Comments on: The Elegance of Reading on Your Writing http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/ My Twenty Years with an International Photojournalist...Then and Now Tue, 22 May 2018 13:51:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Debra Eve http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39963 Debra Eve Tue, 27 Jan 2015 05:35:07 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39963 Welcome back, Becky! I was just discussing the irony of an online writer's life with another prolific writer, that it it leaves little time for reading. Like you, I've taken a hiatus and come back with one resolution for 2015 -- to read more. My favorite recent fiction: The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm currently reading The Art of Slow Writing by Louise DeSalvo. Highly recommended. Looking forward to hearing more about your book-in-progress! Welcome back, Becky! I was just discussing the irony of an online writer’s life with another prolific writer, that it it leaves little time for reading. Like you, I’ve taken a hiatus and come back with one resolution for 2015 — to read more.

My favorite recent fiction: The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. I’m currently reading The Art of Slow Writing by Louise DeSalvo. Highly recommended. Looking forward to hearing more about your book-in-progress!

]]> By: Jessica Winters Mireles http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39607 Jessica Winters Mireles Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:01:06 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39607 i so enjoyed that book as well, Becky! I'm so happy to hear you're getting back into writing again. I've missed you! You wear so many hats and you're so good at so many things that I'm surprised you can ever get anything done. I'm looking forward to reading you again and I'm hoping you'll inspire me to post more often! i so enjoyed that book as well, Becky! I’m so happy to hear you’re getting back into writing again. I’ve missed you! You wear so many hats and you’re so good at so many things that I’m surprised you can ever get anything done. I’m looking forward to reading you again and I’m hoping you’ll inspire me to post more often!

]]> By: Becky Green Aaronson http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39256 Becky Green Aaronson Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:48:33 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39256 You couldn't have said it any better, Jayne ..."like a musician who never listens to music." Thanks for the book recommendations and the warm welcome back. And YES, we are due for another gathering! You couldn’t have said it any better, Jayne …”like a musician who never listens to music.”

Thanks for the book recommendations and the warm welcome back. And YES, we are due for another gathering!

]]> By: Rona Simmons http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39245 Rona Simmons Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:41:59 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39245 Thanks for the list. I've heard of the authors but never read them -- looking forward to some entertaining evenings with these suggestions. Thanks for the list. I’ve heard of the authors but never read them — looking forward to some entertaining evenings with these suggestions.

]]> By: Becky Green Aaronson http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39242 Becky Green Aaronson Mon, 19 Jan 2015 23:16:14 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39242 Britton, you always have a way of putting things into perspective, and that perspective is always warm and unfiltered, which I love. If I ever get to the point where I'm unable to read again, a giant red flag will shoot up, reminding me that my life is way out of balance. Love your list, too. I'm adding all these to my "Books to read" list, which I'm buzzing over like an over-caffeinated bee. Oh dear, did I just write that? Clearly I need to read some more! :-) Britton, you always have a way of putting things into perspective, and that perspective is always warm and unfiltered, which I love.

If I ever get to the point where I’m unable to read again, a giant red flag will shoot up, reminding me that my life is way out of balance.

Love your list, too. I’m adding all these to my “Books to read” list, which I’m buzzing over like an over-caffeinated bee. Oh dear, did I just write that? Clearly I need to read some more! :-)

]]> By: Becky Green Aaronson http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39241 Becky Green Aaronson Mon, 19 Jan 2015 23:04:23 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39241 Yes, yes, yes. "Luxuriating" in reading is what I've missed most. I'm suddenly feeling in balance again. Aaah... xo Yes, yes, yes. “Luxuriating” in reading is what I’ve missed most. I’m suddenly feeling in balance again. Aaah… xo

]]> By: Becky Green Aaronson http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39240 Becky Green Aaronson Mon, 19 Jan 2015 22:59:43 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39240 Thank you Rona! What a terrific list! Even though I've heard of all these gems, I've only read a few. So many books to look forward to again! And, I just started Yellow Crocus this morning. Congrats on your upcoming book release! I will be sure to check it out. Thank you Rona! What a terrific list! Even though I’ve heard of all these gems, I’ve only read a few. So many books to look forward to again! And, I just started Yellow Crocus this morning.

Congrats on your upcoming book release! I will be sure to check it out.

]]> By: injaynesworld http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39226 injaynesworld Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:14:57 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39226 So good to have you back. Trying to write without reading is like a musician who never listens to music. I loved "Hedgehog" and would agree on all of Britton's picks, especially "Truth About A Marriage" and "The Gin Closet." I'm buried in memoir and personal essays right now for a class I'm taking. I think we're all due for another gathering, don't you? Hugs! So good to have you back. Trying to write without reading is like a musician who never listens to music. I loved “Hedgehog” and would agree on all of Britton’s picks, especially “Truth About A Marriage” and “The Gin Closet.” I’m buried in memoir and personal essays right now for a class I’m taking. I think we’re all due for another gathering, don’t you? Hugs!

