A diet of fiction, books about how to write well and non-fiction about the post war UK aircraft industry.
I notice my drift back to pre 2010 levels of non-fiction is continuing. Of the fiction I am reading I find that which seems biographical or has a strong memory or technical background is proving the most enjoyable as fulfilling all my "Es" outlined in my awriterof history post. - See last post. The other posts on this theme are worth a read.
Marking the death of Leslie Thomas I read his book - 'Virgin Soldiers'. Found the writing rather dated. My copy had a nice cover picture of a soldier inside the body of a voluptuous lady. The book also had a old wet book smell of a damp library.
Next came a copy of 'An Officer and a Spy.' Robert Harris describing the Dreyfus affair in France from the 1880s. I like his re-enactments of history. Purchased the book for half price in Waterstones only to see it for another pound off in Tesco a day later. What chance have booksellers got to survive?
A newspaper offer gave me Freddie Forsyth's latest book for £2.99. I read it and have forgotten the title and almost all of the plot. Disappointing but my tastes and expectations for a book with more depth where at least some things go wrong demonstrate my reading has moved on. I recall the opposite in Robert Goddard where all his character's best laid plans usually go wrong!
I received a complimentary copy of Julian Barnes 'Sense of an Ending' after a visit to CPI one of Europe's largest printers. See - http://www.theindependentpublishingmagazine.com/2014/05/self-publishing-experience-days-visit.html Yes I did 'get it' after a little re reading. A nice idea to leave the reader wondering at the end. Robert Harris has done the same in some of his books. I will take note for my own writing.
After I enjoyed reading, in April, Kate Atkinson's book 'Life after Life' about living lives until one found the right one I started 'Started early Took My Dog' ... I have put to one side not sure of what it is all about ...
'Its a Man's World' by Polly Courtney, 'The years of Rice and Salt' by K S Robinson and the recent prize winning tome by a New Zealand writer await in my large reading pile ... despite its size. I cannot see it now for the title and author ...sorry.
On non-fiction 'Empire of the clouds', 'Wings on my Sleeve' and 'The Quick and the Dead' have proved to be excellent reads about test pilots and the post war UK aircraft industry. All bought to life by attendance at the Cosford Airshow and Museum hangers last Sunday. A book about the Miles M52 awaits a read in my book pile.
Martha Gillhorn 'Travels with Myself' has been started ... a feisty read me thinks.
I have also started reading several books about how to write ... some good ... some not so good ... some pretty awful!
With all this reading where am I going to find time to write?
Good reading and writing and have a good summer ....
Douglas
