It's been a while since I updated my blog with details from my self-appointed reading challenge. There has been a very good reason for this - I haven't been reading! Well, that's not strictly true because I have been reading a hell of a lot, I just haven't been reading books.
As most people that read this blog will know, I have been writing a screenplay. I finished the first draft and a friend-of-a-friend who works in film production kindly read it and gave me some feedback. I was warned beforehand that S would be brutally honest, so I was pleasantly surprised when she told me to keep going. Her main criticism was my scene action so I have spent the last month or so fine-tuning according to her recommendations. I have read over a hundred scripts, dozens of books and scoured the net for help and guidance.
Every spare minute of every day is spent on my writing. At work I keep a little notebook open on my desk at all times so if something pops into my head I can jot it down before the thought is lost forever. A copy of my screenplay goes everywhere with me and I am often found sitting in my car on my lunchbreak, pages strewn across the seats, editing and improving. Stolen snippets of time, a few minutes here, an hour or two there, whenever I can. I would love to be able to just lock myself away and work on it full-time but I don't have that luxury. Maybe one day!
Anyway, inbetween all this creativity, I have managed to slip in a couple of books. I originally wanted to clear a hundred books this year but then quickly reduced it to fifty once I realised what a long old slog this challenge was going to be. Unless something major happens to scupper my plans, 50 books should be easily manageable.
BOOK CHALLENGE 41/1000 (49)
I started of the year with quite a few Sci-Fi books and so I chose Crome Yellow by Alduos Huxley thinking it would be in a similar ilk to Brave New World. I was wrong. If I had read a hard copy I probably would have realised from the cover that there would be nothing futuristic about this book. Alas, I had my trusty ebook version and was a fair few pages in before I started wondering what genre this novel was. Although it wasn't what I expected, I did quite enjoy it. I must admit there isn't much of a story or plot but the insight into the characters was interesting. The ending seemed a little stunted and sudden to me almost like the author had tired of it. I'm still left wondering how some of these books made this list. I can't really imagine this being anyone's favourite book.
BOOK CHALLENGE 42/1000 (50)
Aah, a much better choice this time, A Time to Kill by John Grisham. This is one of those authors I feel like I know but realise I have never actually read any of his books. There are so many film adaptations of his novels it hardly seemed necessary in a way. What an idiot I am! This is an incredible story and, although the film is good, the book is so much better. I loved everything about this book - the story, the characters, the setting, everything. I have renewed my love of crime fiction. I can't wait to read The King of Torts.
If anyone is interested in seeing the book list I have challenged myself to, or maybe even starting the challenge themselves, here is a link -
