On Reading
I'm not sure if this is the same for other authors, but my one regret of becoming a writer is that I have lost much of the joy of reading. Why? I think it's because after you learn what it takes to write a good book, your standards are raised and you realize that much of what is published does not come near the high watermark. And while there are many well-written books out there, I remain so genre-specific, that I find it difficult to find and at times, appreciate those gems. Another reason is that while one would have thought that the mantra "a good writer needs to read, read, read" would have opened the floodgates, reading became such a guilty pleasure in adulthood, that I still struggle to give myself permission to read outside of bedtime. That likely explains why I enjoy listening to audiobooks, as it gives me access to stories during down times like driving.
Audio Books
I have a preference to listen to the classics or genres I am unfamiliar with. I always listen to a sample of the recordings, as voice can make or break a reading. I recently toyed with the idea of writing a sci fi, something I was very familiar with on screen but had never read. To this end, I listened to Frank Herbert's Dune, which was well performed by a cast of readers, as well as a sci fi collection of H. G. Wells' work, which impressed me with the breadth of scientific knowledge available in the late 1880s that took decades to filter down to everyday knowledge. After reading and watching movies in the sci fi genre, I decided to shelve the idea of writing one, as it appears that the pandemic may have been the unconscious precipitator of an upwelling of interest in this genre, as every other writer and their dog seem to either be writing or are expressing an interest in the genre.
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On the classics end, as a fan of Alexander Dumas, I listened to The Three Musketeers and one of my all time favourites, The Count of Monte Christo, both well read. Dracula was actually the first Audible book I downloaded, also very well done. But my biggest surprise and delight was To Kill a Mocking Bird. No, I never read it at any time in my youth and am glad I didn't, as being made to read it as part of a school reading list might have detracted from what is arguably one of the best books I've ever read/listened to. I think in this instance, I can give Sissy Spacek full commendation for providing a voice that so well suited the character of Jean Louise Finch. It also became clear that as Harper Lee's one hit wonder, she had poured her heart and soul into this story and that the spunky six year old girl, who narrates the story with subtle wit and humour, is the author's own voice.
eBooks
The dreaded eBook. I was surprised to learn that after a prediction that eBooks would revolutionize the publishing industry, eBook sales topped out around 15% in 2015 and went into decline shortly after to under 10%. While the pandemic has created a resurgence in the popularity of eBooks, most notably in Asian markets but less so in Europe and North America, this form of print still has a long way to go to topple the aged old love affair that we have with holding a bound book in our hands.
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As an avid traveller, I find eBooks to be a heck of a lot lighter and that they leave more real-estate in a suitcase for important things, like shoes. I prefer to purchase my research material, including books on writing, as eBooks, as it cuts cost as well as frees up shelve space. I also tend to buy my non-fiction as eBooks. Advantages for me include being able to highlight sections and share with all and sundry, though not too sure if the recipient is as appreciative. I also like that you can look up a word with the click of a button. The big disadvantage for me? With an eBook, you have NO idea where you are in the book. I mean, they do provide the length of reading time left, but that is a cerebral marker as opposed to the visual marker from holding a real book in your hand.
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All in all, I have a healthy appreciation of the digital format and expect that it will grow over time. We humans are creatures of habit and need a bomb to go off to make a shift. While the pandemic may have been one such bomb, I suspect it may not have been seismic enough.
Paper Books
Not surprisingly, after reading the above, while my digital and audio libraries have grown, a recent move forced me to take a hard look at my paper book library and make some heartfelt decisions. I think it's safe to say that my generation is still under the influence of the Victorian and post-WWII eras, when increased prosperity widened the class of middle-income earners, who used a well-stocked library as one means of demonstrating their wealth. Under the trending directive that less is more, I got rid of books that had left little lasting impression. As such, what I kept were classics that I am proud to own and lend, including favourite collections by authors such as M. M. Kaye, Daphne Du Maurier and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as more recent authors like Kate Morton and Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
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I will purchase hard copies of eBooks that grab my interest, such as Yuval Harrari's two book set of Sapiens and Homo Deus, and Barack Obama's hardcover A Promised Land.
Goodreads
Below is a link to my Goodreads page. If some of my reading seem like strange choices, they are likely books for research.