On a roll...

[fajrdrako]

From Nov. 23 - and this is sort of complicated:

Do you get on a roll when you read, so that one book leads to the next, which leads to the next, and so on and so on?

I don’t so much mean something like reading a series from beginning to end, but, say, a string of books that all take place in Paris. Or that have anthropologists as the main character. Or were written in the same year. Something like that… Something that strings them together in your head, and yet, otherwise could be different genres, different authors.

If I read a book from an author I haven't tried before, usually I then try to read everything I can find by that author. If they are series, I'll try to read it in order, series by series. Or not. I did that recently with the Donald Strachey novels.

That done, I'll probably look for other writers in that style - a similar genre, or similar character, or something like that. Since I mostly read for style, this isn't always easy. In fact, it's pretty much impossible, and lists of suggestions that "if you like this author, you'll like that author" seldom work for me. And if I really, really love a new book, similar books by other authors just don't fit the bill: they are doubly disappointing because of their similarity to the book I loved.

Often I just go back and read the original book again. I did that with The Vintner's Luck, when I couldn't find any more books by Elizabeth Knox. Or with the Karin Lowachee Warchild trilogy, when I could find no more psychological space opera that satisfied.

It also works simply for genres, in that, if I like one mystery, it whets my appetite for more mysteries.

Most I choose books by their author, or on the basis of their first paragraph, or occasionally by the cover blurb.

Comments

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

Pardon me for putting my foot in, but if you want a great cycle, try Patrick O'Brian's age of sail books. The are incredibly well written and involving. I don't care a snap for Nelson-era-Hornblower stuff, but this shit is incredible.

If you write, it will make you a better writer. If you draw, it will make you a better artist. If you read, it will make you a reading saint.

Start with:

Master and Commander

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0007XAWB2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196488841&sr=1-1

OMG! I'll send it to you! It's such great writing I'll buy it for you. Send me your address.

It's that good. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendation! No need to send it to me, kind thought that is - they have it in the library. I live to use the library!