So Many Books, So Little Time

I’m a reader. A voracious reader. I’ve been tracking my reading for over 15 years and on average, I read 53 books a year. One a week. This is why That Man calls me “Reado the Reado Wife.”

Now, that includes everything — books I re-read, Kindle editions, and Middle Grade and YA (research, don’t you know).

I read to be entertained and educated. But interestingly enough, I don’t read like a writer. At a recent book club meeting, another member, also a writer, mentioned how he had a terrible time enjoying the book because the author head-hopped and as a writer, it drove him crazy.

I didn’t even notice.

I was swept along in the story, the characters, and the intrigue and didn’t even notice the nuts and bolts of writing. Things I work hard on at my desk, I completely missed on the couch.

And this may be why my writing falls short so often. As a reader, I’m easily swept away into the story. As a writer, I’m easily dazzled by my own perceived brilliance. As I read my own work, the world of my own creation comes alive with just a key stroke and my imagination runs amok in a world where the details aren’t quite there, yet. Since it’s my world, I see it, though my reader may not.

The power of suggestion is strong in this one.

The Reading That’s Stacking Up

My friend Lorie turned me on to Bookbub, the witch.  Now a list of titles for my consideration lands in my in-box EVERY SINGLE DAY.  So I not only have an extensive library of honest-to-gawd paper books, I also have this itty bitty thing I can tuck into my purse that is stuffed with books I haven’t read.  So many books, so little time.

But the Bookbub thing has brought up and interesting question about the value of the written word.  Do I value those free/cheap e-books less than the paper books collecting dust in my office?  The stuff on Bookbub is cheap – $2.99 or less.  And the stuff I usually buy is on the free side.

I admit that my attitude toward e-books is a tad different than my attitude toward a traditional paper book, or even an electronic one I paid for full price for.  And it’s all based on how quickly I read them once they’re on my Kindle.

E-books that I’ve checked out of the library get read quickly because I only have them for a few weeks.  The time-constraint lights a fire under my e-behind.

E-books that I buy, I read fairly quickly because I made a conscious choice to find them.

Free e-books on the other hand, languish, waiting for me to get around to them.  They’re not a priority, but I do feel a sense of anticipation when I think of them there, waiting for me.  Could it be I’m an e-hoarder?

I value good writing, and a good story, be it electronic or paper.  I just wish I had the time to read everything I want to read.  That problem begs a closer look at my priorities.

So Many Books…

I run the Spanish Spring Library Mystery Book Club. I’ve volunteered at the library for nearly nine years now and have kind of become the “Mikey” of the volunteers. As in “Let’s get Mikey!”

When budget cuts came along, I was asked to take over – “Hey let’s get Joan to run it! She’ll do anything!”

I had my reservations. I sometimes read mysteries, but I didn’t really think they were my thing.

Boy, was I wrong!

Turns out, the mystery genre encompasses everything from romantic suspense to science fiction thriller. There are cats, there are dogs, there psychopaths, and there are sweet little old ladies. What started as a lark and felt a little bit like homework, has turned into a rather annoyingly long list of ADDITIONAL books that I must read.

That’s been the beauty of this book club – I’ve been exposed to so many new authors. Newly published or classic legends, we’ve had them all. And we’ve read books from all over the world. Turns out that some really great mysteries are coming out of Scandanavia, Italy, and Australia. Who knew?

We also try to read a true-crime book once a year and that’s been educational and fun. Our reading of “The Monster of Florence” gave us a whole new understanding of the Amanda Knox case. Another year, “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” tied serendipitously with a Nevada Barr book set at the fort in Florida that had held the Lincoln conspirators.

But the biggest problem I’ve got with this book club thing? I now have an even longer list of authors whose books I want to read.

How I Read

Coming back to my previous post about what I’m reading, I got to thinking about how I read.

As a writer, we are encouraged to read widely, both in and out of our chosen genre. We’re supposed to analyze the first 50 pages, diagram sentences, delve into plot development and characterization.

To all that I say “OH PLEASE.” And “Pffft! You’ve GOT to be kidding me.”

Yeah, I’m that writer.

How YOU doin’?

I read for entertainment, to be swept away and taken away from my mundane existence. But I’m consistent — I also go to movies for escape. I avoid thought-provoking and depressing films in favor of hilarious rom-coms. I’ll take a good Hugh Jackman action/adventure over Jews in WWII anytime.

When I read, I’m along for the ride and I don’t want to dig into how the car works.

I do pay a little bit of attention. I know what I enjoy reading and I try to incorporate those same things into my writing. I like strong female characters, a touch of romance and any historical aspects in a story. But I don’t sit down and scribble in margins (sacrilege!), put the plot into a spreadsheet to emulate a formula, or analyze first lines. The closest I ever got to something like that was a prompt I ran across that encouraged me to find a favorite passage in someone else’s work and then re-type it in order to get a hands-on feel for the rhythm and pace. It was kind of fun to “write” a piece of best-selling fiction!

Would I be a better writer if I analyzed everything? Probably. Would I be a happier reader? Definitely not.

Call me shallow, call me immature, just don’t call me in the middle of a chapter.