Allison Symes's Blog, page 10

The World of Books

I can’t imagine a world without books. I don’t want to either. But that does not mean I need my stories (whether I write them or read them) to be solely set in this world, a planet we know.

I love fantasy, fairytales, and sci-fi. These story worlds can show us something of what we are like. Stories set in the future show us what we could be.

I love the way books can take us anywhere - past, present, future - and any setting - known or fantastical.

While some fantasy worlds are easier to understand than others, I find I’ve got to salute the imagination behind them all.

What is a book without imagination behind it? Blank!

Yes, there has to be imagination behind non-fiction works too. How does the author conjure up, say, a historical world which will intrigue present day readers? They have to think of the details which will draw us into this world.

I love historical fiction and non-fiction. I remain thankful I live in the era I do, for all its faults, but I can explore past worlds via books. Safest way to to do it too. I really would not fancy being at the court of Henry VIII, say, but I can explore that world thanks to books.

The world of books is an amazing one - any time, any place, anywhere. There is also room for more worlds to be invented in fantasy and sci-fi too. The only limit is our imagination. Books encourage us to develop that imagination.

New Year, New Books, New Authors

Well, this had to be the topic for my final Goodreads post for 2023. I’ve had a great reading (and writing) year. Hope you have too.

Delighted with my Christmas book presents. Am reading three of them together - as you do. They’re a great mix too - one is crime, one is history non-fiction, and the other is biography (the late great Terry Pratchett’s A Life In Footnotes). Loving all three books so far. Hope to review later.

So for the new year, what would I like which is book related?

Naturally, I would like to discover authors new to me this year. I often find going to writing events is a fabulous way to do this. I also like using the Kindle to try out authors new to me. If I like what I’ve read, I may well then go on to buy other books from that author in paperback.

Naturally also, I will be on the look out for new books by authors I already love reading. On a personal note, I’m keeping my fingers crossed my own third book will be out in 2024 but will keep you posted on that one.

I do hope 2024 gives us all plenty of excellent reading material. To fellow writers out there, may your pens/laptops etc be blessed by inspiration! We always need stories.

Happy New (Reading and Writing) Year!

Story Time

I know it’s not quite pantomime time. For those not in the know, pantomime happens after Christmas and goes on to late January/early February.

It is a fabulous way of getting people into the theatre as it is aimed at all the family with a lot of audience participation, adlibs, and much humour.

The stories used for pantomime are based on the classic fairytales. Pantomime is an old tradition too). I do know it is story time though.

I love the story of the Nativity, poems such as Twas the Night Before Christmas (also known as A Visit from Saint Nicholas), and the carols.

In the Bleak Midwinter is my favourite and Christina Rossetti, like Charles Dickens, have added to Christmas related literature. Not many can claim to have done that. I also love stories in film (The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Polar Express, Hogfather).

I also love to write festive flash fiction and was privileged to have one of mine, This Is The Partnership, broadcast on internet radio recently. My tale looks at how Santa deals with a dodgy salesman. Good fun to do.

But as I mentioned in a recent post here, I am looking forward to that lovely time just after Christmas where I will get to read more, the normal routines are suspended, and I get to enjoy those presents which just happened to be books. I always have a request list here. No surprises there.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas and you get to listen to/watch/read some wonderful stories.

A Christmas Carol - An Acrostic

A = A classic story which will never date or be irrelevant.


C = Charles Dickens’ tale will always have resonance.

H = His character of Ebenezer Scrooge has gone into the language - we talk about someone being a Scrooge.

R = Realising what the true meaning of Christmas is forms the heart of this story.

I = Imagining what it could take to make Scrooge the way he was at the start of the story shows empathy for a lost soul.

S = Scrooge changes - he has to, else there’s no story - what is fascinating here is finding out how it is done.

T = Time rules are suspended thanks to the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.

M = Muppet Christmas Carol is, to my mind, the best adaptation of the story.

A = And I love the Marley and Marley sketch in this film - think it is brilliant.

S = Stories can show their classic status by seeing how many adaptations of them have been carried out - loads for this one.


C = Caring for others is a huge theme in this story and Scrooge comes to see how others see his miserliness.

A = Anguish in Scrooge’s past is shown to him - he has to face his mistakes, especially with Belle.

R = Reality is part of this story, funnily enough, as there are scary moments in the tale and Scrooge is made to face what he has become, perhaps the scariest thing of all.

O = Original and gripping - wow, what a story!

L = Love triumphs - Scrooge changes - he is no longer a lost soul.

Favourite Christmas Stories

There are always wonderful Christmas stories.

I love the Nativity. I also love A Christmas Carol. The redemption theme will always be timeless. I am not at all surprised this wonderful work by Charles Dickens has never been out of print. I can’t see it ever going so either.

There are stories in the carols themselves. The First Nowell tells the Nativity pretty much from start to finish. Gabriel’s Message focuses on the Annunciation.

