I thought I was a fairly avid reader, but as I peruse through these threads, I realize I haven't read 1/4 of the books listed. I have a lot of catching up to do. That being said, in your opinion, what three books should every writer read and why?
Name Three Books Every Good Writer Must Read
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i think that varies a lot based upon the tastes and genre of the reader...I could list dozens of books, and my list would be skewed deeply towards horror, but....it really depends.
With that caveat, I'll list a few:
Frankenstein for the poetic language
Dorian Gray for the snark and wit of Lord Henry
The October Country because, at his best, nobody wrote like Ray Bradbury
With that caveat, I'll list a few:
Frankenstein for the poetic language
Dorian Gray for the snark and wit of Lord Henry
The October Country because, at his best, nobody wrote like Ray Bradbury
1. The one you read that makes you say, "OMG, I want to be a writer."
2. The one you read that makes you say, "crap, even *I* can do better than this!"
3. The one you read that makes you say, "no matter how hard I try, I'll never write something this good."
You know, and 4. the Phantom Tollbooth, because random.
2. The one you read that makes you say, "crap, even *I* can do better than this!"
3. The one you read that makes you say, "no matter how hard I try, I'll never write something this good."
You know, and 4. the Phantom Tollbooth, because random.
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God's Chinese Son by Jonathan Spence
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
because books that I like are obviously the best ones.
...In seriousness, what zanzjan said.
It's more important *that* you read. *What* you read is up to you.
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
because books that I like are obviously the best ones.
...In seriousness, what zanzjan said.
It's more important *that* you read. *What* you read is up to you.
As far as novels go, I'd name:
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury), as a cautionary tale of great power and beauty.
The Bestseller (Olivia Goldsmith), as a look at the industry that is pure writer's candy.
And, as zanzjan said, the book that first made you say "I want to be a writer, too!"
The three books on craft and art I keep close to hand are:
Reader's Report (called The Writing of Novels in the US) by Christopher Derrick
The Fiction Editor, the Novel and the Novelist by Thomas McCormack
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury), as a cautionary tale of great power and beauty.
The Bestseller (Olivia Goldsmith), as a look at the industry that is pure writer's candy.
And, as zanzjan said, the book that first made you say "I want to be a writer, too!"
The three books on craft and art I keep close to hand are:
Reader's Report (called The Writing of Novels in the US) by Christopher Derrick
The Fiction Editor, the Novel and the Novelist by Thomas McCormack
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Good God! There is nothing more subjective than that question. Having said that, I'll give it a go. (-:
MY three must reads:
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Old School by Tobias Wolff
MY three must reads:
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Old School by Tobias Wolff
Seconding that one.
My other two:
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier
Wise Children by Angela Carter
Well, it's a known fact that you can't hope to be a writer until you've read every book ever published in the English language. Once you know what has been written, you can figure out what hasn't - that story's yours.
Honestly, I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question; zanzjan's is the closest you'll find.
I will add that you shouldn't feel obligated to read a book just because someone recommends it, or because it's a classic, or because someone tells you that you'll never be a real writer unless you know it by heart. Try all sorts of books in all sorts of genres, but don't ever be afraid to admit that something just doesn't connect with you, or where you are right now.
Honestly, I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question; zanzjan's is the closest you'll find.
I will add that you shouldn't feel obligated to read a book just because someone recommends it, or because it's a classic, or because someone tells you that you'll never be a real writer unless you know it by heart. Try all sorts of books in all sorts of genres, but don't ever be afraid to admit that something just doesn't connect with you, or where you are right now.
Yeah, tough question. I guess I'll respond by deferring to zanzjan's list.
Made me want to be a writer: Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut. I loved Rabo Karabekian as a character and understood him from page one.
Even I could do better: Shampoo Planet by Douglas Coupland. I thought the story didn't go anywhere, tried too hard to make pop culture references that didn't go anywhere, and the resolution of the main character's conflict was unconvincing and didn't go anywhere.
I'll never write anything this good: (tie) War and Peace by Tolstoy and Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. W&P for sweeping scene descriptions, and balance between parallel elements, F for . . . well, I'm not sure why, but it's one of the books I plan on reading several more times.
Of course I could add others: Rabbit, Run by John Updike, A Heartbreaking Tale of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, and The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta. These get mention because I write contemporary novels, and these capture the setting's time and place perfectly, without seeming dated like Coupland's novel above did or even Updike's sequel Rabbit Redux.
Made me want to be a writer: Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut. I loved Rabo Karabekian as a character and understood him from page one.
Even I could do better: Shampoo Planet by Douglas Coupland. I thought the story didn't go anywhere, tried too hard to make pop culture references that didn't go anywhere, and the resolution of the main character's conflict was unconvincing and didn't go anywhere.