]]> By: Britton Swingler http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39210 Britton Swingler Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:09:20 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39210 Oh hello....and oh how glorious it is to read you again. I do so love the way you craft words on a page. Meanwhile, I have had a similar revival of my reading. For years, as my marriage dwindled, I could not concentrate on words adequately enough. I read, but by starting and not finishing book after book after book. Finally, as life settled down and, ugh--I know it sounds absurd--I found the love of my life, and every single thing, including my reading, clicked into place. Recently, after finishing my novel, I began to read in earnest, finishing book after book after book, including "The Gin Closet" by Leslie Jamison; "The Story of a Marriage," by Sean Greer (as well as his most recent work); a couple of books by Ann Patchett ("This is The Story of a Happy Marriage," and "The Getaway Car"); as well as "Olive Kittredge," and a few more I am forgetting. I would recommend all of the above. You are so right on about writing and reading going hand in hand--and I have especially found that if you are trying to craft beautiful words, replete with seamless metaphors and imagery, you must read those who have mastered it. If you are trying to craft a plot-driven novel, it helps to read books with a plot so engrossing you cannot put the book down (versus the savoring one does with a literary gem). My most recent blog post, Exoskeleton, surprised me when it surfaced; its feel the direct result of the influence of the language I had savored in two of the books above: Elizabeth Strout's, and Sean Greer's. I look forward to hearing more about what you decide to read! Welcome back friend. Oh hello….and oh how glorious it is to read you again. I do so love the way you craft words on a page. Meanwhile, I have had a similar revival of my reading. For years, as my marriage dwindled, I could not concentrate on words adequately enough. I read, but by starting and not finishing book after book after book. Finally, as life settled down and, ugh–I know it sounds absurd–I found the love of my life, and every single thing, including my reading, clicked into place.

Recently, after finishing my novel, I began to read in earnest, finishing book after book after book, including “The Gin Closet” by Leslie Jamison; “The Story of a Marriage,” by Sean Greer (as well as his most recent work); a couple of books by Ann Patchett (“This is The Story of a Happy Marriage,” and “The Getaway Car”); as well as “Olive Kittredge,” and a few more I am forgetting. I would recommend all of the above.

You are so right on about writing and reading going hand in hand–and I have especially found that if you are trying to craft beautiful words, replete with seamless metaphors and imagery, you must read those who have mastered it. If you are trying to craft a plot-driven novel, it helps to read books with a plot so engrossing you cannot put the book down (versus the savoring one does with a literary gem).

My most recent blog post, Exoskeleton, surprised me when it surfaced; its feel the direct result of the influence of the language I had savored in two of the books above: Elizabeth Strout’s, and Sean Greer’s.

I look forward to hearing more about what you decide to read! Welcome back friend.

]]> By: Rona Simmons http://animprobablelife.com/2015/01/18/the-elegance-of-reading-on-your-writing/#comment-39207 Rona Simmons Mon, 19 Jan 2015 16:39:00 +0000 http://animprobablelife.com/?p=8342#comment-39207 Yes, Yes, Yes. I was so bogged down over the holidays I told myself NO BOOKS until things are caught up. Then I committed to reading and reviewing 10 works for an online group by March! OMG. What will I do? But, since you asked, I'll share my top ten forever list (I compiled this awhile back for a book club and we all shared our lists): TOP TEN BOOKS - Rona Simmons 1. Cat's Eye, Margaret Atwood 2. A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving 3. One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez 4. Bonfire of the Vanities, Thomas Wolfe 5. In Cold Blood, Truman Capote 6. Prince of Tides, Pat Conroy 7. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand 8. A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryce 9. All the King's Men, Robert Penn Warren 10. John Adams, David McCullough And if that doesn't fill up your days, you can always try my new book out in March (Postcards from Wonderland). Yes, Yes, Yes. I was so bogged down over the holidays I told myself NO BOOKS until things are caught up. Then I committed to reading and reviewing 10 works for an online group by March! OMG. What will I do?
But, since you asked, I’ll share my top ten forever list (I compiled this awhile back for a book club and we all shared our lists):
TOP TEN BOOKS – Rona Simmons
1. Cat’s Eye, Margaret Atwood
2. A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4. Bonfire of the Vanities, Thomas Wolfe
5. In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
6. Prince of Tides, Pat Conroy
7. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
8. A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryce
9. All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren
10. John Adams, David McCullough
And if that doesn’t fill up your days, you can always try my new book out in March (Postcards from Wonderland).

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