While Shepherds Watched focuses on the shepherds and We Three Kings does the same for the wise men. (Yes I have sung the traditional and alternative versions of these!). The only carol I don’t really get is The Holly and the Ivy.

Film wise, I love the story of The Polar Express. I see that as a great all age story. It’s not twee (which I think Miracle on 34th Street is). And then there is the much missed Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather. Time to watch and/or read that again very soon!

Plus as I mentioned last week there is always the wonderful post Christmas reading to do. Christmas is full of stories. Not all of them are of good cheer (see King Herod for more on that) but the majority are and I find that to be a wonderful boost at a dark and cold time of year.

Post Christmas Reading

I know what you're thinking. Surely it's a bit early for this blog!

Not if you're like me and you're already planning your post Christmas read for that lovely period after 25th December until 2nd January.

Normal life has not yet resumed and there is more time to take it a bit easier. For me that means more reading and writing.

I've put in my book request list and am looking forward to the nice dilemma of what to read first.

It is the only time I don't stick to my book pile in strict order. Christmas given books are bumped right up the queue!

Am so looking forward to this and I hope your post Christmas read is a joy too.

What Defines a Good Read for You?

Now this is a leading question, is it not?

What defines a good read for me is whether or not the book or story grips me enough to make me keep on reading to the end of it.

I have abandoned a few stories and books which failed that basic test but am glad to say I can count the number of those on the fingers of one hand.

Life is too short (and there are so many excellent things to read) I’m not going to waste time on what I consider to be “duds”.

Of course tastes are different but a good rule of thumb for me is if I don’t care about the character, the reading stops. I have got to be able to see where the character is coming from, whether I agree with them or not. There has to be sufficiently high stakes for the character to make me want to find out the outcome.

And all of this is a challenge to me to make sure I produce those kinds of stakes, those kinds of characters, my readers will want to find out more about.

Mind you, even “dud” books have had their uses. They have shown me what I don’t like. Therefore, I make sure I don’t produce those kinds of things myself.

But on to good books. Nothing beats a good read, curled up, with a nice drink besides you, does it?

What Do I Get From Reading?

What I get from reading is a leading question if ever there was one. Where to start is the question here for me.

Firstly, there is the entertainment factor. I love to escape into other worlds with books (literally if I’m reading fantasy or science fiction). Escaping your own cares for a while is something that should not be undervalued.

Secondly, books and stories introduce you to a wide range of characters. You follow their stories, their dilemmas, you work out whether you would have done or said what they did or said. Empathy is encouraged.

You can also learn from what not to do here (and many comic works are fabulous at this. There is always a character who will give you a good laugh because they get it wrong).

Thirdly, there is education, especially from the non-fiction world, but you take this in via a user-friendly medium. I can put my feet up with a good book, a cup of something lovely and nibbles, and learn.

Sometimes what I learn can inspire story ideas of my own. I often get a spark of inspiration for a fiction idea from reading something in non-fiction.

Fourthly, books are relatively inexpensive. You can keep them and read them many times over. I do. You can borrow from the library. You can read via ebooks, which are cheaper than paperbacks etc. There is at least one book format out there to suit you.

Fifthly, it is the perfect entertainment when the weather is lousy. Curling up with a good book is such a great idea!

Annuals

I’ve always loved annuals. They make smashing Christmas presents.

I’ve enjoyed The Beano, The Bash Street Kids, and others in my time. These days and in a completely different mood, I love The Friendship Book. It’s a gentle, often amusing, and thoughtful read and a great comfort book.

Other family members get the Private Eye annual. I know I turn to the cartoons first there when I get to look at it!

Annuals, I think, serve a great purpose in encouraging further reading. They are perfect for dipping into when you know you want to read something but don’t want anything “heavy”.

I will add flash fiction and short story collections are also great for that but hands up, I am bound to say that, given I am published in both! It is still true though!

Which annuals do you enjoy? D.C.Thomson, that wonderful publisher based in Dundee, are responsible for many of them. Long may they continue.

Comfort Reading

I love reading for many reasons but I can’t deny a big reason is books and stories are so often a comfort read, especially in times when the news is unremittingly grim.

Even when reading crime novels, there can be the comfort of knowing the murderer is not going to get away with it. Justice will be served in some form.

I’ve mentioned before I tend to turn to humorous writing for comfort reading - Pratchett and Wodehouse especially.

When I don’t feel like reading anything “heavy”, I will also turn to the flash fiction and short story collections. For the latter, it is also a case for me of reading in the field I’m working in so win-win there.

While I don’t read much in the way of romance fiction, I do understand its appeal. Why shouldn’t people have the comfort of a happy ever after/happy for now ending? (I understand the latter by the way but much prefer the former but then I’ve always loved the fairytales!).

So what would you class as comfort reading? Is is a particular author, book, or type of book, or just the act of reading in and of itself?