TBR – Or ISRM?

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Ahead of her time?

I haven’t had a go at John Holton’s Writer’s Workshop recently but I think it is about time that I should. His post gives you this week’s prompts, and I’ve decided to go for two of them: I’ll start with #6:

Write an essay entitled “Why You Should Get Back Into The Habit Of Reading”

and then go on to #3:

Next month is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Do you plan on participating? Why or why not?

I’m not sure about this being an ‘essay’ though: I haven’t written one of those since I did my MBA in 1980! But I think I know John’s intention: i.e. ‘write something!’

Like many these days my reading, as such that it is, is done on an electronic device. I have lots of proper books but it always seems easier somehow to just pick up a bit of plastic and go from there. Again, like many, I use a Kindle. I first bought one of these in 2008: that one was bequeathed to one of my daughters when I got one of the earliest mini size Kindle Fire tablets, which I thought would be a good way to read on a manageable small device with a colour screen, which would also double as a real tablet. Little did I know that this would be my first introduction to the Amazon Appstore: though it may be based on the Android system it is severely limited in relation to what is on offer in Google Play. In short, it’s crap.

When that device breathed its last – isn’t built-in obsolescence wonderful? – I carried on using the Kindle app on iPads. These have the benefit of colour, but even an iPad Mini is twice the weight of a proper Kindle – a particular concern for doddery old gits like me whose poor arms might get tired. I know, the iPad Mini is just shy of a pound weight, in old money, but that is more than enough for me! Over that 16 year period I have acquired more than 4,600 Kindle books, many of which were free (cheapskate!) and the majority of the rest were bought from Amazon’s regular deals of books for 99p. I rarely pay more than that, and always begrudge it when I have to do it! How many of those have I read? No idea! A lot of them are ‘classics’ acquired for nothing, as I felt that being an Eng.Lit. graduate I ought to have them, but in the five years of commuting which led to my retirement I probably read three or four a week, and have had occasional bursts of similar activity since then as well as a steady regular trickle.

What do I read? Mostly crime and spy novels, if I’m honest. That first degree seems like a distant memory, and I concentrated on the mid 19th century, which was a time when there was little entertainment available other than writing and reading inordinately long novels or creating exceedingly large families. The thought of re-reading a Jane Austen these days tends to make me look for the movie version instead! But I really should get back into a reading habit, as I always enjoy it when I do. As a spur to do that I bought myself a new Kindle last year, which is a delight and much lighter to hold than an iPad, and it has helped. I’ve read quite a few novels since then but have been on a bit of a hiatus of late: Amazon have stopped sending me their ‘you’re on a roll’ messages!

I’ve recently finished the fabulous Slow Horses series on Apple TV+ – highly recommended if you have access. And I now have the full set of the books in my Kindle library – all bought for 99p each, of course! If they don’t get me back into the habit nothing will. But then yesterday Amazon launched their first ever Kindle with a colour screen… hmm, maybe one of the girls would like another hand-me-down? It’s a bit pricey though. Maybe it will be in their Black Friday deals? If so I could be tempted! And I know ISRM – I Should Read More, if you were wondering – and perhaps a new toy would help with reducing the size of my TBR list.

 

 

If you recall from the top of the page, I also said that I would be picking up John’s prompt about writing a novel in November. As I have never written one before, maybe this is the time I should start? But first I would need an idea for a book, and creativity was never my strong point. I did try the other November series – NaBloPoMo, National Blog Posting Month – a couple of times around eight or nine years ago, but the pressure of finding something to write about every day for a whole month was a bit much for me, and I found myself posting just for the sake of it, with a corresponding reduction in quality. I already had that bar set at a low level, and didn’t really need to take it further down to a level that would challenge a champion limbo dancer! That was then, but times probably haven’t changed…

So I think I’ll pass over the thought of writing a novel, for this year and no doubt several more to come. And anyway, I’ll be spending all my time reading books by people who know what they are doing, won’t I? Mick Herron, here I come.

In closing, and just to prove that this is me, here’s the most appropriate song I could play to accompany this:

And don’t forget the link to this week’s Writer’s Workshop if you want to see what others are doing.

See you again on Sunday 😊

41 thoughts on “TBR – Or ISRM?”

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  5. I have a huge pile of hard cover books TBR and an equally large number on the KIndle. That colour version sounds good! Hope it goes on sale… Slow Horses is an excellent show; I imagine the books are even better, and what a great price! Novel writing isn’t my thing, nor daily blogging. Too stressful and time-consuming! I do have some memoirs I’ve thought about publishing, but the whole process seems incredibly complicated, so I’ll stick to the blog. 🙂 Retirement is supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy life. Book writing and publishing sounds too much like work. 😆

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    • There never seems to be enough time, does there! The colour Kindle is on pre-order here for shipping on the 30th, so it should be available there soon, too.