I'll never write anything this good: (tie) War and Peace by Tolstoy and Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. W&P for sweeping scene descriptions, and balance between parallel elements, F for . . . well, I'm not sure why, but it's one of the books I plan on reading several more times.
Of course I could add others: Rabbit, Run by John Updike, A Heartbreaking Tale of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, and The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta. These get mention because I write contemporary novels, and these capture the setting's time and place perfectly, without seeming dated like Coupland's novel above did or even Updike's sequel Rabbit Redux.
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Only three?
The Eagle of the Ninth (Rosemary Sutcliff) for language, character and to see a true storyteller in action.
The Bloody Chamber (Angela Carter) again for language, but also some of the best short stories you'll ever read.
Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel) for POV.
The Eagle of the Ninth (Rosemary Sutcliff) for language, character and to see a true storyteller in action.
The Bloody Chamber (Angela Carter) again for language, but also some of the best short stories you'll ever read.
Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel) for POV.
You need to read widely, and the definition of "widely" is generally taken to mean far more than three books.
Others have said something similar, but I'll have a go at it myself:
Others have said something similar, but I'll have a go at it myself:
- Re-read your favorites books from the POV of an author, not just a reader. Pick apart what makes it work. Look at the sentence structure, the pacing, and so on.
- If you have trouble picking those things out grab a few books about Writing. Some are better than others but most will give you an idea of what to look for.
- Re-read some of the worst books you've ever read. Figure out why you didn't like them, then figure out how to avoid doing it.
- Read rough drafts of other peoples work and critique it. This will help you immensely.
As far as craft books go, gotta pick that one. Not only informative but so interesting/entertaining as well . . .
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I didn't find it nearly as informative, but it was still interesting/entertaining.
- So many to name. Anything by Robert E. Howard (most especially Solomon Kane).
- I'd tell you but the books and the author are actually pretty popular. But upon reading them and spending my time going 'omg she didn't just...SHE TOTALLY DID' and 'WTF IS THIS WTFERY?', I realized I had nothing to lose. So in the spirit of RYFW, I'll say I did have one (a series) and it did encourage me to give this writing gig a try.
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Blew me away. My favorite STILL.
And I'll have to look up 4. Because, 4.
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But there's just so many books out there worth reading!
I would think about the type of novels you want to write. For example, if you want to write a fantasy novel, there'd be no point in me recommending you to read Anna Karenina. I mean, you should read that because it's a fantastic novel, but you'd find it more productive to read books better suited to your tastes, otherwise it just becomes a list of books that we liked reading but you might hate.
That said, a bit of familiarity with Shakespeare isn't a bad thing, considering how influential he is. Plus, they are good reads. And the Bible's always good for inspiration.
I would think about the type of novels you want to write. For example, if you want to write a fantasy novel, there'd be no point in me recommending you to read Anna Karenina. I mean, you should read that because it's a fantastic novel, but you'd find it more productive to read books better suited to your tastes, otherwise it just becomes a list of books that we liked reading but you might hate.
That said, a bit of familiarity with Shakespeare isn't a bad thing, considering how influential he is. Plus, they are good reads. And the Bible's always good for inspiration.
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I'd recommend A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess for an example of what one can write out of desperation in two weeks.
I don't think any of my other recommendations would actually be all that helpful. They're very genre specific.
I couldn't agree more.
YES! I love that book!
I don't think any of my other recommendations would actually be all that helpful. They're very genre specific.
I couldn't agree more.
YES! I love that book!
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I would love to see your list of 12+ great horror novels
1. The entire Goosebumps series. Not exactly literary masterpieces but hell, they got me into reading, which got me into writing. I wouldn't be where I am without R.L. Stine.
2. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I'm sorry but not every other chapter needs a plot twist/revelation at the end.
3. The Mist by Stephen King. I don't think I will ever have a grasp on the horror genre the way King does in this novel.
I was gonna make a comment, but nothing i could've ever said would've been better than this.
On thinking about this more, not to dilute my earlier answer, but I think if you have the opportunity to go *hear* a master storyteller in person, that is also an incredibly informative/transformative experience. The two best that I know of -- limited by personal experience, of course -- are Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville. (And my high school English teacher Mr. Reed, probably long since passed, who breathed such dramatic life into Edgar Allan Poe...)
My first thought was that I couldn't name 3 novels, as I've only written 2.
However, this works too.
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There are way too many works out there to think of two. I'd say to read anything by Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthore, and Stephen King.
This...
...this...
...and I'll expand on this to say any/everything by Vonnegut, ever.
Also, Hitchhikers Guide by Douglas Adams, in that "I'll never come anywhere close to this, so why do I even try?!" sorta way.
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