Allison Symes's Blog, page 41
March 13, 2018
Books I have Loved
I have spent many a fine evening re-reading favourite novels and short stories. For me, there is no such thing as a book beyond its "read by"date.
It has been my experience even books written in styles we wouldn't use now have some entertainment value and I can usually learn something from the way the author has written their characters. I usually pick up something on each reading.
As for contemporary reading, I am reading a fair number of flash fiction collections, I love reading history (and historical fiction), as well as crime. I am reading far more non-fiction than I used to but I think this may be a reflection of the fact I'm writing non-fiction now as well.
Having a Kindle has increased the amount of reading I do too. I do like the "Look Inside" feature and have often used this. I was glad it was available on my own flash fiction collection. This has given me many chances to try books I wouldn't have necessarily thought of trying.
It has been my experience even books written in styles we wouldn't use now have some entertainment value and I can usually learn something from the way the author has written their characters. I usually pick up something on each reading.
As for contemporary reading, I am reading a fair number of flash fiction collections, I love reading history (and historical fiction), as well as crime. I am reading far more non-fiction than I used to but I think this may be a reflection of the fact I'm writing non-fiction now as well.
Having a Kindle has increased the amount of reading I do too. I do like the "Look Inside" feature and have often used this. I was glad it was available on my own flash fiction collection. This has given me many chances to try books I wouldn't have necessarily thought of trying.
March 8, 2018
Favourite Agatha Christie Novels
I'm a great fan of Agatha Christie. The first set of books I collected from Odhams (remember them?) were hers and I proudly own at least 30 red leather-bound hardbacks.
Each hardback contains two novels or a novel and a set of her short stories (such as The Labours of Hercules).
My favourite character is Jane Marple, though I do love Tommy and Tuppence in The Secret Adversary.
My favourite novel, though, is Murder on the Orient Express because it looks at whether murder is ever justified, even when the usual justice system fails.
It's still a pertinent question. Even more pertinent is the fact the justice system shouldn't fail but can do. Desperation and anger drive people to do desperate things and this is very much reflected in this book.
I also liked the David Suchet TV version of this. His Poirot was in angry anguish over what happened (and by implication what drove those events in the first place).
So what are your favourite Agatha books?
Each hardback contains two novels or a novel and a set of her short stories (such as The Labours of Hercules).
My favourite character is Jane Marple, though I do love Tommy and Tuppence in The Secret Adversary.
My favourite novel, though, is Murder on the Orient Express because it looks at whether murder is ever justified, even when the usual justice system fails.
It's still a pertinent question. Even more pertinent is the fact the justice system shouldn't fail but can do. Desperation and anger drive people to do desperate things and this is very much reflected in this book.
I also liked the David Suchet TV version of this. His Poirot was in angry anguish over what happened (and by implication what drove those events in the first place).
So what are your favourite Agatha books?
February 24, 2018
What I Like in a Book Review
This applies to reviews for my From Light to Dark and Back Again as well as those I give for other books!A good review has:-
1. No spoilers but enough information so the reader knows what they will be reading in terms of genre etc.
2. What the reviewer likes - good characterisation, twist in the tale endings etc.
3. No waffle.
4. No negativity. (The way to criticize a book is to say what you liked, what you thought didn't work so well etc as the writer will be expecting this. Your thoughts on what didn't work so well can be very useful to them. What you don't write is a "hatchet job" on the book or the author).
5. A rough idea of book length and time taken to read it (though I must admit I don't always remember this one! I DO stress when reviewing flash fiction collections the great thing about this genre is you can read it one sitting but it is also great for dipping in and out of).
6. What you would like to see from the author next time (i.e. next book in the series, continued great characterisation, less of the blood and gore, if appropriate etc).
7. Total honesty from the reviewer.
What would you add to this list?
February 19, 2018
Book Recommendations
What makes you recommend a book to a friend?
For me, it has to be the great characters in the book. If I think they're great, my writing and other friends are likely to think so too.
I've never understood the character -v- plot debate. Characters drive the plot. Their actions and reactions are pivotal to the entire story.
Characters have to be well enough portrayed to make the plot work. A plot will fail if the characters are not up to it. A strong character can and does make all the difference to whether a story succeeds or not.
So I'll happily recommend books with great characters. I won't recommend books with convoluted plots but where the characters, for whatever reason, don't make me sit up and take notice.
How about you? What are your thoughts here>
For me, it has to be the great characters in the book. If I think they're great, my writing and other friends are likely to think so too.
I've never understood the character -v- plot debate. Characters drive the plot. Their actions and reactions are pivotal to the entire story.
Characters have to be well enough portrayed to make the plot work. A plot will fail if the characters are not up to it. A strong character can and does make all the difference to whether a story succeeds or not.