      I haven’t started the Slow Horses books yet, but if they’re even just half as good as the TV version they’ll be worthwhile.

      I had visions of writing when I retired, but life somehow seemed to get in the way. And you’re right, it does seem too much like work. Three blog posts a week is comfortable for me!

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    • It looks great, I just want it to be cheaper!

      Glad you like Slow Horses too. They do a Kindle Daily Deal of 6 or 8 books at 99p each and occasionally do a special feature of a multiple set by one author. They did that last year with Mick Herron so I got the full set at 99p each. Probably never to be repeated, sorry!

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      • i once wrote a novei without any preperation– no thoughts at all about what I might want to write, or about whom. I gave myself the craziest opening line I could think of that might grab a reader’s attention, and one m8 ute to write the next line.

        it worked for me. I only stopped to eat ans sleep after that, until the story was finished. It still needs a rewrite, but it is a complete novel.

        My opening line: “Everything and anything flew anywhere and everywhere it could.” It turned into a horror novel of sorts.

        Like

  7. I love reading and have to have an actual book hard cover or paperback in my hands, I re-read the books I have many times over and if possible I add to my collection when I can, I read in both English and Latvian. I can write poetry, stories, and all kinds of writing on various topics but when it comes to writing novels I have come to a realization, Sure I can probably write up something really interesting from my imagination but even though it’s fiction there has to be a sense of reality there too. That is what stops me from even trying to write a book.

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    • I’m pleased that reading gives you so much pleasure, though I guess you might find books in Latvian a bit hard to find?

      You should try developing your writing skills – much fiction doesn’t relate to reality so you may be doing yourself a disservice by not trying.

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  8. My stalwart wife Sheila is a devotee of Jane Austen, she usually reads the entire set once a year, and thanks to her careful guidance we have the best dramtised versions of the books (I was warned off ‘Sanderton’) and I have ‘tolerable’ grasp of plots and characters, thus a convert by some degrees of separation.
    These days my reading habits are dire, for some reasons which need analysing or pondering on as the basis for a blog post picking up a book or a kindle version has become something of a chore.
    I can manage comic books mostly for the art- plot is something the writers seem hard to grasp, their Thesaurus is of the cliché kind as for villains a Doctor Soporific would be the most honest.
    Beyond that it’s the Osprey Military series(s).
    My main good to is the Audio Book, so I can wander about the house attending to chores and pulling earbuds out when I realise Sheila is trying to get my attention.
    Thanks for tuning me into Patty Larkin – that’s another thing I need to do is listen to more music.
    But

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    • I admire Sheila’s loyalty and dedication to Jane Austen, and she must be pleased to know that Jane did her own formatting for Kindle 😉

      My reading goes in fits and starts: I binge read a series and then leave the Kindle alone for a while. Maybe I’ll try a comic book or two if I get the new colour Kindle – there’s no point on a greyscale device.

      To be honest I’d never heard of Patty Larkin before. I Googled ‘songs about writing’ in an attempt to avoid Paperback Writer, found that song, thought it a great fit and liked it, so in it went!

      And thanks for the link: one of my all-time favourite songs by one of my all-time favourite singers, as my recent post showed!

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      • One of Sheila’s favourite personal sayings is ‘Jane would have something to say about that’.

        I used to binge a great deal on comics via Comixology which had a page by page facility… then Amazon bought it out and for a while made the site unreadable for ‘someone whose powers of sight doth diminish(ed) as the autumn does turn ever certain into grey winter’ (I made that up myself 😀).
        Eventually they made some attempts to rectify the blunders, but I invested in a tablet which made comics more readable……
        Hang on…Hang on…..Just a page turning minute there!…..
        Amazon buys Comixology….. Amazon makes it readable through tablets…which Amazon make……????????????????
        Ooooooh curse you Amazon…You tricked me again!! Gad! Your cunning is truly fiendish😤

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      • That they do.
        Probably the only reason why they have not taken over the running of nations is that their project group has revealed the entire strategy would lead to capital and income based losses over a prolonged period. And anyway there’s not enough cardboard.

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  9. Like you, most of my library is made up of ebooks, except my primary device is my iPhone using the Kindle app. I used to have a Kindle device and an iPad, but I got tired of juggling three devices, so my Kindle and pad have been retired.

    And like you, most of my Kindle app books are free or 99¢, although in support of a few fellow bloggers, I have spent a little more ($1.99 or $2.99) to buy some of their books.

