Book Recommendations

Opal · Mar 4, 2010

Hello! This is my first post, so please excuse me if this is in the wrong section, and feel free to move it.

I am starting to write my first novel, but would like to develop more skills and knowledge about how published writers have developed their craft. I think that by reading some novels outside my usual genre (fantasy) that I will be able to get a better sense of how it is accomplished.

I was wondering if you all would be able to recommend some books (both adult and young adult) that you have enjoyed. I am interested in pretty much everything except for romance novels, but I would appreciate novels with well-done romantic sub-plots. If anyone also knows of any good books or blogs on characterization or writing the opening to a novel, I would appreciate that as well.

Thank you in advance for your help.

alleycat · Mar 4, 2010

Just throwing out a few that covers a range of writing styles, themes, and periods . . .

The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald

The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway

The French Lieutenant's Woman, Fowles

Of Human Bondage, Maugham

Emma or Northanger Abbey, Austen

To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee

The Stand, King

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, McCullers

setchmo · Mar 4, 2010

The Shadow of the Wind, Zafon.

One Hundred Years of Solitude, Marquez.

-Both have deep emotional and romantic layers.

Ms Hollands · Mar 4, 2010

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (beautifully narrated by Death, who has a good sense of humour).

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (totally pulls you into another world even though it exists right here on Earth).

Enjoy!

AllieB · Mar 4, 2010

Looking for Alaska by John Green (YA) and On Writing by Stephen King (book on craft).

Opal · Mar 4, 2010

Thanks to everyone so far for the suggestions! It looks like I will have a lot to read this Spring Break! Keep them coming please!

Madison · Mar 4, 2010

Here's a good book on characterization and plot: "Writing the Breakout Novel" by Donald Maas. It definitely improved the way I write.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 4, 2010

You definitely should read outside your usual genre. You should read as widely and as deeply as possible. Read the classics, read otehr genres, etc. I do hesitate to suggest particular books. Taste varies. My advice would be to go to a used bookstore or the library, and come out with a boatload of novels by all sorts of writers.

Albannach · Mar 4, 2010

Some I would suggest (but JR is right that you should read as widely as possible):

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers
The Road , Cormac McCarthy
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
Beloved, Toni Morrison
A Game of Thrones, George RR Martin
Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
A Sight for Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell
Atonement, Ian McEwan
Neuromancer, William Gibson
Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt

I'd also recommend some that were already recommended, especially On Writing.

CatSlave · Mar 4, 2010

click here:

Anything by Isabel Allende especially The House of the Spirits.

Opal · Mar 4, 2010

Once again, thanks for the recommendations.

I only ask for them because I feel as though I'm missing out on some really good reading due to simply skipping over a book because of the title or cover art. It's as though every time I go to one of the libraries there isn't a thing to read which I know isn't true.

For instance, I haven't read a single one of the books that's been listed so far with the exception of Harry Potter and The Road (which I own and can't really seem to get into).

CatSlave · Mar 4, 2010

You're on the right track.
In order to write well, you must learn to read well and love it.

And :welcome:

from your fellow book-aholics.

Ken · Mar 4, 2010

... you might try some non-fiction, too. I like biographies, myself. Nice change of pace from reading novels.

OneWriter · Mar 4, 2010

I know you have already been given a lot of great advice, but my personal choices for awesome images and prose are: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Tess Gerritsen, Stephen King, Audrey Niffenegger, Jeffrey Eugenides, Alfred Bester.
Talk about eclectic choices and genres!!!

DisobedientWriter · Mar 4, 2010

I agree with so many of the suggestions - especially Garcia Marquez and Eugenides. My other favorite authors are Milan Kundera and Nabokov.

Don't force it though. If you love fantasy and only fantasy, there's nothing wrong with that. Stick with what you love and you can't go wrong.

