tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post40643937993150491..comments2023-08-14T10:44:59.007-04:00Comments on Novel Spaces: Why I ReadKeVin K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-89390826772258330962010-09-28T10:38:12.564-04:002010-09-28T10:38:12.564-04:00Laughingwolf, that's a good way to put it. Th...Laughingwolf, that's a good way to put it. That kind of surprise is very much fun and a real pleasure.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-30946107510541838722010-09-28T00:24:34.686-04:002010-09-28T00:24:34.686-04:00great samples, charles...
i like to be ambushed w...great samples, charles...<br /><br />i like to be ambushed when i'm reading, something totally unexpected, whether in a single line, a paragraph... or over many pages - well-honed words can do thatlaughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-14538835602313217622010-09-27T17:07:52.395-04:002010-09-27T17:07:52.395-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-14828217539821227282010-09-27T17:07:44.170-04:002010-09-27T17:07:44.170-04:00Steve, I do most all of those too, although I do t...Steve, I do most all of those too, although I do tell Lana how much I spend if she inquires. She's what you call an enabler.<br /><br />Avery, in my favorite books I spend quite a bit of time savoring a sentence or a paragraph. I'll think how they make me feel. I just found a bunch of such lines in some Loren Eiseley poetry I was reading.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-60416223063692222692010-09-27T16:48:23.685-04:002010-09-27T16:48:23.685-04:00As a child it was friendlier inside of my head tha...As a child it was friendlier inside of my head than outside. I read because I could stay lost in my own mind for hours. Even now, in times of stress, I retreat to books for comfort. But, as a writer, I'm finding there is not as much delving in and losing myself as there used to be. Even when I read with the intention of learning absolutely nothing, a sentence will eventually catch my eye and I will pause and go back to dissect its structure, or admire its beauty, or try to figure out how to apply its grace to my own work.AvDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16574481780173046619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-92142968585486401902010-09-27T16:28:52.184-04:002010-09-27T16:28:52.184-04:00I often think about my next book while I've st...I often think about my next book while I've still got one in my hand. <br /><br />I need to know where the next book is coming from. <br /><br />I stash books around the house, the office, the car-- all so I won't be caught without a book.<br /><br />I hide the amount I spend on books from friends and family. <br /><br />I start climbing the walls if I go a whole day without reading. <br /><br />Treatment might help me quit reading, but I don't want to stop!<br /><br />Safe to say, I read because I have no choice... ;-pSteve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-679799023413602762010-09-27T15:16:53.703-04:002010-09-27T15:16:53.703-04:00Liane Spicer, oh yes indeed. To have both the sto...Liane Spicer, oh yes indeed. To have both the story and the language. That is truly heaven.<br /><br /> pattinase (abbott), the ability to travel and see other places through the writer’s eyes is part of that language experience for sure.<br /> <br /> eric1313 , at times I do just want the story, but when both cylinders work together is when I’m truly in hog heaven. I don’t often reread works, although I did with The Snow Leopard and The October Country. I do catch nuances every time, though.<br /> <br /> Shauna Roberts, I’m kind of the same way, but I like books even set off the world, in a completely made up world. But yes, I don’t read a lot of contemporary thrillers for much the same reason as you.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-75197956640089870752010-09-27T14:56:27.220-04:002010-09-27T14:56:27.220-04:00I read to experience other places, other times, ot...I read to experience other places, other times, other lifestyles. <br /><br />That's why I rarely read books set in present-day America, unless a friend has written them.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-47290272774369265432010-09-27T14:48:58.866-04:002010-09-27T14:48:58.866-04:00I still read for the enjoyment of it, mostly, for ...I still read for the enjoyment of it, mostly, for the story being told and observation of a work of art is secondary. But secondary does not mean a poor second. I love to really get into a piece and read it multiple times. Any truly great work of art will reveal some new detail or nuance each time you revisit it. That's what I like about returning to an older one that I ave read already, to see if it lives up to the test. Some things do not, and some things are better the next time through and some rare pieces get better each time I read it. It's those gems that make the process the most fun of all, of course.<br /><br />I read when I don;t know what to write a lot of times. Great writers read lots of great literature... so perhaps it would help me as well to follow suit. Always try to learn something from every experience, that has helped me more than anything over the years.eric1313https://www.blogger.com/profile/13807078704660045859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-52886402073495230102010-09-27T14:47:30.760-04:002010-09-27T14:47:30.760-04:00I read because people/characters interest me. And ...I read because people/characters interest me. And because I love words, especially the perfect word. And because I love to travel to new places.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-53537321820464080582010-09-27T13:43:26.913-04:002010-09-27T13:43:26.913-04:00Lovely examples, Charles.
