Reading

I’m a writer at the core, folks. Sure I play the guitar, do graphic design, play combat sports and do all sorts of other things, probably far too many, but lately I’ve been going back and remembering what I really like to do most: write. Now, that sentence was crap, but then again I write quite a bit differently for these sorts of things. Anyways, other than finally deciding that I really needed to start getting some help with my ADHD, which I stubbornly ignored pretty much all of my life, I’ve returned to what I consider to be the most fundamentally important aspect of writing: reading. Yep, that’s what probably helps you as a writer more than anything, a constant influx of reading. In my better days I used to read sometimes 3-4 books a week, depending on length, though as the years have gone on I’ve sadly neglected reading as much as I once did. Lately, however, I’ve been back on a reading kick and I thought I might share with you a bit of insight into the last couple of books I took in.

Lisey’s Story by Stephen King

I must say I’ve been a King fan since I was young. IT, The Talisman and The Dark Tower, among many others, had a great impact on the creation of Cycle of Existence. I’ve read a good many of the works he’s written and I generally enjoy them. Personally, thought, his last novel, Cell, just didn’t do it for me as much as some of his other works. It was a good read, but it just didn’t seem to strike the same chord that some of his other novels, novellas or shorts stories had with me.
Lisey’s Story struck that chord extremely well.
This is an amazing novel; one I would rank high on a respectably long list of book’s I’ve read in my tenure on this island earth. I went in to this one knowing next-to-nothing about it (it was a Christmas gift from my parents) so I won’t spoil you with the details about it. What I will say is that it’s an extremely well-written story about marriage, life-long partnership, the process of grieving and a little bit of the classic otherworldy. I would recommend this one to anyone. Read it.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

This Hugo-award-winning science-fiction novel is considered among the classics of the genre and is one I’ve never gotten around to reading. It was recommended to me by my girlfriend, who has a love of reading that rivals my own, though we have different tastes here and there. I do trust her opinion to a great degree, however: she knows her literature.
A Canticle for Leibowitz follows a centuries-long account surrounding a monastery somewhere in the southwestern United States that springs up after a nuclear war that very nearly wipes out all life and knowledge on the planet. While there are many aspects of science-fiction here, it feels to me more as a well-woven commentary on religion and the tendency of history to repeat itself. Man is the antagonist here, folks and it’s beautifully done. If you have the chance and are into the apocalyptic, definitely give this one a shot.

Now, I’m not a book reviewer. I really could be, I’ve done my share of analysis, interpretation and writing, but personally I like recommendations better – I prefer not to know much about what I’m going to read. It is for that reason that I leave you with only my recommendation for these books and the hopes that you will enjoy them.

Currently, I’m reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, because for some reason I never got around to it before. I’ll let you know on this one, but so far I’m impressed.

- Ashe