Thursday, March 27, 2008

Novels ...

Oh to go back to the days when I'd read novels!
I'd be propped up in bed in the morning to read novels,
reclining on my grandma's sofa to read novels,
pretend to be working in my work chair but reading novels

– Leonard Blumfeld

Written in response to Totally Optional Prompts.


Fact & fiction
All true ... and gone, unfortunately. I would devour books, including lengthy ones like War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina, historical novels by Mika Waltari and tons of mysteries by the likes of Edgar Wallace, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Or anything by James M. Cain – good and bad. And I'd always wait for and get the latest by Anne Tyler once If Morning Ever Comes had me hooked.
And now? I barely manage a few every year. Get started on some that I put aside after a few pages.
Too much work. I've gotten older and choosier, read a lot more non-fiction. And sometimes when I'm not working I'd rather be creative than immerse myself in somebody else's work.
That is the plain truth.

9 comments:

Stan Ski said...

Been there, done that. Always seem to have my head stuck in abook.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Love your comments! Somehow, I find the body really has to struggle to relax and dive totally into a novel these days.

Like you, I prefer non-fiction read and/or creativity. But the latter is starting to win hands down. My non-fiction is fast becoming the headlinme news I hear in the background on TV.

But if the topic is a History Mystery, my research juices tumble out and I can spend hours scouring the internet for theories and possibilities. (My latest foray was the recent possible finding of the Amber Room.) Still watching this one closely.

Loved your post!

Gemma

Tumblewords: said...

Books were my source of life, too, for many years - until I began writing...now when I start a novel and a specific word catches my attention, I'm off to imagine while the book falls by the wayside. Great post - so indicative of this stage of the journey!

Jo said...

I've spent my life as a voracious reader, mostly novels, but since I started writing poetry it's like I've got some form of attention defecit disorder, I find I can't engage with their length....I read poetry from dawn to dusk. I enjoyed your post.

paisley said...

and there is never any shame in the truth... i do not read as much as i would like to,, but then again,, my focus right now is on creation... so i can really understand where you are coming from on this....

Andy Sewina said...

Yeah, it's not easy to find the time these days, but I always find that when I do, it's worth it..

Lisa Chapman said...

I've always loved reading - now that I'm older I find myself gravitating toward biographies for some reason but I still remember what it was like reading fiction all day long as a kid.

gautami tripathy said...

I still read 8-10 boks in a month. It has come down from 15!

But thats ok, I think. I am writing so much.

creatures of eerie night

anthonynorth said...

I don't have the time I used to have for novels. And my life is poorer for it.