I read for both story a...Lovely examples, Charles.<br /><br />I read for both story and language. When a great story is told in great language, ahh. Bliss. I find excessive use of dialogue off-putting, to be quite frank. <br /><br />Writers I've read in recent years whose use of language stopped me in my tracks: Arundathi Roy (The God of Small Things); Yann Martel (Life of Pi); Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God).Liane Spicerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035607144500219524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-63509256769266290472010-09-27T13:34:05.109-04:002010-09-27T13:34:05.109-04:00Natasha, we are on opposite sides of the fence the...Natasha, we are on opposite sides of the fence there, but that's OK. Different strokes for different folks.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-55322799218072626362010-09-27T13:31:41.654-04:002010-09-27T13:31:41.654-04:00That's beautiful! Especially the passage from ...That's beautiful! Especially the passage from <i>October Country</i>. I confess I'm more of a dialogue reader. ADD has gotten worse with age, and the more solid lines with no breaks, the more I skim. It has to be incredible writing to pull me into thick prose.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-13513811107992891442010-09-27T10:56:54.317-04:002010-09-27T10:56:54.317-04:00Alex, I was listening to my second Taleran book to...Alex, I was listening to my second Taleran book today and I thought the action was really fast paced. I was kind of happy. I do think action scenes can have their own beauty.<br /><br />Ivan, thanks. I really appreciate that. I knew you would apperciate the lovely prose<br /><br />Heff, so you're a closet reader. A water closet that is.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-46996166886593787082010-09-27T10:42:36.489-04:002010-09-27T10:42:36.489-04:00I read because it's nice to occupy your time o...I read because it's nice to occupy your time on the commode.Heffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13396114362826135207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-2546224113864678432010-09-27T10:16:22.662-04:002010-09-27T10:16:22.662-04:00Charles,
You'be created a thing of beauty whil...Charles,<br />You'be created a thing of beauty while writing about things of bauty on the printed page.<br /><br />IvanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-11453674260873811762010-09-27T09:32:57.898-04:002010-09-27T09:32:57.898-04:00I read works by Preston & Child and Timothy Za...I read works by Preston & Child and Timothy Zahn for the fast pace of the action.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-15786374027114877872010-09-27T08:47:00.995-04:002010-09-27T08:47:00.995-04:00David J. West, gaining information or cool bits o...David J. West, gaining information or cool bits of knowledge is a big heaping of gravy on reading. I love that part too, but it’s not the underlying source of the sheer enjoyment, as you put it so well here.<br /><br /><br /> Lana Gramlich, and to think, as a kid I often said I hated poetry.<br /> <br /> Randy Johnson, oh I know. I’ve heard people say that about not reading with pride! As if they had finally gotten away from wasting their time.<br /> <br /> G, if the prose is really good I’ll read to the end anyway, but read it slowly, a bit at a time. The story has to be good too to really sweep me away.<br /> <br /> the walking man, I can really enjoy the rhythm of older style writing. It has a different pace but still can enrapture.<br /> <br /> sage, I know. Reading the Snow Leopard made me want to go to Tibet. If I’d not been in the throes of settling into a job I might have just picked up and gone. I’ve got to check out Norman Maclean myself it sounds like.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-82832037719211304362010-09-27T08:25:03.884-04:002010-09-27T08:25:03.884-04:00I need to reread "The Snow Lepoard." I ...I need to reread "The Snow Lepoard." I read it in the early 80s and have been haunted by a desire to travel that part of the world ever since... I enjoy good prose--Norman Maclean also comes to mindsagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-91109915477062084722010-09-27T07:54:28.463-04:002010-09-27T07:54:28.463-04:00I used to read for the story. The movement caused ...I used to read for the story. The movement caused by the words and the way they were placed on the page in front of me. At one time I spent every moment not driving, working or dealing with life matters (parenting such as it was) reading. Wanting to finish whatever as soon as possible to get back to the book.<br /><br />Then I got serious about my own writing and now I find myself reading modern works to dissect the technical aspects of the writing. <br /><br />Why this word not that, why this length sentence when it could be written as descriptively this way. I find myself always asking as I read what level of education is this author writing to? <br /><br />I think in my personal reading habits this is why I have for the past few years shunned most modern authors and have returned to "literature." 19th century writers if I just want to sit and enjoy a story. Their use of language is quite different and I don't try to dissect it, though I do enjoy it.the walking manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058913927297370740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-27261731819780663422010-09-27T06:38:13.049-04:002010-09-27T06:38:13.049-04:00While growing up I had no friends to speak of, so ...While growing up I had no friends to speak of, so I would read for hours just for the sheer joy of escaping into another world.<br /><br />As I grew older my reading habits changed. I went from reading for escaping to reading for knowledge to just reading for the joy of being entertained.<br /><br />Sometimes what I read comes vividly to life as I make my way through a given book. On those occasions, that book will stick with me for a greater period of time than anything else.<br /><br />Personally, I don't think a writer's particular prose moves me as much as the overall content and/or flow of a story does. I mean the prose can be fantastic and descriptive as all get out, but if the content is somewhat droll, dry and/or flat, that book will not be read to the very end.G. B. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09783331838434598963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-2247819528079007102010-09-27T04:55:11.363-04:002010-09-27T04:55:11.363-04:00I've never considered it in this light before....I've never considered it in this light before. I've always read for sheer enjoyment, to be catapulted to worlds I could never reach these days, whether it be Burroughs' Barsoom or L'Amour's west.<br /><br />the way you phrase makes me realize the same thing: all those descriptive passages are what put you in that other world.<br /><br />Nothing like it and I often want to strangle people who utter the phrase, and I've heard it more than once, "I haven't read a book since I got out of school."<br /><br />They know not what they miss.:Randy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627907086811387527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-12353675359136982852010-09-27T02:15:39.753-04:002010-09-27T02:15:39.753-04:00You know, Charles, I never really considered the r...You know, Charles, I never really considered the rhythm of prose until I met you. Thanks for that.Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-51190506435047943462010-09-27T01:36:15.575-04:002010-09-27T01:36:15.575-04:00Sometimes I read to gain knowledge, but even then ...Sometimes I read to gain knowledge, but even then it goes farther if the author has an ear for poetic verse.<br /><br />And of course I read for the sheer enjoyment, the transport to another realm, vista's both beautiful and cruel, glimpses into what is and what could be.nephite blood spartan hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17092519999184585295noreply@blogger.com