reading about writing

On Writing by Stephen King

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent book, hard to categorize. Definitely non fiction, it is equal parts reflection on personal events that developed his writing(without really being a biography), ideas about what writing tools he thinks are important(without being a grammer text), and thoughts about how and why writing happens, drawn from reflections he had during his recovery from a nearly fatal car accident.

I found his style direct without inviting too much fake intimacy, and helpful without trying to assume a sense of dominating authority. I think all who read this could improve their writing.


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And now for something completely different

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
And now for something completely different....

I've been spending lots of time reading children's lit, then broke from that to read some non fiction and a sweeping tale of class and culture. Then I read this.



What an odd but engaging book! I enjoyed the character's simple acceptance of the increasingly bizarre happenings around him- he goes from regular guy to a Buffy-esque death merchant defending all of San Francisco against the Death Lords while raising a daughter and running a business.



Lots of different points of views of death here worth pondering, and watch for a surprisingly moving and real page describing nurses and the hospice movement.




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Off to India

The Space Between Us: A Novel by Thrity Umrigar

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
An interesting study of class and coping, in a well drawn setting. I gained understanding by following these two women in Bombay through their respective life challenges.

My only quibble is I sensed the novels' eventual plot twist as early as page 40, and it somewhat spoiled my enjoyment of the otherwise engaging story.


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