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    • I’ve tried reading on my iPhone but it is a bit too small for me, and not much lighter than a Kindle. I’m a home body these days so my iPads and Kindle are a big part of my days!

      That is the main reason why I might spend more on an ebook too, though most of those I follow have pitched at 99p anyway!

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  10. You sound like me in many ways, Clive. I’ve long had a desire to write a book — novel or non-fiction — I feel like there is a book somewhere in me, but I just can never figure out quite what or where it is. I find that if I feel that I have to write something, I draw a blank and the brain freezes, but if I let the brain off its leash for a bit, all sorts of ideas come rolling in!

    And as for reading … sigh. I LOVE to read … I especially love holding an actual book in my hands and reading, but like you, I mostly resort to my Kindle these days. I’m on my third Kindle now … and I’ve had it for several years, so it’s likely soon to be put out to pasture. But my reading has morphed … I used to read mysteries, crime drama, etc. — I never could get interested in what I call ‘fluff’ … romance novels and such — but these days I mostly read history and political books. I did buy Stephen King’s latest, though, and am reading that during the day, but not at bedtime, for I don’t think that would be wise. But to the point … I don’t read nearly as much as I’d like, because I spend 12 hours a day working on my blog! Research, writing, editing, re-writing, more research, reading other blogs, responding to comments, and before you know it, it’s 3:00 a.m.! But, I do love that, too, so … there’s only 20 hours in a day, after all. (Yes, I know some people get 24, but the older I get, the fewer hours there are in my days!)

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    • I think we both have good reasons not to be writing a book: you’re too busy and I’m too lazy!

      Hopefully we will both find time to increase our reading, though mine will continue to be less serious than yours. That new colour screen Kindle is calling your name…

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      • 🤣 I figure one of these days, it will just hit me like a bolt of lightning and my fingers won’t be able to stay off the keyboard! Every now and then it happens on a small scale, like some of my blog posts, so … why not a full-blown novel? And as for you … you’re not lazy, you’re just conserving your energy for when that bolt of inspiration hits you!

        Yes, we should spend more time reading … I’m determined to, and have been so far this week! In addition to the Stephen King book that I can only read during daylight hours, I’m reading Bob Woodward’s new book, “War”. Oh hush, Clive … um … maybe I should just check it out … ‘twould be an idea I could give Chris for a Christmas prezzie …

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      • It would be good if that could happen! Kind of you to make the excuse for me, but I really am lazy. The chances of me being hit by a bolt of inspiration are less likely than my being awarded a Nobel Prize!

        Trump has rubbished Woodward’s book, which is usually a good sign that it’s telling the truth.

        That would be a nice present. I thought about buying it but the opening offer here is only valid with a trade-in and I’d want to pass my current one to one of my daughters for her to share with her little ones. Hoping they put it in their Black Friday sale without the trade-in!

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      • Hmmmm … isn’t there some saying … “Never say ‘never'”? I’m gonna die laughing if you write a great novel and it wins a Pulitzer!!! I’ll say, “See, I told ya so!”

        That’s how you know Woodward hit Trump where it hurts … with the truth!

        I checked it out today … only $279! I’m sure Chris would happily get me one, but … well … this Kindle is still working fine, so I think I’ll stick with what I’ve got for now.

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      • Now that’s puzzling, ’cause the £269 converts to $351 USD … but here it’s only $279. Heck … I should buy you one here at this price, which converts to £214! But, it would probably cost me the additional £55 to ship it to you! One year it cost me nearly $70 to send David’s Christmas present to him!

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      • It happens with Apple products too – the £ price is very similar to the $ one. It’s one of the effects of Brexit – it happened before that but has got worse as our trading position has weakened.

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  11. My reading devices include a Nook and Kindle, neither of which I particularly enjoy. I’m one of those old farts who likes the feel of a book in my hands; besides, screen reading a novel is hard on my eyes and I find myself falling asleep after just a few paragraphs. Give me a real book anytime; as the mother of our town’s librarian, I have access to any book I want. Sweet. 😎

    Speaking of novels, I have no desire to write the great American novel. I don’t think I ever had ambitions to be a novelist; short stories are fine with me. And no, I have no plans to publish my short stories or poems anywhere but on WP.

    Thanks for an interesting read, Clive. 😊

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  14. I know what you mean about writing a book…. I have started quite a few …
    I just can’t finish them?????
    Any who I love my kindle ….and here is another book song for you …you probably know it . I chose one that shows the lyrics because they are perfect…..Don’t worry it’s not Sam ….I am off to see him in December.

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