Geo
Lore Master
This book was the first one I read that actually help me make sense of plot structure as an important tool to ultimate shape a book instead of just a series of steeps that must occur.
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- Thread starter Mythopoet
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This book was the first one I read that actually help me make sense of plot structure as an important tool to ultimate shape a book instead of just a series of steeps that must occur.
Chester Himes, Cotton Comes to Harlem. My thanks to the show, Luke Cage for that.
Incanus
Shadow Lord
Almost done reading Steinbeck's "Cannery Row". It's most excellent. There is only a mere fibril of plot running through it, but the character depictions, insight into people, and sense of place are all stellar.
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Mythopoet
Dark Lord
I've been reading The Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers. Like most books by Tim Powers it's very difficult to describe. Basically, it's Europe in the face of the invading Turks (early 1500s) and an aging Irish adventurer who's fought the Turks before finds himself suddenly witness to various supernatural appearances and events which revolve around the mysterious Aurelianus and the Herzwesten brewery of Vienna.
Son of Eld
Acolyte
I started re-reading Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series to get ready for The Book of Dust. One of my favorites, it really deserved a better movie 
Incanus, you might try Travels With Charley some time. It's Steinbeck going cross country with his dog Charley. It's Steinbeck looking at America, circa 1960.
Now reading David Eddings, The Belgariad. Just because I felt obliged. Not bad, not great. Just one of those things so I can say I did it.
Geo
Lore Master
This week was dedicated to reading about writing (Thanks Chessie for the inspiration to choose my weekly reading). Steering the Craft by Ursula K. LeGuin. I read the first version a few years back. The revised version is as good and useful as the first, but manages to take on subjects not covered in the original book. I'm a huge fan of LeGuin and when she talks about the craft of writing you get to see why she is the brilliant writer she is.
Demesnedenoir
Dark Lord
Story Grid is good stuff, you can really see McKee's influence... although its easily been over ten years since I read McKee's stuff... damn I'm getting old. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone looking to get a grip on structure.
I'm currently reading Story Grid: What Good Editors Know, by Shawn Coyne. He was a New York editor (apparently one of the best) and his goal in writing the book was to help Writers' learn how to edit their own work. Not sentences...We're talking character, plot, story. It's fascinating and I'm learning so much. If you're interested in sharpeningg your storytelling abilities, this is a good one!
Also finished reading Tempered Hearts (Hearts of Valentina saga), S.A Hutchinson. Okay...It's an elven romance! I loved it! So I downloaded the second book but I'll be sinking my teeth into The Snowfang Bride first.
TheCrystallineEntity
Dark Lord
Has anyone here read the Infernal Devices trilogy? Is it any good?
GypsyTraveller
Acolyte
The Farseer Trilogy; I'm currently reading Royal Assassin.
X Equestris
Scribal Lord
Oh, without a doubt. And I'd say that Red Nails has far less problems than a few of the other stories in the collection. Still, there are points in the Conan stories where Howard seems downright progressive for the era. I bought a collection of Lovecraft's works shortly after getting the Conan one, and the contrast between the two on that matter is striking. Though I'll say that both use POVs that are quite a bit more distant than many more recent works in those genres.
Finished Lovecraft's "Dreams in the Witch House" over the weekend, and I'm working my way through Howard's "Hour of the Dragon".
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Mythopoet
Dark Lord
No kidding. I've read all of Lovecraft's stories. My husband is reading them right now and he has been utterly astonished by the extreme and overt racism in some of the lesser known ones. Everyone knows Lovecraft was racist. What you often don't realize is how unabashedly racist he was. I adore many of his stories (the dream cycle in particular) and stand in awe of his imagination, but man, some of his stories seem more like an excuse to write a screed against his least favorite types of people. Howard is downright innocent in comparison.
Brian Scott Allen
Dark Lord
Just finished the second book of the lightbringer series. Just started the Broken Eye of the same series. How color magic can be so damn cool is beyond me.
DragonOfTheAerie
Istari
I just finished His Majesty's Dragon (first in the Temeraire series) and I have a book hangover and, cruelly deprived of the sequel, know not what to do with myself...
Perhaps begin another book?
It's 1:30 AM in my time zone...
Anyway. I've heard a lot of negative things about this book and the series as a whole, but I found them to be largely unfounded. It took me a bit longer to read this book than usual; there are lots of boring parts to get stuck on. I suppose the writing is a bit amateurish as well. The lady doesn't know how to make a sky battle feel different than a boring dinner. The writing is plodding and passive no matter the circumstance. Still, I was able to forgive those things because DRAGONS.
The relationship between Capt. Laurence and Temeraire is adorable. (It's a little weird that Laurence calls his dragon 'my dear,' but, whatever.) Temeraire is basically like Toothless except that he talks and loves being read to. How can you not fall in love with him?
Ughhhh. I don't want to go to sleeeeeeeeep
*eyes bookshelf*
Perhaps begin another book?
It's 1:30 AM in my time zone...
Anyway. I've heard a lot of negative things about this book and the series as a whole, but I found them to be largely unfounded. It took me a bit longer to read this book than usual; there are lots of boring parts to get stuck on. I suppose the writing is a bit amateurish as well. The lady doesn't know how to make a sky battle feel different than a boring dinner. The writing is plodding and passive no matter the circumstance. Still, I was able to forgive those things because DRAGONS.
The relationship between Capt. Laurence and Temeraire is adorable. (It's a little weird that Laurence calls his dragon 'my dear,' but, whatever.) Temeraire is basically like Toothless except that he talks and loves being read to. How can you not fall in love with him?
Ughhhh. I don't want to go to sleeeeeeeeep
*eyes bookshelf*
La Volpe
Mystagogue
Yeah, it felt a bit like a book written in the 1940s to me. Lots and lots of really slow stuff. But overall a nice world and characters. But it wasn't enough to make me buy the second book.
I can't remember, have you read any PERN novels (by the late Anne McCaffrey)?
DragonOfTheAerie
Istari
La Volpe
Mystagogue
Not yet, but I intend to
Definitely do so. They have the same human-dragon relationship as in His Majesty's Dragon, but a lot more is happening, and in a science fantasy world.
DragonOfTheAerie
Istari
Next library trip.