As a writer, you, by both pleasure and necessity, have to read a lot.
The old adage that to write you must read is absolutely true and I am proud of the fact that I spend more time reading than watching TV. It’s close sometimes (especially when it comes to Star Trek) but eventually reading always wins.
When I was getting my degree, I read a lot there also. Some of it good and some of it bad. I think that’s the beauty of it – what you love, others may absolutely hate. What you hate, others may have a deep passion for. It’s like broccoli, only different.
So, after 40 years of reading, here are five novels that I absolutely cannot live without.
A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving – This book changed my life. Period. It changed the way I think about religion. About faith. About fate. About the art and craft of writing that can elevate ink on paper to a whole new experience. When I was young, I wanted to be the next John Irving. How that I’m older, I’m happy to write my own stories and just enjoy Irving and his work like a fine glass of vintage wine. It’s a book that by turns is funny, sad, enlightening, infuriating, and then he ties it all together in the final chapters like a master craftsman putting that final coat of varnish on a beautiful handmade desk. It’s an exquisite novel.
A Confederacy Of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole – This book is a lightning rod. Either you love it or hate it. There is no inbetween to those who have entered the madcap, highly satirical world of John Kennedy Toole and his fictional modern day Don Quixote, Ignatius J. Reilly. I still have my original dog-eared paperback copy that I bought the year it won the Pulitzer. Only two books have made me laugh so much that I thought I was gonna rupture something. This is one of them. Toole does so many things right in this novel. He gets the people right – their quirks, their dialogue, their interactions with each other and their surroundings. He gets the place right – you can literally see old New Orleans of the 1960’s coming back to life before your very eyes. These days though, I must admit it makes me a bit sad, knowing that Nawlins will never be the same after Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent clusterfuck that was the attempt at restoration by FEMA and the Bush Administration. But if you want a comedic, episodic novel that you can really just devour and get a good laugh out of, please do pick up this story.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – John Steinbeck makes me want to be a better person and a better writer. I own all of his works and this one stands out (as well it should). There is a reason that every English teacher on the planet requires it to be read. The compassion, the true heart of this brilliant (yet I will admit, uneven) writer comes across on every page as we join the Joad family on their journey to California. If you’ve read “Everlasting Life”, my second Denton and Monty mystery, then you know just how much affection I have for this novel. I think that the above mentioned force-feeding really turns a lot of people off this novel, which is unfortunate. There are so many layers, so many things going on, besides the trip West, that as a novelist, it’s such a joy to peel back those layers and learn more about the art of writing.
The Stand by Stephen King – I love this book. It’s my guilty pleasure. Say what you will about King, he can tell a story. When he’s on his game (The Shining, The Green Mile, The Stand) he’s one of the best. Other times, he just rambles on and really needs a good, strong editor to cut those page counts. I’ve heard King describe this book (his most popular) as his version of The Lord Of The Rings. Good versus Evil. A Journey. The awakening of the hero in every man and woman. If you’re unsure of the book, look for the shorter, original printing as opposed to the newly reissued extended version of the book. Both had King’s blessings, of course, but the first version had a pretty strong editor and the second put back in everything the first editor took out. For me, I have both versions and it depends on what kind of mood I’m in. If I want my post-apocalyptic adventure on the hurry up, then I read the original version. If I want to take my time and really savor it, get to know the characters even better and deeper, I get the extended version.
Dune by Frank Herbert – Possibly the most fully realized science fiction novel of all time. Herbert has created a world and a universe so complete, so complex that it just blows my mind. There is a reason that it has never been out of print since it first blew away the sci-fi fandom community in the 1960’s. If you’re dead set against science fiction, this book may change your mind. As I am somewhat of a purist when it comes to Herbert and his Dune universe, it might surprise you to know that I actually really like the cinematic adaptations that have been made so far. The David Lynch movie, the two made-for-TV mini-series, I thought they all did justice to bringing Herbert’s vision to life. But because of this snobbery, I also hate, hate, hate the recent ‘continuation’ of the series by Herbert’s son Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson, neither of which could write their way out of a brown paper bag. My opinion is that you should avoid them at all costs, but that’s just me. Being a snob.
Thank you so much for reading! I truly hope you found some value in this post.
If so, why not purchase my first book, the award nominated Resurrection Angel for only 99 cents!
No related posts.
