Making a Literary Life Friday: What Are You Reading Now?

The darling of the blogosphere, Curtis Brown agent Nathan Bransford, asked a question of his readers this week: What are you reading now? It was fascinating to see in black-and-white the diverse reading habits of writers. Naturally, many responded that they were revisiting Madeleine L'Engle, others were reading the classics, and then there was everyone else. What was truly fascinating was how many people were reading multiple books at once. What we read shapes us, literally; it has the power to create synapses in our brains. It also informs and inspires our own writing. So how about you, what are you reading today? Or writing?

Lisa

A lovely teacher I know recently shared some devastating news: her husband was arrested, is in prison for a heinous crime, her bills are piling up, and she's broke. Her financial situation is dire, in fact. She needs money - end of story. I recently made a post about not chasing the market when it comes to writing, but I question myself...What if I needed money, really needed money?

What would I write if I wrote fiction for money. One thing's for sure, it would be different than the story I'm writing. Necessity, after all, is the mother of invention.

Amy

In response to Lisa's question, there are easier and more profitable ways to make money than writing. I'd try plumbing and write for myself at night.

I was speaking with Therese Fowler, author of Souvenir, this week and we shared what we were reading. I left her with the impression that I read mostly non-fiction. Not true. It's probably an 80:20 split. How about you?

I am reading Jonis Agee's The River Wife and Last Night I Dreamed of Peace: The Diary of Dang Thuy Tram. Buy River Wife in hardcover; I expect to see Ms. Agee's name on multiple awards lists next year. She is an expert at this craft and if you've the opportunity, she teaches at the University of Nebraska. As for Dang Thuy Tram's diary, I must admit to feeling conflicted. Dr. Dang was a very young physician for the Communist North Vietnamese when she was shot and killed by an American solider in 1970. This book contains the thoughts, fears, frustrations, and, especially, hopes of a woman who despised the "American devils." While reading this book, it's important for me to set aside the politics of war -- if such a thing is possible -- to understand the intensely personal experience of one woman, a poet. She felt so much. I wish I could give her a moments peace.

Last week, I finally read Lois Lowry's The Giver. The book is sheer genius, one that will surely stay with me the rest of my life. I actually gasped while reading. No, not at that part, but when the secret of the apple was revealed. My goodness, Ms. Lowry's brilliant.

Hannah
To Lisa's question, wow. If I really needed money, would I write something different? No, and not just because I would simply work at the PR more hours! I suspect there are no guarantees that something written for money will sell either. So then where would I be?

As for current reading, I am finishing Updike, finally. I also read Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson semi-recently. Brilliant, brilliant prequel! The Giver is soon to be on my list, as my middle schooler will be reading that after Spinelli's The Loser and before MacBeth and some Twain. (I'm actually excited about MacBeth. I had a great English teacher, and this one has the potential to make Shakespeare click, too!) On an adult level, I want something fun, humorous (dark or blended with intensity is fine) and yet thought-provoking on a Big Questions Of Life level. No kidding. Any suggestions?

Lynne
Okay, I don't mean to be flip in response to Lisa's question. But I am trying to write for money!! With my daughter starting her first year of college, trust me, I need some. The thing is, at every juncture of my writing career I've had to examine my personal ethics around what I would write and how my writing would be packaged. Walking the path to the writing life involves climbing integrity mountain.

As for what I am reading. I am almost finished with Water for Elephants; I've been giving it a close read because I am studying the structure, as I'm toying with a similar one for my second novel. I just started Falling Man, by Don DeLillo; what a writer! As I read, I feel secure resting in his capable hands. And I am finally reading, Twelfth Night, because my son has a part in the school play.