April 11, 2006 | reading
With the teaching job and the writing job I’m finding I have less and less time to read, so one of my resolutions for this holiday was to do some reading.
I’ve read three books since Saturday–or rather two and a half. The first one is called Stuart: A Life Backwards
, by Alexander Masters. It’s a biography of a homeless man in Cambridge, and is a funny, poignant, appalling, and life-affirming book that gives an insight into a way of life I couldn’t possibly imagine.
The second is my April shelfmate Kate Hardy’s Modern Extra The Cinderella Project, which I read all over London yesterday. Fitting, because Kate has written a very hot scene set on the banks of the Thames! I always enjoy Kate’s sympathetic heroines and romantic heroes, and this book was great fun, particularly the Dirty Dancing references.
Right now I’m reading The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes. This book is on the shortlist for the 2006 FosterGrant Romantic Novel of the Year award and I am loving it. It’s the story of Australian war brides being transported on an aircraft carrier to begin their new lives in England–not the sort of story I usually read, but it’s transported me to life on that ship in that time, and I keep on thinking about the characters whenever I put the book down. The love stories in the book are wonderful–and the skill of the writer is in portraying this love between separated people, or between people who have been thrown together for only a very short time and know nothing about each other.
I’ve also bought The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot: His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred, mainly, I must admit, because of the title, but also because the back said it was “a Perfume for a new generation,” and I loved Perfume.
This isn’t really helping me get my book written but I am having a wonderful time.
I also received an email from a reader yesterday who said she rarely has time to read, and yet she read my Featured Attraction all in one sitting, and then emailed me at 1.30 am to tell me so…so I am inspired by that .
Sharon J says:
What a lovely email to recieve. I’m sure that if that doesn’t keep the writing juices flowing, nothing will. ~Sharon J
Kate Hardy says:
Ditto what Sharon said. And I’m intrigued by the title of Hercules Barefoot - where DO you hear about books like this?
Might give the Moyes a try, too. (We get to meet her next week, methinks.)
Glad you enjoyed Cinders. I had a lot of fun writing it (especially THAT scene). Funnily enough, I read my shelfmate’s book over the weekend, in one sitting becasue I couldn’t put it down…
Julie says:
Guess we have a lot in common, then!
I finished the Moyes and it was fantastic. I was crying and talking to the book by the end, telling it what I wanted to happen!
jaq says:
How wonderful to recieve that email! I’ll have to check out that ‘Hecules’ book. Perfume is on my keeper shelf, so this one could be right up my alley. I know I have a couple of Jojo books on my tbr pile….
mary beth says:
I’ve never heard of Perfume. Another book to add to my list. YAY on the fan mail.
Rhonda says:
One of the pitfalls to being a writer is losing that precious time to read. I just read The Vampire’s Seduction by Raven Hart and all I can say is…WOW. Fantastic book. Read away, Julie! You have to refill the well.
Sarah Castleberry says:
Hey Julie! I’ve written those late night emails before - those are the absolute best books that keep you past your bedtime. Great compliment!
jojo moyes says:
Hi Julie
I googled my book this evening (not always a good idea!) and your lovely comments about it showed up. In the nicest possible way, I’m so glad it made you cry, and that you were generous enough to say so. Thank you! Will you be at the RNA next week?
All best wishes
Jojo
Julie says:
Hi Jojo, thanks for visiting my blog and posting! I really enjoyed your book; it consumed two days of my life because I couldn’t stop thinking about Frances and the marine.
I’ll be at the Savoy on Thursday and maybe will see you to say hello there.