Books Read
Below is a list of some of the books I've read recently. I am a voracious reader and whenever I travel, I check to see what used books stores are nearby. I have a half dozen bookshelves in my home filled with everything from mysteries and science fiction to dictionaries and editing guides. You may be wondering why I am listing some of the books that I've read and loved here. I do this so you can get a sense of the kinds of books that I like and regularly read.
Forbidden Fruit by Kerry Greenwood
Finished on June 8, 2018
I have to admit that I committed a cardinal sin of book reading: I read this book out of order. In my defense, the library only had later volumes of the Corinna Chapman books. So while I wasn't as familiar with all the characters as I would like, I still enjoyed this romp through modern-day Melbourne, Australia during Christmas. Greenwood is wonderful at writing strong, funny women detectives. I love her Phryne Fisher books and will keep reading anything Greenwood writes.
Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher
Finished on June 11, 2018
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6948511-shockaholic
Carrie Fisher was so funny and so frank. The story about her dating a senator and meeting Ted Kennedy at a fancy restaurant in DC was hysterical. I had to read several of the passages aloud. I miss Carrie Fisher and the books she doubtless would have written. The world is a duller place without her.
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Finished on June 14, 2018
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18081809-landline
I love the way that Rowell puts you into someone else's head so quickly. Within a chapter or two, I understood who Georgie McCool was and why her marriage was in trouble. Georgie is a flawed, talented, multifaceted character.
Gold: The Final Science Fiction Collection by Isaac Asimov
Finished on June 28, 2018
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/438743.Gold
Because this book contains short stories of Asimov that hadn't been published before, I was eager to read this book. It also contains a lot of essays and letters to the editor that Asimov wrote for the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction. This is a kind of inside baseball book and not for someone who hasn't read Asimov before. The stories are good but feel as though they haven't been fully fleshed out. His essays, especially those targeted to writers, are well worth reading if you are writer.
Some quotes about writing and editing that I love:
I don't really like to have a computer arguing with me over English, but the worst part of it is that it's always right.
Well, look, I don't throw a fit when a human copy editor sends me back a manuscript with corrections in every line. I'm just a writer, I'm not an expert on the minutiae of English. Let the copy editors copyedit, they still can't write. And so let the word processor copyedit. It takes a load off me.
From "Fault-Intolerant"
Katy Carter Wants a Hero by Ruth Saberton
Finished on June 28, 2018
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7500541-katy-carter-wants-a-hero
This is one of those books where most of the story wouldn't have happened if the characters had been honest with each other. Katy eventually realizes that she has been trying to change herself to please her fiance whose motives for marrying Katy are less than romantic. That being said, it is a funny story and Katy is a very down to earth protagonist. A lobster is used as a plot device which I found very entertaining. Saberton has a great ear for dialogue and wonderful comic timing.