So I'll happily recommend books with great characters. I won't recommend books with convoluted plots but where the characters, for whatever reason, don't make me sit up and take notice.
How about you? What are your thoughts here>
February 13, 2018
What is the Purpose of Reading?
Reading, of course, educates, informs and entertains us. I think all three aspects are vital and should feed off each other.
This is where things like the Horrible Histories series have done so well - information presented with humour goes down better, especially with youngsters, than straight facts presented in a more traditional way.
I read chiefly for pleasure but I also read to research and to expand my knowledge on things I may well write about, either in fiction or for Chandler's Ford Today at a later date.
Things I know I will want to read later I will either download straight to my Kindle or send to it (and this is so useful. I often catch up with reading here when on train journeys).
So does literacy and the love of books still matter? Of course, it does. It always will.
This is where things like the Horrible Histories series have done so well - information presented with humour goes down better, especially with youngsters, than straight facts presented in a more traditional way.
I read chiefly for pleasure but I also read to research and to expand my knowledge on things I may well write about, either in fiction or for Chandler's Ford Today at a later date.
Things I know I will want to read later I will either download straight to my Kindle or send to it (and this is so useful. I often catch up with reading here when on train journeys).
So does literacy and the love of books still matter? Of course, it does. It always will.
February 7, 2018
Short Stories Pack a Punch
I've loved short stories for years. Flash fiction has been a fairly recent innovation and I quickly became addicted to both reading and writing it.
As you can imagine, I was thrilled to be published for the first time last year with Chapeltown Books for a flash fiction collection (From Light to Dark and Back Again).
Now I have nothing against the novel. You can't beat the novel for a satisfying, longer story when all is said and done.
But sometimes you just want a glimpse into a character's life (rather than have the whole "spiel") and this is where short stories, and especially flash fiction, come into their own.
They really do pack a punch when you consider their limited word count. (Even the longer short story is still short when compared to your average novel).
I love to write my stories knowing they will have an impact, whether it is to hopefully make readers laugh or, if the tales are darker, to make them shudder!
The big problem with a novel is keeping impact going without it seeming artificial and ensuring the final impact happens at the right moment. It is possible to write a final scene for a book and then decide you've just got to add this, or that, and thaen the final impact is diluted.
You can't really do that with short stories (and you certainly can't for flash). You have the big, final moment and that's it. But to me that is a huge advantage as a writer. I know when to stop then!
As you can imagine, I was thrilled to be published for the first time last year with Chapeltown Books for a flash fiction collection (From Light to Dark and Back Again).
Now I have nothing against the novel. You can't beat the novel for a satisfying, longer story when all is said and done.
But sometimes you just want a glimpse into a character's life (rather than have the whole "spiel") and this is where short stories, and especially flash fiction, come into their own.
They really do pack a punch when you consider their limited word count. (Even the longer short story is still short when compared to your average novel).
I love to write my stories knowing they will have an impact, whether it is to hopefully make readers laugh or, if the tales are darker, to make them shudder!
The big problem with a novel is keeping impact going without it seeming artificial and ensuring the final impact happens at the right moment. It is possible to write a final scene for a book and then decide you've just got to add this, or that, and thaen the final impact is diluted.
You can't really do that with short stories (and you certainly can't for flash). You have the big, final moment and that's it. But to me that is a huge advantage as a writer. I know when to stop then!
February 2, 2018
Alternative Character Viewpoints
I have a very soft spot for stories told from alternative viewpoints, especially fairy tales. My first published story was A Helping Hand in Bridge House Publishing's Alternative Renditions anthology (many moons ago now) and tells the Cinderella tale from the viewpoint of the youngest stepsister. It was great fun to write and, due it being the first thing I'd written that was accepted for publication (thank you, Bridge House!), it will always have a special place in my heart.
In my flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, I take Goldilocks' viewpoint as my angle in the tale, Health and Safety, (though between you and me, I still think she comes across as the kind of character you wouldn't want to take into a posh giftware shop given the chaos she caused with one chair and one bed in the Three Bears' house!).
One great thing about using alternative viewpoints like this is you can explore why that character has behaved the way they have. You can explore their justifications for their actions.
The great thing is they don't have to be right! (It can be even more fun when they're not but they really think they are. You really get to know what they are made of exploring this kind of avenue).
You can also prove the truth of the old saying "there are two sides to every story" by exploring what the other characters think! They just have to be strong enough to carry their own story.
In my flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, I take Goldilocks' viewpoint as my angle in the tale, Health and Safety, (though between you and me, I still think she comes across as the kind of character you wouldn't want to take into a posh giftware shop given the chaos she caused with one chair and one bed in the Three Bears' house!).
One great thing about using alternative viewpoints like this is you can explore why that character has behaved the way they have. You can explore their justifications for their actions.
The great thing is they don't have to be right! (It can be even more fun when they're not but they really think they are. You really get to know what they are made of exploring this kind of avenue).
You can also prove the truth of the old saying "there are two sides to every story" by exploring what the other characters think! They just have to be strong enough to carry their own story.
January 24, 2018
Favourite Characters
I have too many favourite characters to name them individually, as I expect is the case with most of us, but I do like particular types.
My overall favourite is the unexpected hero. Think Bilbo and Frodo Baggins! I admit being on the short side myself, I probably was always going to favour the idea of a hobbit as a hero!
I also love those characters who suffer injustice but win through in the end. That covers everything from Cinderella to the Prisoner of Azkaban to The Man In the Iron Mask.
I don't have a problem with talking animals in stories as long as they make sense! Ideally, I prefer it when the animals know more of what is going on in the story than the hero does. (Hello, Puss in Boots!).
Characters have got to be appropriate to the fictional world in which they're set so hobbits could only be in a fantasy world. Mind, if I had to live anywhere in fiction, I can think of far worse places than The Shire. (Mordor, for one!).
So what are your favourite character types and why?
My overall favourite is the unexpected hero. Think Bilbo and Frodo Baggins! I admit being on the short side myself, I probably was always going to favour the idea of a hobbit as a hero!
I also love those characters who suffer injustice but win through in the end. That covers everything from Cinderella to the Prisoner of Azkaban to The Man In the Iron Mask.
I don't have a problem with talking animals in stories as long as they make sense! Ideally, I prefer it when the animals know more of what is going on in the story than the hero does. (Hello, Puss in Boots!).
Characters have got to be appropriate to the fictional world in which they're set so hobbits could only be in a fantasy world. Mind, if I had to live anywhere in fiction, I can think of far worse places than The Shire. (Mordor, for one!).
So what are your favourite character types and why?
January 8, 2018
Reading Moods
I don't know about you but my reading moods tend to be one genre at a time, then I switch to another for a while and so on.
At the moment my reading list is mainly history (non-fiction), but almost inevitably when I want a change from that, I'll go to something almost diametrically opposed to it. (Probably humorous fiction, knowing me and then it'll the usual crime fest with appropriate body count etc!).
I see all of this as immersing myself well and truly in the world of books and that does have benefits to my fiction. Ideas cross-pollinate, influences that lead to good story ideas can come from almost anywhere (so reading widely really means just casting your imagination's net out that bit further, which is rarely a bad thing!).
So whatever you are reading enjoy it! Who knows what ideas it might inspire in you for your own writing? (All I know is you've got to be open to the prospect of ideas coming in!).
At the moment my reading list is mainly history (non-fiction), but almost inevitably when I want a change from that, I'll go to something almost diametrically opposed to it. (Probably humorous fiction, knowing me and then it'll the usual crime fest with appropriate body count etc!).
I see all of this as immersing myself well and truly in the world of books and that does have benefits to my fiction. Ideas cross-pollinate, influences that lead to good story ideas can come from almost anywhere (so reading widely really means just casting your imagination's net out that bit further, which is rarely a bad thing!).
So whatever you are reading enjoy it! Who knows what ideas it might inspire in you for your own writing? (All I know is you've got to be open to the prospect of ideas coming in!).
December 30, 2017
Judging a Book
I must admit the book cover has got to lure me into wanting to read the blurb. Once the blurb has then interested me, I will read the opening paragraph or two and then if still interested, I buy the book.
There are exceptions. I'm a huge fan of history (fiction and non-fiction) and almost anything on Richard III is going to trigger my immediate interest. Much as I love the Bard of Avon, I don't rely on HIM for historical accuracy!
One of my favourite novels is The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. The title comes from the phrase "Truth is the daughter of time", which I think is lovely. It is also one of the few books to make me change my mind about something, in this case, the guilty of Richard III regarding the Princes in the Tower.
The book's "star" is Inspector Alan Grant who is confined to a hospital bed by a nasty accident and who decides to investigate Richard III from that bed as a means of passing the time (Grant is VERY bored in the hospital). The conclusions Grant reach are startling. Highly recommend this great book.
There are exceptions. I'm a huge fan of history (fiction and non-fiction) and almost anything on Richard III is going to trigger my immediate interest. Much as I love the Bard of Avon, I don't rely on HIM for historical accuracy!
One of my favourite novels is The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. The title comes from the phrase "Truth is the daughter of time", which I think is lovely. It is also one of the few books to make me change my mind about something, in this case, the guilty of Richard III regarding the Princes in the Tower.
The book's "star" is Inspector Alan Grant who is confined to a hospital bed by a nasty accident and who decides to investigate Richard III from that bed as a means of passing the time (Grant is VERY bored in the hospital). The conclusions Grant reach are startling. Highly recommend this great book.
