Today is a momentous day in our family’s life: my bro is getting married. Congrats N. and D.! We love you so much!
A few books I’m reading this week:
Long Journey Home by Os Guinness is another jewel from my bookshelf. Os Guinness is an amazing writer (born to Christian missionaries in China, and has traveled the world speaking and writing about creativity, books, spirituality, and philosophy). This book is to be savored. You read it slowly. From Amazon.com: How do we unriddle the mystery of life and make the most of it? What does it mean to find ourselves guests on a tiny, spinning blue ball in a vast universe? Is our sense of individual uniqueness backed by a guarantee, or are we only dust in the wind??
How Fiction Works by James Wood. I’ve resisted buying another book on fiction writing, but so many people have told me that this book helped them read better that I bought it. It’s amazing. This is a book up there with Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster. Really good so far.
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson is one that was recommended to me by multiple people. I asked if it was anything like The Historian or The Thirteenth Tale and they said no, but it was similar to Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, so we’ll see. I’m not sure I like it so far. But I’m going to finish it.
Hollywood Babylon is book research, but I tell ya, if you wanted to know dirt on Hollywood from early in its heyday, this book is for you. There’s a sequel to boot! <sigh> The things about celebrities that interest us.
Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port is one of those necessary books if you’re rewriting a business plan, which I am doing right now. It’s a fabulous book and I never let it get too far away from me, because I rely on it so much.
Have a great weekend!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Kristen DeDeyn Kirk 08.29.08 at 4:11 pm
I’m finally ready to try writing fiction, which I never thought I could do. Thank you for recommending How Fiction Works.
Kristen at http://www.thefamilythatreadstogether.blogspot.com
realbrilliant 08.29.08 at 5:44 pm
Hi, Kristen, glad to help. By all means, start writing. There is always room for more great fiction to read. Keep me posted on how you progress. One thing that really helped my fiction was joining a writers group (actually I’m in two! One for fiction, one for non-fiction/memoir) and wow, I’m accomplishing so much more than I ever thought possible. Another great book when starting out writing is Carolyn See’s Making a Literary Life. Have a great weekend!
mikawendy 08.30.08 at 1:42 pm
I noticed you haven’t posted to your blog in a while. I hope that’s because you’re busy doing exciting things, not because something’s wrong.
realbrilliant 09.02.08 at 8:22 am
Hi, MikaWendy, I tried to take most of August for other writing. My industry (publishing) shuts down pretty much in August, so I gladly took the break. I’ve been doing well. Lots of writing and reading. I’ll be posting daily until the end of 2009, and am trying to wrestle this blog into submission. It has a mind of its own. Thanks for checking in on me!