“Wanting to write…

“Wanting to write without wanting to read is like wanting to use your imagination without wanting to know how.”

Powerful ending to a great read from printmag.com about how reading is essential to the craft of writing. Check it out at The Consequences of Writing Without Reading. This lifelong lover of reading couldn’t agree more.

Writing Exercises

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/a-creative-writing-professor-shares-a-few-of-his-favorite-writing-exercises

Some of my favorite college writing professors started our classes with a quote about writing, or with a writing exercise to get our creativity flowing. This article from McSweeney’s, a literature/humor site run by the publishing house of the same name, has some great quotes about writing from famous authors and an…interesting…take on the writing exercise. I got a good laugh, and hope you do too.

Summer Reading Update

At the end of June, I blogged about three books I was planning to read this summer, along with a cool graphic of “101 Books to Read This Summer.” Since it’s that time of year when most students are frantically trying to finish up all their summer reading before school, I figured I’d check in on my progress. (Although, to be honest, I was always the kid who had her summer reading finished in July. I can’t help it. I love books.)

Anyway, in the aforementioned post, I said that I wanted to read:

• 

  Les Miserables, the arm-breaking novel.
  Source: MommyLife.net

  Les Miserables by Victor Hugo; Unfortunately, this one is sitting on my nightstand, with a bookmark only three pages into the Introduction. It’s not that I don’t want to read it; I actually really want to find out whether it will live up to the brilliantly fabulous stage musical it inspired. It’s more that the book is JUST SO HUGE. It’s an arm workout just to hold the thing. I like to read in bed before I go to sleep, because it helps me wind down from the day. But every time I pick up Les Mis, I just end up tiring out my arm. 😉 Stay tuned for my progress on this one.

• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer; This one was an interesting read about a boy dealing with his father’s death on 9/11. It was at times heartbreaking, other times funny, and at the end, quite bittersweet. I’d recommend it, but it’s not quite a beach read. For when you’re in the mood for something thought-provoking.
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote; I’ve wanted to read this one since I watched the movie Capote in my Media Ethics journalism class during my junior year at Notre Dame. Let’s refrain from addressing how sad it is that it took me this long to get around to it. I absolutely loved this book; Capote’s storytelling ability is phenomenal. The story is based on actual events (a murder in Kansas) and could have been presented in a more mundane, news story fashion, but Capote wrote in novel form. A PBS bio of Capote credits him with creating the genre of the non-fiction novel. Capote’s ability to create suspense, even though the audience already knows the identity of the murderers, is outstanding. It’s more riveting than any of the crime shows on TV right now, easily.

Lest you think my former bookworm self has only gotten around to reading two books this summer, here are some others I’ve enjoyed:

• 

  The Singles
  Source: MeredithGoldstein.com

  The Singles by Meredith Goldstein; A hilarious read from one of my favorite bloggers/journalists (Boston.com’s Love Letters) about five single guests at a wedding. I couldn’t put it down. It’s also a great read for sentimental people who still miss college (Yes, that might be me. And lots of other people I know!)

• Landing on My Feet: A Diary of Dreams by Kerri Strug; See my last post about the London Olympics and gymnastics. I love Kerri and the Magnificent Seven from the Atlanta ’96 Games.
• Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 US Figure Skating Team by Nikki Nichols; It’s ok that you haven’t heard of this one. I am a giant figure skating superfan/junkie/addict, and I hadn’t even heard of it until I received it as a gift. It’s the story of the 1961 US Figure Skating Team, who were all killed in a plane crash in Belgium en route to the World Championships. I started reading it while I was on a plane. Big mistake. But I enjoyed it on the beach. 🙂

What’s currently in my nightstand? The Everything Bridesmaid Book. I’m going to be a bridesmaid in my friend’s wedding next summer and since it’s my first go-round, I figured I could use some tips. Anyone have any reading suggestions for the rest of the summer?

101 Books to Read This Summer

Looking for a good summer beach read? I saw this flow chart of “101 Books to Read This Summer” on Twitter today and had to share.  Reading on the beach or out in the sunshine is one of my favorite things to do in the summertime. Here’s a few on my list, thanks to this lovely little chart:

• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Happy reading!