same thing, setting goals is something I need more practice at. What a great incentive!
I’ve completed 6 to date:
1. The Snake Stone by Jason Goodwin
2. The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
3. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
4. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
5. Writing Your Life by Lou Wilett Stanek
6. Sister Pelagia and The White Bulldog by Boris Akunin
I’ll update this as I go along. How about you, how many books do you read a year?
Excellent!! Looking forward to reading your list of books.
Speaking of, I need to update mine…
Hi, Thanks for the inspiration. I have to admit that I don’t recognize any of your books, are they adult or youth?
Young adult and middle grade. That’s what I write, so that’s mostly what I read. I do try to read some adult, but I know so little about what’s out there, and there’s only so much reading time I have that isn’t directly related to my own writing. So that’s why I’m looking forward to seeing your list, so I can maybe pull some adult titles from it.
Logical. Like my thoughts about reading memoirs. I have eclectic tastes and read according to my mood. I’ve been keeping a list of books read since 1994! When I want distractions I read mysteries, or historical fiction. For a challenge I turn to Booker Prizes, or new NYT recommended books. I have stacks in the ‘to be read’ pile!
Me, I set myself a challenge and I sabotage it before I start.
I’ve begun to rebel later in life than most; I never bothered as a teenager.
My decision is to give up on discipline and lists and challenges that are timelimited and do things spontaneously and at random impulse. It might be more fun and it’s impossible to sabotage.
By the way, Shadow of the Wind is brilliant.
You’re right about the book, it was great.
Sounds like you and I have opposite challenges, thought I think all creative individuals needs to go off and do random things sometimes.. who knows what it would generate!
Thanks for coming by.
[...] March 22, 2010 tags: Books, challenge, Mary Karr, memoirs by Walker My progress in the book challenge is not going as smoothly as expected, I’m only on book #10. At this rate I won’t make my [...]
[...] decided at the first of the year to try and read 100 books this year, I even publicly announced it and set up a page with my list of books. Well, realistically that ain’t happening. [...]