I'm a writer; but I was a reader first. We've been going through some baby photos and we spotted this one of me very proudly reading a book. I used to devour books and my favourite time of year was the summer, when the library had its Summer Reading Challenge. It was meant to encourage children to read, not that I needed much. They did (and still do) these cool little charts that had spaces for stamps to show when you'd read a book. The aim was to fill the chart up. I always used to complete the challenge several times over. In fact I did a sponsored read once and cost my family a fortune because I read so many books. Yesterday we paid a visit to one of my favourite places in the world - The Second Hand Bookshop at Blickling Hall. I spend hours and hours there, just looking round the shelves. It's an introverted bookworm's paradise. Quiet, peaceful and more books that you know what to do with. I always pick up a bargain - despite my promise that I will finish the books I already have before getting any more. Yesterday was particularly tempting, I spotted lots I've wanted to read. Admittedly the bottom three are for a book exchange my book club is organising next month. I had to find some books I'd read and enjoyed, to swap them with the other members. Problem is most of the books I've read are either from the library or I don't want to give away, so I had to find some I could use. I'm looking forward to seeing what books I get back in exchange. More to add to my To Read List! If you're a reader like me, then you're never happier than when you're immersed in a book. So I thought what could be better than getting to wear a book the rest of the time, you know when you have to do boring life stuff. That's why I thought I'd have a go at making some book jewellery.
I got such great feedback on my own necklace that I'm starting to do them to sell. Contact me to order one for yourself or for your bookworm friends. By that I mean humans who like to read, I don't think I can make these small enough for worms, though I'd be willing to give it a try. My book club decided to be a little different, this month we chose our book by front cover alone. That's harder than you think, because the natural instinct when you pick a book up is to turn it over and read the blurb. Try it sometime and see how much of a pull the blurb has on you. I spotted Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. The title jumped out at me, with the birthday candle and tag line "He's planning a birthday party the world will never forget." Since it's nearly my birthday and Quick also wrote Silver Linings Playbook, I watched it for the first time last week and loved it, it seemed like the right choice. Even better, we voted and out of all the books, my one got chosen this evening. I've started it and can say I would never, ever have read it if I'd read the blurb (I still haven't read the back cover), in fact I'd have put it straight back on the shelf as it would not have been "my kind of book". Turns out I would have been very wrong - it's amazing! I'm already 100 pages in. It's a bit out there and I'm not sure where it's going; but it's dealing with some big topics, in an unusual and fresh way. I'm really enjoying it and I can't wait to read more. When you pick up a book, you enter into an unspoken agreement with the author, you have expectations that they will take you on a journey, that you will be led through a world, meeting new people and seeing life from their perspective. You put yourself and your time in the author's hands and they have a responsibility to their reader. They don't have to tell a story that the reader is guaranteed to like; but there is a certain amount of continuity, of reason that you want and need. I've just finished reading the final book in a trilogy and I was so disappointed with the ending. It feels a little dramatic; but I have this sense of devastation, like I've lost part of myself and I just wish the story could have been different, could have been the story I was expecting, or at least hoping for. It's made me realise the responsibility writers have. To start a story, to tell it well and to see it through to its conclusion. Sometimes I think we can get a little too close to the story, we need others to give us perspective, to guide us when we start to lose our way and for that I'm truly grateful to have such an amazing group of writers who support me on this journey. I'm not sure if this realisation will change the way I write; but it has changed the way I view the role of an author, from the perspective of the reader. Image courtesy of koratmember / FreeDigitalPhotos.net I love to read. I mean I LOVE to read. There is nothing better than curling up in a comfy chair with a good book. In fact I just treated myself to this rather gorgeous chair which is making reading an even bigger joy. Reading is rather a solitary experience, perfect for introverts like myself; but sometimes when you read a great book you just want to share it with someone, you want to go 'Oh you know that bit with the...' and then not even need to finish your sentence because the other reader knows exactly what you mean. I love the moment where you see your own joy reflected back in someone else's eyes. That's why I love going to my book club(s). There's something really special about reading a book and then going to discuss it with likeminded souls. You don't even have to enjoy the book, or even share the same opinions, I just enjoy the debate, the discussion, the dissection of the good, the bad and the ugly. Today we were talking about A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness A beautifully written book; but one that left me in pieces, I sobbed through the end - literal sobs, with the whole catching breath, can barely speak, needed a hug sort of sobbing. Anyone that knows me, knows I hate sad endings and so I'm not sure I enjoyed the book - it was harsh and powerful; but also very deep with a really interesting perspective on life - not something you expect from a teen novel. In fact one person at the book club said you wouldn't find it out of place in the Self-Help section and she's right. It was a very different read for ma and that's the strength of a book club, you get to read things you would never normally pick up, from classics to short stories and now a graphic novel. Next to read is The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde I'm extremely nervous about this because it's my suggestion and a book that I love. I really hope they don't hate it! We shall see... What good books have you been reading? What would you recommend me to read? |
Claire WadeI'm an author, disability activist, winner of the Good Housekeeping First Novel Competition and The EABA for Fiction 2020 and founder of Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses (ADCI). The Choice is available from:DETAILS:
Title: The Choice Publisher: Orion ISBN: 1409187748 You can keep up to date with all my latest blog posts by signing up to my email newsletter.
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