My favorite beginning book on craft is "Make a Scene" by Jordan Rosenfeld. If I had read that first, I could have saved myself soooo much time. Works for any genre.

shaldna · Mar 5, 2010

Some of my favoutire books ever are listed below. They are a pretty eclectic mix:

Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
Watership Down - Richard Adams
2001 - Arthur C Clarke
I am Legend - Richard Matheson
Little Women - Louisa may alcott
Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Sabriel (and it's sequels) - Garth Nix
Chocolat - I know you didn't want romance, but this is a wonderfully written, captivating book.

LOTR (In particular the return of the king. this is one of my all time favoutire books and it completely broke my heart because I knew that I, as a writer, was never going to be able to write anything that compared to that.)

RJK · Mar 5, 2010

I'd also recommend you read and follow the example and exercises in Uncle Jim's first volume. It's the equivalent of a post graduate course in fiction writing.

The best source for learning how to start a novel came from Noah Lukeman's The first Five Pages.

Libbie · Mar 5, 2010

Here are some more I'd add to those already mentioned:

-Palace of Illusions, Chitra Divakaruni
-Anything by Vladimir Nabokov, but Lolita is his most famous novel.
-Hart's Hope, Orson Scott Card (IMO should be required reading for all fantasy novelists -- talk about an original take on the genre!)
-A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
-The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester
-Anything by Philip K. Dick -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is probably a good place to start. A Scanner Darkly is a bit more esoteric but still fairly easy reading. The Man in the High Castle is an excellent novella with several different characters' voices in it -- good for any writer to study!
-Ursula K. LeGuin, especially The Left Hand of Darkness and The Lathe of Heaven
-Ray Bradbury. Basically anything -- novellas, short stories, whatever. He's brilliant.
-The Red Tent, Anita Diamant

you should also read poetry. I really like Pablo Neruda and Laura Gilpin.

Lady Ice · Mar 5, 2010

The Great Gatsby and Lolita are must-reads. They are essentially fantasy- just not witches and monsters and magic (I'm really not into fantasy as a genre). Look at how Lolita and Gatsby are presented; the narrators have blatantly exaggerated, but why do we fall for it? Why does it feel real and intense?

Read some poetry as well. If you like fantasy, you could read Kubla Khan by Coleridge, or any of the Romantic poets (Byron, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth, Coleridge)

TC Beacham · Mar 5, 2010

One author I really appreciate for the way he combines literary writing and page-turning suspense is JOHN HART.

Carlene · Mar 5, 2010

I agree with RJK - I judge a lot of contests, mentor writers and hold monthly writing classes and the one thing I see consistently is slow beginnings. Everyone wants to set the scene! I recommend Lukman to everyone.

Carlene
www.carlenedater.com
www.themysterystartshere.com
www.manicreaders.com/CarleneRaeDater

Opal · Mar 5, 2010

Wow! You all are so helpful! Thanks, this means a lot!

alleycat · Mar 5, 2010

Opal, do you have a good public library nearby? Not everyone does.

If you do, don't hesitate to approach the people who work there (not all of which have the title of librarian) and tell them what you're looking for and ask for specific recommendations. Generally, the people who work at libraries are both well-read and willing to be helpful to a fellow reader. Don't worry that you haven't read all the "great books" (none of us have).

OneWriter · Mar 6, 2010

April Hollands said:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (totally pulls you into another world even though it exists right here on Earth).

Mhm... I didn't find his prose that compelling, and the plot was trite: the whole "she gets pregnant on one instance, thinks he's dead, and ends up marrying the bad guy" has been done over and over again. I know it's not quite the same Country, but if you want a different world and culture, read three Cups of Tea. IMO.

Ms Hollands · Mar 8, 2010

OneWriter said:
Mhm... I didn't find his prose that compelling, and the plot was trite: the whole "she gets pregnant on one instance, thinks he's dead, and ends up marrying the bad guy" has been done over and over again. I know it's not quite the same Country, but if you want a different world and culture, read three Cups of Tea. IMO.

What story hasn't been done over and over again? Anyway, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. His portrayal of a female character alone was pretty impressive for me. We're complex beings.

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