Stretching Our
Taste In Books or Filling in the Gaps
Some
of us were English majors. Some not. Some of us thrived
on Shakespeare. Some said phooey.
All of us read. I feel assured of that or you wouldn’t
be reading a “Back to Literature” column.
Regardless of our backgrounds, we’ve all heard
that we should read to expand our interests and tastes.
Some say it will even make better voters of us.
However, I think if we get stuck in a genre—say
only romances—we do ourselves a disservice. Surely
we should enjoy what we read, but we won’t get
the most we can out of our reading if we stay too narrowly
focused—only the books of one author or only nonfiction
or only historical fiction. And I firmly believe that
we should sprinkle in as many great books as we can.
Classics, if you will. And do it often enough to—well
become better voters.
I found a list of the greatest books ever written. The
choices may be arguable but one cannot argue with intent
of those who assembled the list. I like that they include
lots of classics and that they do separate fiction from
nonfiction for those who have a preference or those
who like to balance their reading. I thought it might
be fun for you to see how many you’ve read. Gauge
your relative success on your age. If you’re a
senior you may have read more than if you are fifteen.
If you are an English lit major, you may have read more
than if you majored in engineering.
Actually, how many you’ve read is not nearly as
important as how many you’re going to read. Or
your motivation to set a goal. Make a list of those
that you’ve always wanted to read and then add
a couple you’re sure you’ll hate. That’s
to guarantee that you will do some stretching.
How
about resolving to reread one you’ve already read
and pledging to read three more in the next year.
I hope you'll use my Noble (Not Nobel!) prize list for
suggestions, too. It appears every January at MyShelf.com.
And my "Back to Literature" columns are archived
right here on this page. Each one has some suggested
reading in the box at the bottom of the column.
I
recently logged onto Amazon Kindle and picked up lots
of classics listed on the reading list I was given when
I was in school and—I’m ashamed to admit—never
completed. And most of them were free! Now I will never
be without something excellent to read.
And
I’ve gotten off to a good start in 2014. At least
good enough to recommend a couple brand new books written
by authors accepted by our industry as “literary
authors.” One is Wally Lamb’s We Are
Water that I mentioned for technique in the 2nd
edition of my The Frugal Editor and the other
is Anna Quindlen’s Still Life with Bread Crumbs.
Back to those goals. For most of us--we busy ones--how
about a commitment to read just one of the books on
that list. C’mon. Just one.
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Tips and Tidbits
(Each month in this box,
Carolyn lists a Tidbit that will help authors
write or promote better. She will also include
a Tip to help readers find a treasure among long-neglected
books or a sapphire among the newly-published.)
A Tip
for Writers:
My
multi award-winning The
Frugal Editor is now in its second
edition—as an e-book (the print edition
is coming a bit later.) It’s been
reformatted, updated and expanded. |
A
Tip for Readers' Tip:
I’m rereading some of James
Michener’s books and I’m starting
with one that wasn’t a favorite in
its heyday, The
Covenant. Michener has been out
of favor—his books are too long, people
sometimes say. But I always loved his books
way back then. I felt satisfied—as
if I had learned something and been entertained—when
I turned the last page. |
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Please
nominate a book that fits within the parameters listed
in this year's Noble Back to Literature column. Explain
in 25 word or less why your nomination is a work of
literary merit and sent directly to me.
Nominations must be signed with your real name, e-mail
address and a URL if you have one. Email |
