So, yesterday's question was something along the lines of would you like to go into a book. I took that to mean step into the pages and either watch everything unfold from the sidelines or become part of the story somehow. If that is the case, no, not really. I like being in my time-space continuum form of reality, thank you very much.
I read books to escape, this is true, but to go truly into the book reminds me of Alice stepping through the Looking Glass and ending up in that very odd world with hookah-smoking caterpillars, Twiddledum and Twiddledee, the Red Queen shouting "off with her head," and the white rabbit who is obviously late for a very important date. My life is full of real people like these in a more drab reality - although I would like to meet the Cheshire Cat sometime - leaving behind nothing but a smile just makes me, well, smile!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Favorite Author(s)
So, today's question was who is your favorite author...and I, of course, find it hard to choose just one.
My fave fave is definitely Diana Gabaldon - I read her tomes (and if you have ever seen her books, they ARE tomes, not mere books - at least the ones in the Outlander series! Lord John does not garner so many pages at one time...) all the way through about every two years or so. Definitely when I know the next installment of the Outlander series is coming. I love the depth and detail she provides as well as the wealth of research she does - I've learned a lot from reading her books on all sorts of topics - botany, medicine, Native Americans, Quakers, the wars from 1743 to 1776 from other perspectives, pirates, sea travels, etc. I guess that is what I look for even in fiction - or perhaps especially in fiction - not only sheer entertainment, but edification and mild education as well. Reading has definitely expanded my horizons over the years...
Second fave is Laurell K. Hamilton - particularly her Anita Blake series. Through her words, Laurell has introduced me to worlds I'd never venture into on my own (although I've known folks who have) and ways of looking at things I'd never considered before.
Third fave is Charlaine Harris, mainly because although her Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood books are a foil of lightness compared to Laurell's, I still connect strongly with her characters and enjoy following their trials and tribulations. Also, her series is the only one current translated for the (relatively) small screen of television as an HBO series, and it is interesting to watch how close the translation is - particularly knowing the major differences between the two mediums and the audiences they serve. The changes made in the televised series do not stray or detract from the main stories/themes presented in the books - at least not thus far (we are only in Season Three of the series on DVD, however, not being an HBO subscriber) and, although I am disappointed with not seeing a particular character come out (Bubba, for those who read the series), I enjoy the TV series nearly as much as the books! The casting thus far has been pretty much spot on - kudos to the casting director for that!
As for other authors I'll read anytime - Mark Twain, A.A. Milne, Dr Seuss (I DO have grandchildren now, after all!), Michael Crichton and Stieg Larsson (RIP, both), and others - if I find I enjoy a book by a particular author, I'm likely to devour any others I find by them!
My fave fave is definitely Diana Gabaldon - I read her tomes (and if you have ever seen her books, they ARE tomes, not mere books - at least the ones in the Outlander series! Lord John does not garner so many pages at one time...) all the way through about every two years or so. Definitely when I know the next installment of the Outlander series is coming. I love the depth and detail she provides as well as the wealth of research she does - I've learned a lot from reading her books on all sorts of topics - botany, medicine, Native Americans, Quakers, the wars from 1743 to 1776 from other perspectives, pirates, sea travels, etc. I guess that is what I look for even in fiction - or perhaps especially in fiction - not only sheer entertainment, but edification and mild education as well. Reading has definitely expanded my horizons over the years...
Second fave is Laurell K. Hamilton - particularly her Anita Blake series. Through her words, Laurell has introduced me to worlds I'd never venture into on my own (although I've known folks who have) and ways of looking at things I'd never considered before.
Third fave is Charlaine Harris, mainly because although her Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood books are a foil of lightness compared to Laurell's, I still connect strongly with her characters and enjoy following their trials and tribulations. Also, her series is the only one current translated for the (relatively) small screen of television as an HBO series, and it is interesting to watch how close the translation is - particularly knowing the major differences between the two mediums and the audiences they serve. The changes made in the televised series do not stray or detract from the main stories/themes presented in the books - at least not thus far (we are only in Season Three of the series on DVD, however, not being an HBO subscriber) and, although I am disappointed with not seeing a particular character come out (Bubba, for those who read the series), I enjoy the TV series nearly as much as the books! The casting thus far has been pretty much spot on - kudos to the casting director for that!
As for other authors I'll read anytime - Mark Twain, A.A. Milne, Dr Seuss (I DO have grandchildren now, after all!), Michael Crichton and Stieg Larsson (RIP, both), and others - if I find I enjoy a book by a particular author, I'm likely to devour any others I find by them!
First Post of New Blog
Okay, so the theme is fiction, and the first question posted of the month is what is your favorite book - I don't have just one favorite book or author, so here goes...
I love Diana Gabaldon's books - the Outlander series and her Lord John books.
I love Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.
I love Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series.
Others I love to read again and again are Huckleberry Finn - the full version; Robin Hood; A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh and other stories; Dr Seuss' Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and others; and that is just to name a few of the books I have on my shelves that I return to again and again.
Some are "literary" and some are not - I read fiction for enjoyment, not for edification. There are other books I reach for to fulfill that need when it arises.
I had a whole different take on this question as I was writing this out in my notebook yesterday at lunchtime, however, this is what got boiled down this AM in order to get this blog posted...late...sigh...
I love Diana Gabaldon's books - the Outlander series and her Lord John books.
I love Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.
I love Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series.
Others I love to read again and again are Huckleberry Finn - the full version; Robin Hood; A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh and other stories; Dr Seuss' Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and others; and that is just to name a few of the books I have on my shelves that I return to again and again.
Some are "literary" and some are not - I read fiction for enjoyment, not for edification. There are other books I reach for to fulfill that need when it arises.
I had a whole different take on this question as I was writing this out in my notebook yesterday at lunchtime, however, this is what got boiled down this AM in order to get this blog posted...late...sigh...
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Beginning
NaBloPoMo's theme for August is Fiction - so...time to start a fiction blog. Why not? I already have a poetry blog and a just because blog, so why not a fiction blog?
And away we go! I'll post a work of fiction every day for the month of August 2011, and see where we go from there!
And away we go! I'll post a work of fiction every day for the month of August 2011, and see where we go from there!
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