One of the unfortunate side effects about reading all these craft books is what a snob I’ve turned into. I’ve checked out piles of books from the library. I’ve read the first few chapters of each one, but can’t seem to settle into a single one. I can’t tell you how many books I have half-read this summer before putting them aside in frustration.
When I examine the reason why, it all comes down to one very simple reason: the story doesn’t pull me in, my disbelief is not suspended. Instead of being taken to another world and living through the characters, I’ve been very aware that I’m lying in bed, or sitting on my sofa, reading off a page. And what fun is that? Very rare is the book that will allow me to turn off my internal editor. A Moment Between, by Nicole Baart, did that for me. It swept me away. I got lost in the story. And after searching and searching, I finally found another.
The book is called Home Another Way, by Christa Parrish. It’s her debut novel and was released in 2008. I’m only on chapter six, and already I love the main character – this incredibly flawed, incredibly bitter young woman named Sarah Graham. Christa’s voice is wonderful and poignant. The story is so real. And Sarah’s motivations for being flawed and bitter are so well established without giving any sort of back story dump. So if you’re looking for a story to sweep you away, to make you smile, to make you wonder, and to make you turn pages, I highly recommend Home Another Way. I’ll let you know more when I’m finished.
Question to Ponder: Are you a book snob? What are your favorite books?
Karin – I'm glad I'm not alone. What I would like to start doing is figuring out who my dream agent represents and start reading her client's books. I know one of her authors, but haven't read any of her books yet.
Katie, I'm with you (I've had the same thing happen to me this summer).
One thing I'm currently doing is to read the books that were recommended by the speakers at the conferences I attended. I figure if the agents/editors/authors with push them then they must be good!
Eileen – can you teach me how to do that??
Tara – I was a big fan of the Twilight books as well. I convinced my husband to read them and he just finished the last book. 🙂
Erica – I've never read any of those authors. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for sharing!
Sherrinda – I completely know what you are saying. I also used to love getting lost in a good book. I can't tell if the books I've bene trying to read lately are worse than the ones I used to read in my younger years, or if I'm just overstufffed with writing rules.
HA! Jill, you know it's bad when craft books start to bother you. 🙂 No, I understand. Books should contain what they claim on their back cover, for sure. I'm sort of opposite of you, though. I'm enjoying craft books more and more, and my fiction less and less. No fun!
Jessica – I am now on ch. 13. It's awesome. Very awesome. Christa is an AMAZING writer!
I hear you Megan. That's me, too.
Wendy, I LOVE the Poisonwood Bible. I'm drawing a blank on the author's name….total blank. She's phenomenal though. Has a major talent with stringing words together.
I hear you, Elizabeth. 🙂 I can't really pick a favorite book either. I do have my classic fall-backs that I can always reread and enjoy. But I can pick my favorite kid. My favorite kid is by far my first born son, Brogan….but you see, he's our only child right now, so it's not that dififcult. 🙂
Book snobbery comes with the territory. I've learned to mellow my editor as I read books now, otherwise I wouldn't enjoy near as many of them.
I'm a total book snob, but I love reading so much that I'll finish any book I pick up. I guess I realize the work it took to get the book in print. Right now I'm a fan of Stephenie Meyer. (I love YA.)
Though I am a more discerning reader than I used to be, I found that the initial "EDITOR MODE" that I fell into when I first started writing has ebbed a bit. I'm not nearly so harsh a critic as I was at first.
Favorite authors include Dick Francis, Elizabeth Peters, Essie Summers, and Sarah Graves. 🙂
This is so disheartening, because one of my favorite loves is reading…to get lost in the pages of a book is just heaven to me. So to become a book snob (and yes, I am becoming one now) has robbed me of a first love! So sad.
Okay, now this is really bad, but I've become a book snob about writing craft books! I've read too many that don't deliver what they promise. They may have great advice, but it isn't what the title or back blurb stated.
Makes me mad!
Have a great week!
LOL I'm trying not to be. 🙂
I can't wait to read that book! I've heard so much about it.
I was never a book snob until I started writing and learning more about the process of writing. It changed my way of reading.
Guess I probably could fall into that catagory. You know I'll be checking into Home Another Way. I have a 50 page rule. If it doesn't grab me by then, I put it down.
Great books for different things:
Fun summer read–Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons
Take you to another place read–Snowflower and the Secret Fan or Memoirs of a Geisha
Excellent POV book-The Poisonwood Bible
and I absolutely loved Peace Like a River (descriptions and symbolism)
~ Wendy
Oh, I'm such a book snob. I give a book 30 pages and if I'm not transported then I put the book aside. But gosh…you'd think in today's publishing reality that the book would grab you on the first page!
I have so many book favorites that I can't pick…sort of like picking your favorite child! 🙂
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder