Allison Symes's Blog, page 32
October 19, 2019
Travel Reading
I tend not to read much while travelling. I'm usually drafting blog posts and stories on my phone for one thing! But I like to take a good mix of good reads for when I get to my destination.
I prefer light reads when away. I am escaping from the usual routine so want to escape through books too. I'm currently enjoying Ben Macintyre's The Last Word on Kindle which takes a light look at the use of language and is good fun. Highly recommend.
I also loved his Operation Mincemeat. Not a light read so to speak but a cracking and true story told at a great pace.
What do you look for in a good read?
I like to be entertained, escape my cares for a bit, and ideally learn something too.
When reading fiction, I learn something from how the characters are portrayed, how the dialogue is put together etc. I get so much from books and hope you do too.
I prefer light reads when away. I am escaping from the usual routine so want to escape through books too. I'm currently enjoying Ben Macintyre's The Last Word on Kindle which takes a light look at the use of language and is good fun. Highly recommend.
I also loved his Operation Mincemeat. Not a light read so to speak but a cracking and true story told at a great pace.
What do you look for in a good read?
I like to be entertained, escape my cares for a bit, and ideally learn something too.
When reading fiction, I learn something from how the characters are portrayed, how the dialogue is put together etc. I get so much from books and hope you do too.
October 12, 2019
Holiday Reading
I drafted this just as I was packing up to come home from a fabulous week in Northumberland. Lots of walking and wonderful scenery.
As ever, I took lots to read, read some of it, and fell asleep far too quickly.
My best opportunities for reading came before an evening meal and even then I had to fight the urge to nod off. I blame the gloriously fresh northern air!
I mixed up the reading I did do. Naturally I took the Kindle, magazines, and paperbacks.
Do you find you read more or less when away?
I don't usually buy specific holiday reading as I see holiday time as a chance to reduce my To Be Read pile a bit. It's another matter whether I'm successful or not!
What matters though is whether you can read for five minutes a day or five hours a day, you ARE reading!
As ever, I took lots to read, read some of it, and fell asleep far too quickly.
My best opportunities for reading came before an evening meal and even then I had to fight the urge to nod off. I blame the gloriously fresh northern air!
I mixed up the reading I did do. Naturally I took the Kindle, magazines, and paperbacks.
Do you find you read more or less when away?
I don't usually buy specific holiday reading as I see holiday time as a chance to reduce my To Be Read pile a bit. It's another matter whether I'm successful or not!
What matters though is whether you can read for five minutes a day or five hours a day, you ARE reading!
October 5, 2019
Hearing Stories
My favourite format is paperback but I am fond of audio books.
I managed to convert family members to the sheer joy of Terry Pratchett's Discworld thanks to audio books. We can get through two of them each way on our annual jaunt to the far North of Scotland.
I think what I like most about audio books is hearing the characters come to life. It's a bit like eavesdropping on a conversation.
From a writing viewpoint, you also get to hear the rhythm of the dialogue, how the author handles hesitation, repetition etc.
Speech in whatever format of book cannot be exactly the same as real speech. You'd never want to read all these umms, ahhs, coughs and false starts! All it can do is mirror an idealised version of speech.
But hearing that helps you to write it yourself.
Happy listening!
I managed to convert family members to the sheer joy of Terry Pratchett's Discworld thanks to audio books. We can get through two of them each way on our annual jaunt to the far North of Scotland.
I think what I like most about audio books is hearing the characters come to life. It's a bit like eavesdropping on a conversation.
From a writing viewpoint, you also get to hear the rhythm of the dialogue, how the author handles hesitation, repetition etc.
Speech in whatever format of book cannot be exactly the same as real speech. You'd never want to read all these umms, ahhs, coughs and false starts! All it can do is mirror an idealised version of speech.
But hearing that helps you to write it yourself.
Happy listening!
September 28, 2019
Book Tokens and Gift Vouchers
Do you remember the book token? I was given a few of these when I was growing up in the 1970s and loved them. The thought of going to a bookshop and choosing something was so exciting.
Of course back then there were more bookshops to choose from. I definitely don't see the reduction in bookshops (and indeed libraries) as something to be proud of, just the opposite in fact.
A £5.00 book token back then would certainly mean I could get two paperbacks (£1.99 each - those WERE the days!).
One of the earliest series I collected was Enid Blyton's Famous Five as my local TV company (now sadly defunct) was bringing these to life on the small screen. Naturally the books were rushed out again with new covers linking in to the TV series.
These days it tends to be gift vouchers but I love those you can spend almost anywhere, including W.H. Smiths and Waterstones. I needn't tell you where I spend mine after that, need I?!
The nice thing is I still have that sense of excitement about the prospect of choosing a new book. I don't think I'll ever lose that. Neither do I want to!
