I was sitting in my office at the day job the other day and could not help overhear my coworker and close friend raving about a book series she just adores. She spent a good hour plus chatting it up to everyone who would listen. Now I love this girl, she is a great friend, but her exuberance started to get on my nerves–if only because I was trying to concentrate on a report that had to get out ASAP. It also left me wondering why I didn’t feel that same energy.
I enjoy reading, but I think I must view it as more of an escape when time allows than a real passion. I just don’t get overly excited about fiction (does this pertain to writing it, sometimes though not always). That being said I have loved some books, but even when I did love them, I soon forgot them. I don’t know if this is because as an author I expect so much from a story that when it delivers I simply see it as meeting my expectations, or just a facet of my personality and where I’m at in my life.
Where do you find your reading experience lies? Do you have certain authors you have to pick up the instant they hit the shelf? Do you hang on every word? Or are you one to read as time allows and enjoy the experience, but enjoy others just as much? Why do you think this is, and do you find your experience has changed as your life changes?
In hindsight, I do now recall a period when I did love reading, had a true passion for it, and would autobuy certain authors. That was before I was married with young kids, before I had to invest so much time in both the day job and night job. Basically, before I had so many other expectations. I guess for me the excitement has gone the way of my free time. So perhaps one day, when I have free time again, I will regain that excitement. Until then, I look forward to finding the rare book that compels me to raving about it when I should be working.
~ jodi
www.JodiLynnCopeland.com
November 14th, 2008 at 10:44 am
LOL! I hope she wasn’t talking about one of YOUR books, Jodi! There always seems to be at least one co-worker who spends far too little time working, and far too much time engaging and distracting their fellows.
I agree…free time is necessary for me to enjoy reading. During various times in my life when I had too many commitments, such as demanding jobs, college, etc., I’d crave time to read for fun and wallow when I had breaks or vacations.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I definitely enjoy reading more when I have the time, but it’s also something that I make time for–I love reading and I love books. There are some books I rave about but not every one.
Do you find that your reading/feelings about books have changed since you’ve become a writer?
November 14th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
There have been a few series that I will gush about to others who I know read and are interested.
I don’t find that my love of reading has changed since I’ve been published. I still devour books like candy, but I do find I am less tolerant of certain overused tropes especially in paranormal romance.
Series that I frequently gush about:
Dark Tower series - Stephen King - the man was, is and always will be brilliant
Black Jewels Trilogy - Anne Bishop
Weather Warden series - Rachel Caine
Rachel Morgan series - Kim Harrison
Tales from the Nightside series - Simon Green
These series I would and have bought hardcover for. These are must buy authors for me.
There have been a couple newer series that I rave about as well…
Eve Kenin’s - Driven and Hidden - amazing futuristic kick ass books, so good I wish I’d written them
Ann Aguirre’s - Grimspace and Wanderlust - awesome scifi, some of the best scifi I’ve read
November 15th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I’m with VIvi
I still rave about series/books I LOVE–either because they’re fantastic (Patricia Briggs)or because they resonate with me (Allison Winn Scotch). That said, I’m also a much pickier reader and ‘meh’ books quickly get tossed aside!
November 15th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Vivi and Amie, you raise a good point. I think part of the problem is I don’t have much time to read and I am simply not picking up the books that I should love. I tend to go for fast reads which are often enjoyable but don’t have a lot of plot twists and turns, which is a major thing for me. And I do have to admit I did recommended a book this spring to several people. Not quite in raving fashion, but it did resonate with me a great deal and I did make it a point to blog about it, so perhaps not all is lost.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:22 am
*G* Valerie. Nope, not one of mine. I usually plot certain elements of those with her, she already knows about them in advance of publication.
Glad to hear it isn’t just me who needs the time to enjoy. I think if I can find the step back time and get into some thicker, more plot heavy books my attitude will change.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Hi Fedora! Like Amie said, I do think my enjoyment has changed. Maybe not so much for the books that are truly standout, but the thin, quick reads, such as category and novellas, I used to read, no longer do as much for me. They often feel too flimsy, like there are so many common plot points, I just see those instead of the budding characters and relationships. I definitely need to learn to disassociate writing from reading.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I enjoy a good traditional romance, if you throw in a little kink and a were wolf I am in heaven ahhhh love the alpha males…….