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Saturday, April 30, 2016

April Reading Receipt

Linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy

Three books this month:


1)The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
I liked this, although I have not read any of Karr's memoirs. (She's written three.)  I found myself writing down a lot of quotes from this, which is always the sign of a good book.  If you write in any way I think you would appreciate this book.  Here's just a taste: "Developing a voice is actually learning how to lodge your own memories inside someone else's head."


2) Matilda by Roald Dahl
I actually read this out loud to my class.  I love Dahl (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator, James and The Giant Peach), but I had never read this book before.  Dahl never shrinks from creating horrible characters in children's lit.  I think that's part of why kids enjoy his books.  I know it's part of why I enjoy them.



3) The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon
This started really well.  Technology causes a "word flu". Unfortunately, it really dragged for me in the middle and end.  I got impatient with the "aphasia" the characters were experiencing in their narration.  I did write down a few quotes from this one early on, though. "Words are living legends, swollen with significance.  We string them together to make stories, but they themselves are stories."

So true.

4 comments:

  1. I love Roald Dahl but actually don't think I've ever read Mathilda! The Art of Memoir was very interesting; I too have not ready any of Karr's other books but learned a lot from that one.

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  2. The Art of memoir has been on my to read list for a while, but I'm putting it off because I heard it has a ton of book recommendations in it. My list is long enough already!

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  3. I have Art of Memoir in my bookshelf, waiting to be read. Would you still recommend it for someone who wants to write, but not memoirs (fiction instead)? I am trying to read books about writing and heard about it through What Should I Read Next but wasn't sure if it would apply.

    Found you through QuickLit. Here are my April reads: http://elle-alice.blogspot.ca/2016/05/april-book-reviews.html

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    1. Yes, I would recommend it for someone who wants to write things other than a memoir. I think you'll find a lot of relevant things for fiction writing as well.

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