I'm in one of those funks where I'm reading four books at once and all very slowly. I'm still reading The Grapes of Wrath, and in fact still enjoying it, but my attention span is short. I also started Stephen King's On Writing, and since I'm now halfway through, that may have something to do with my slowing progress through TGoW. (I'm also reading I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors as part of my ongoing research, along with The Thyroid Solution for answers to my health questions.) Maybe it's the arrival of autumn. Darkness encroaches earlier in the evening and when I wake the light has not yet filled my room.
Do you find your reading habits change with the seasons?
Perhaps the surfeit of yummy new television shows is related as well. Last year's new fave, Life, has returned in all its quirky entertainment. I'm still testing out 90210 and Lipstick Jungle, and I've added House and Bones to my viewing repertoire. Sheesh. I never used to be such a TV girl, but it's so relaxing in the evening when I'm tired. Hopefully a few shows will fall by the wayside as the season progresses.
This weekend we went to see The Duchess, and I thought it was very well done. I really enjoyed the movie, even if it was a bit sad. I'm endlessly amazed by Ralph Fiennes's ablility to enbody such savage roles, particularly the most evil characters (Voldemort, Red Dragon, Amon Goeth), although this character was complex, awkward, and cruel rather than evil. And Keira Knightley was lovely, as always.
On the writing front I have little to report. The second draft is progressing along at a snail's pace. I've taken a step back to refine a few selected chapters, but I'm inching along with the editing on Chapter 8. I'm hoping to turn the tide this week and find a new reserve of energy to carry me through this edit.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Reading, (writing), and watching
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7 comments:
Good news about the Duchess, am dying to see that film. My reading has pretty much stalled at the moment, I tend to read in bursts.
Oh I am so jealous about The Duchess. I've been and looked again and while it's on the website, there are no dates (no plans, then?) to release it here. Boo hoo.
I keep meaning to read the Grapes of Wrath.
Yvonne, I definitely recommend the film. I guess I read in bursts too, though I'm not sure why.
JJ, what a bummer. I guess there's always the DVD.
The Grapes of Wrath is a slow(ish) read, but I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would.
I have written something for you over at mine. xx
Hulla, Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are lovely. :)
Hi Angie. Just found your blog through Authors Blogs. Four books at once--wow! I can manage two, but usually one is enough. Right now I'm reading Brisingr, the third in the Inheritance Cycle. I love fantasy and speculative fiction and I generally stick to that.
I loved Stephen King's On Writing, though. I found it extremely entertaining and helpful. Whenever I come to something in my writing that I LOVE but know it needs to go, I remember him saying in his book to "kill your darlings." Hard to do, for sure!
It's a great accomplishment to finish even a first draft of a novel, so WAY TO GO! And especially with that word count of yours, almost 100,000 words. I am currently working on my third novel, but mine are considerably shorter and written for middle-graders.
Got to rambling--sorry. I like your blog, so I'll come back some time. I promise not to ramble on so much next time. :-)
Rebecca, thanks for visiting and welcome. I think it's a short attention span problem. I added a fifth too--Twilight--but I just finished so I'm back down to four. Haven't read Brisingr yet, but it's on my shelf waiting. :)
King gives so much great advice for writers in that book.
Thank you. Congrats on your third novel, that's exciting!
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