Do you remember where you spent your book tokens and what were some of your cherished purchases?
Of course back then there were more bookshops to choose from. I definitely don't see the reduction in bookshops (and indeed libraries) as something to be proud of, just the opposite in fact.
A £5.00 book token back then would certainly mean I could get two paperbacks (£1.99 each - those WERE the days!).
One of the earliest series I collected was Enid Blyton's Famous Five as my local TV company (now sadly defunct) was bringing these to life on the small screen. Naturally the books were rushed out again with new covers linking in to the TV series.
These days it tends to be gift vouchers but I love those you can spend almost anywhere, including W.H. Smiths and Waterstones. I needn't tell you where I spend mine after that, need I?!
The nice thing is I still have that sense of excitement about the prospect of choosing a new book. I don't think I'll ever lose that. Neither do I want to!
Do you remember where you spent your book tokens and what were some of your cherished purchases?
September 21, 2019
Why are your Favourite Books your favourites?
I don't have just one favourite book. Do any of us, come to that?!
The reasons for my favourite books being so favoured vary enormously and can depend on how I'm feeling at any one time. What links the favourites is one solid fact - I couldn't part with any of them!
So I have favourite books because:-
1. They're classic childhood stories.
2. They were given to me by loved ones, now passed on.
3. They were given to me by friends and family whom I cherish.
4. They first introduced me to irony and humour in fiction. (Wodehouse Austen, Pratchett).
5. Sherlock and Poirot are just brilliant, albeit in different ways.
6. The Lord of the Rings - no need to say more!
7. Discworld - likewise!
8. The books are written by me or are anthologies with my flash fiction and short stories in them.
9. The books are written by friends!
10. Some are photo books of my dogs with apt captons for my first two collies and now Lady too.
So why are your favourites your favourites then?
The reasons for my favourite books being so favoured vary enormously and can depend on how I'm feeling at any one time. What links the favourites is one solid fact - I couldn't part with any of them!
So I have favourite books because:-
1. They're classic childhood stories.
2. They were given to me by loved ones, now passed on.
3. They were given to me by friends and family whom I cherish.
4. They first introduced me to irony and humour in fiction. (Wodehouse Austen, Pratchett).
5. Sherlock and Poirot are just brilliant, albeit in different ways.
6. The Lord of the Rings - no need to say more!
7. Discworld - likewise!
8. The books are written by me or are anthologies with my flash fiction and short stories in them.
9. The books are written by friends!
10. Some are photo books of my dogs with apt captons for my first two collies and now Lady too.
So why are your favourites your favourites then?
September 14, 2019
Books into Films
My favourite adaptation has to be Peter Jackson's take on J.R.R. Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings - the vision conjured up seemed to match what I had thought when I first read the trilogy.
It was wonderful "seeing" The Shire. The darkness of Mordor was vividly brought to life too.
I've also loved the adaptations of Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, Hogfather, and The Colour of Magic.
I would love to see an adaptation of Men at Arms and Raising Steam.
I still don't understand how you can get three films out of The Hobbit though!
Having said all of that, I am all for film adaptations of books as long as they stay faithful to the book. I don't "get" changing endings, character roles etc. It makes it a different story to the one the author originally intended and I really can't see the point of that.
What are your favourite adaptations and why?
It was wonderful "seeing" The Shire. The darkness of Mordor was vividly brought to life too.
I've also loved the adaptations of Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, Hogfather, and The Colour of Magic.
I would love to see an adaptation of Men at Arms and Raising Steam.
I still don't understand how you can get three films out of The Hobbit though!
Having said all of that, I am all for film adaptations of books as long as they stay faithful to the book. I don't "get" changing endings, character roles etc. It makes it a different story to the one the author originally intended and I really can't see the point of that.
What are your favourite adaptations and why?
September 7, 2019
Choosing What to Read Next
How do you choose what to read next?
If I'm reading a series, fine - problem solved. I carry on until I finish said series. But what about when I reach that point?
I often don't feel like reading another series immediately, This is where stand-alone books come into their own, of course.
I've mentioned before a lot hinges on my mood when reading. If I've just finished reading a dark novel, I'll inevitably got for something lighter just to balance things up a bit.
If I've been reading lots of novels, I'll switch to short story and flash fiction collections for while.
If I've been reading books, I'll switch to magazine reading for a time too.
The good thing with all of this?
I'm never going to run out of good things to read - and neither are you!
If I'm reading a series, fine - problem solved. I carry on until I finish said series. But what about when I reach that point?
I often don't feel like reading another series immediately, This is where stand-alone books come into their own, of course.
I've mentioned before a lot hinges on my mood when reading. If I've just finished reading a dark novel, I'll inevitably got for something lighter just to balance things up a bit.
