Yes, Rowling's "Ink Black Heart" is pretty bad, an attempt at epistolary novel via text messages, not a successful experiment. However, the earlier books in the series were quite good, with excellent plotting and character development. The Brit TV series is also quite good.
Somehow I didn't know there was a TV series. I might give that a chance—not sure I have the patience to make it through even one of the better Strike novels, haha.
I hesitated to comment here because I think writers should largely stay away from places where people are talking about their work unless it's like, a friend on social media or they're tagged. But I can't decide whether social media or blog etiquette applies to substack, and you know I'm a subscriber, so I'll just say I'm really glad you enjoyed Now It's Dark so much. As a writer yourself, you'll know that in the end the whole reason to write is in the hopes there are other people out there who will really connect with our writing that deeply. (Also, I have that familiar panic I always do when someone likes something I've written--that I'm sure to disappoint them any day now! That's probably not a bad terror for a writer to have even if it is a nerve-wracking way to live.)
Haha, thank you so much for commenting! I had most of this piece written before you subscribed, and then when I posted it, I had a moment of panic (“Oh no, Lynda’s going to see this! WHAT IS SHE GOING TO THINK AAAAHHHH” etc.). But yes, as a writer who published a dark “psychological thriller” and then followed it up with a “Christian humor” book, I know all about disappointing readers. That’s pretty much all I do (and probably has something to do with the fact that I can’t sell any more books 🤔). But I’m really glad you’re here and I’m very much looking forward to your future work!
Here's my take on Asimov: Asimov's early novels aren't really novels, but short stories or novellas linked thematically or otherwise together. I think The Gods Themselves is brilliant, but it's the most uncharacteristic or least Asimovy of his books. You might just want to try reading the short story Nightfall, which is, I think, great while also feeling very much like an Asimov work; and also short, so there's no commitment.
I hope you don't mind, but I'm stealing your idea.
Do it. Being stuck in a “meh” book is a soul-killer. There are people out there who think it’s some sort of virtue to always finish a book, but if you’re not getting anything out of it…why?
You should. I know some people have a rule along the lines of “I’ll give a book fifty pages, and then it’s gone” or whatever—mine has always been sixteen weeks. If it’s been on my reading pile for four months, and it’s clear I’m never going to finish it, it goes. Haha.
That's a lot of fiction! How do you pick what to read? Looking back at my Kindle and library I managed to only read non-fiction this year, having finished re-reading every single Terry Pratchett book last year...
The short version is that I just sort of keep a going list of books to read someday, and I also check out new releases periodically, and try to keep a balance between the two on my reading pile. I also do make an effort to read fiction, since writing fiction is my main focus these days.
Worth a watch, if only for Holliday Grainger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_(TV_series)
Yes, Rowling's "Ink Black Heart" is pretty bad, an attempt at epistolary novel via text messages, not a successful experiment. However, the earlier books in the series were quite good, with excellent plotting and character development. The Brit TV series is also quite good.
Somehow I didn't know there was a TV series. I might give that a chance—not sure I have the patience to make it through even one of the better Strike novels, haha.
I hesitated to comment here because I think writers should largely stay away from places where people are talking about their work unless it's like, a friend on social media or they're tagged. But I can't decide whether social media or blog etiquette applies to substack, and you know I'm a subscriber, so I'll just say I'm really glad you enjoyed Now It's Dark so much. As a writer yourself, you'll know that in the end the whole reason to write is in the hopes there are other people out there who will really connect with our writing that deeply. (Also, I have that familiar panic I always do when someone likes something I've written--that I'm sure to disappoint them any day now! That's probably not a bad terror for a writer to have even if it is a nerve-wracking way to live.)
Haha, thank you so much for commenting! I had most of this piece written before you subscribed, and then when I posted it, I had a moment of panic (“Oh no, Lynda’s going to see this! WHAT IS SHE GOING TO THINK AAAAHHHH” etc.). But yes, as a writer who published a dark “psychological thriller” and then followed it up with a “Christian humor” book, I know all about disappointing readers. That’s pretty much all I do (and probably has something to do with the fact that I can’t sell any more books 🤔). But I’m really glad you’re here and I’m very much looking forward to your future work!
Here's my take on Asimov: Asimov's early novels aren't really novels, but short stories or novellas linked thematically or otherwise together. I think The Gods Themselves is brilliant, but it's the most uncharacteristic or least Asimovy of his books. You might just want to try reading the short story Nightfall, which is, I think, great while also feeling very much like an Asimov work; and also short, so there's no commitment.
I hope you don't mind, but I'm stealing your idea.
What, the idea to list all the books I read? I can’t possibly have invented that, haha
No takebacks!
I love that you quit books you aren’t enjoying. I need to do that more. Especially with books that are just meh.
Do it. Being stuck in a “meh” book is a soul-killer. There are people out there who think it’s some sort of virtue to always finish a book, but if you’re not getting anything out of it…why?
Very fun read! My takeaway is that I should give up on more books.
You should. I know some people have a rule along the lines of “I’ll give a book fifty pages, and then it’s gone” or whatever—mine has always been sixteen weeks. If it’s been on my reading pile for four months, and it’s clear I’m never going to finish it, it goes. Haha.
That's a lot of fiction! How do you pick what to read? Looking back at my Kindle and library I managed to only read non-fiction this year, having finished re-reading every single Terry Pratchett book last year...
So, I wrote a whole piece where I talk about this a little, if you’re interested (note: a lot of the relevant stuff is consigned to the footnotes, because I was trying to make the thing more readable, haha): https://luketharrington.substack.com/p/one-weird-trick-to-read-a-and-ing
The short version is that I just sort of keep a going list of books to read someday, and I also check out new releases periodically, and try to keep a balance between the two on my reading pile. I also do make an effort to read fiction, since writing fiction is my main focus these days.
Also re: Beloved I just remember discussing that chokecherry tree image in Freshman English until it was ground to dust