Just finished the book. What a hauntingly exquisite story. I would highly recommend it.
Another one is "Blacktop Wasteland" by S.A. Cosby. It is the story of a man pushed to his limits by poverty, race, and his own former life of crime. Very well written and hard to put down.
I checked this one out and it looks like it would be over my head, not to mention that at my age, I might not live long enough to finish it. :) Happy reading!
The first book to come to mind was a book I've read numerous times. I've enjoyed it each time I've read it and caught new details each time to make me more enjoy it.
I admit I've not read it "lately," though. My favorite book by my favorite author:
the novel "The Sundial" by Shirley Jackson
And I think sometime in the past you mentioned on the site that you weren't too fond of her "The Lottery." :) I loved that short story the first time I read it in highschool. Blew me away. I think I shared that with you on the site, too. ) Probably shared about "The Sundial," too.
And I see you're talking with Thriftymaid in the thread. In the past on the site, she had shared she liked Pat Conroy's "Beach Music." I read it based on her suggestion and I loved it. (That wasn't too 'lately," for me, though, either. ha.)
This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at March 20, 2025 5:11 AM MDT
I have passed my horror fiction phase, although I used to be a fan. Currently, I read a lot of biographies and memoirs, although not exclusively. I just finished Sally Field's autobiography, 'In Pieces'. She had quite a different life than I had pictured.
I read Field's book, too. At several points, I almost felt like "Wait, Sally. I don't know you well enough for you to share such personal information with me." I admire her honesty in her book. And really I respect her film and TV work, too.
I actually don't find "The Sundial" quite a horror book. But I bet it is considered that maybe. I like Jackson's works more for her creation of "real"-to-me people.
Non-horror -- Maybe check out Raymond Carver's short stories -- "A Small, Good Thing" is a particular favorite though I like all of his that I've read. Flannery O'Connor short stories, too.
I haven't been reading as much as I like, but the book on top of my nightstand is Write Like the Masters.
It's interesting to see how the author, William Cane, has distilled some of the greats, and how he encourages the old practice of emulation: for people to try to do what others have done, before they put their own spin on it.
Hence you're supposed to get a gradual build-up, rather than say, students of creative writing being told to come up with something completely original on the spot. That might be like electing someone with no political experience to the highest position in a given country. (Hey, it's still answerMug—I couldn't resist.)
Echooos 