If I've been reading lots of novels, I'll switch to short story and flash fiction collections for while.
If I've been reading books, I'll switch to magazine reading for a time too.
The good thing with all of this?
I'm never going to run out of good things to read - and neither are you!
August 31, 2019
The TBR Pile
How large is your To Be Read pile?
Mine hasn't quite got to the point where I need scaffolding to keep the TBR pile upright but give me time...
I also have a considerable reading list waiting for me on my Kindle too.
The positives with this are:-
(a) I'm never going to be short of things to read;
(b) I have different things to read to suit my moods;
(c) It doesn't matter if I want to catch up with reading at home or away - the Kindle takes care of the latter nicely enough.
The negatives with this are:-
(a) Being only too aware of the finiteness of time! There will never be enough time to read every book I want to!
(b) Having to get the scaffolding out in due course to prop up my TBR pile!
(c) It's going to take me a while to update what I've read here on Goodreads!
I read most just before settling to sleep or, on a long train journey and I've finished what writing I want to do, I then switch to reading.
However large your TBR pile is, happy reading! Whittle it down gradually and then you'll have room for more lovely books...!
Mine hasn't quite got to the point where I need scaffolding to keep the TBR pile upright but give me time...
I also have a considerable reading list waiting for me on my Kindle too.
The positives with this are:-
(a) I'm never going to be short of things to read;
(b) I have different things to read to suit my moods;
(c) It doesn't matter if I want to catch up with reading at home or away - the Kindle takes care of the latter nicely enough.
The negatives with this are:-
(a) Being only too aware of the finiteness of time! There will never be enough time to read every book I want to!
(b) Having to get the scaffolding out in due course to prop up my TBR pile!
(c) It's going to take me a while to update what I've read here on Goodreads!
I read most just before settling to sleep or, on a long train journey and I've finished what writing I want to do, I then switch to reading.
However large your TBR pile is, happy reading! Whittle it down gradually and then you'll have room for more lovely books...!
August 24, 2019
Reading for Inspiration
Do you read specifically to be inspired for your writing?
I don't as such.
I do is read in subject areas of interest to me, fiction and non-fiction, and expect sparks for story/blog ideas to come. I'm rarely disappointed!
Sometimes I know I need to research and then I target my reading appropriately. But usually the spark ideas come as a nice surprise. I know I will find the sparks, it's just the form they'll take I can"t anticipate.
But that's a good thing. In having an open mind, I can make far more use of those sparks when they turn up.
And I increase the amount of reading I do. Win-win!❤😊
I don't as such.
I do is read in subject areas of interest to me, fiction and non-fiction, and expect sparks for story/blog ideas to come. I'm rarely disappointed!
Sometimes I know I need to research and then I target my reading appropriately. But usually the spark ideas come as a nice surprise. I know I will find the sparks, it's just the form they'll take I can"t anticipate.
But that's a good thing. In having an open mind, I can make far more use of those sparks when they turn up.
And I increase the amount of reading I do. Win-win!❤😊
August 17, 2019
Reading Time
I've not long got back from the fabulous Swanwick Writers' Summer School and, naturally, I picked up some wonderful books from the Book Room here.
What I didn't get while I was there was any time to do any reading! After a full day of courses, workshops, catching up with old friends, and making new ones, I was far too tired to do much in the way of reading.
I managed to read two magazine articles while I was there! Hmm... not much at all in six days.
Of course, this has meant my TBR pile has increased but there are worse problems in life than that one!
Having said all of that, I was taking in plenty of great material via the course presentations etc and that was the important reading I did want to focus on.
Catching up with my reading will cheer me up immensely as the post-Swanwick and back to the real world blues hit home.
There is much to be grateful for when it comes to reading!
My usual routine is to give myself enough time to read before sleeping and I will often dip into a magazine at lunchtime, say. That was out of the question while I was away but being immersed in a world totally dedicated to reading and writing stories, books, scripts, non-fiction etc. was fantastic.
What I didn't get while I was there was any time to do any reading! After a full day of courses, workshops, catching up with old friends, and making new ones, I was far too tired to do much in the way of reading.
I managed to read two magazine articles while I was there! Hmm... not much at all in six days.
Of course, this has meant my TBR pile has increased but there are worse problems in life than that one!
Having said all of that, I was taking in plenty of great material via the course presentations etc and that was the important reading I did want to focus on.
Catching up with my reading will cheer me up immensely as the post-Swanwick and back to the real world blues hit home.
There is much to be grateful for when it comes to reading!
My usual routine is to give myself enough time to read before sleeping and I will often dip into a magazine at lunchtime, say. That was out of the question while I was away but being immersed in a world totally dedicated to reading and writing stories, books, scripts, non-fiction etc. was fantastic.
