Chris Dietzel's Blog, page 2
November 8, 2020
Really good analysis of Slaughterhouse-Five
Kurt Vonnegut is one of my all-time favorite authors and Slaughterhouse-Five is one of my all-time favorite books so I was happy to find an excellent analysis of it by GoodReads member Simon Fay.
You can watch it here:
How to Tell the Story of a Tragedy - Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr
You can watch it here:
How to Tell the Story of a Tragedy - Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr
September 12, 2020
Cover reveal for my next book!
My next story is coming out September 29 and is titled THE LAST VOTER. It’s a Great De-evolution story like the ones I’m known for. Check out the cover HERE
You can also pre-order a copy for only $0.99! Thanks for any support, and if you read it I hope you enjoy it as much as my other quiet apocalyptic stories.
http://chrisdietzel.com/2020/08/cover...
You can also pre-order a copy for only $0.99! Thanks for any support, and if you read it I hope you enjoy it as much as my other quiet apocalyptic stories.
http://chrisdietzel.com/2020/08/cover...
May 24, 2020
A Case Study of Two Ways Amazon Hurt an Author’s Book Sales
My latest blog entry looks at how Amazon's rating and review system can be negatively skewed and unnecessarily impact book sales.
It can be found here:
Blog: A Case Study of Two Ways Amazon Hurt an Author’s Book Sales
It can be found here:
Blog: A Case Study of Two Ways Amazon Hurt an Author’s Book Sales
May 11, 2020
What the Original Star Wars Trilogy got right, the latest Star Wars trilogy got so wrong, and the Space Lore series does well
My latest blog entry looks at what made the original Star Wars trilogy so great, why the Disney trilogy failed to connect with longtime fans, and why the Space Lore books, although unrelated to Star Wars, were written for fans of the original trilogy.
It can be found here:
Blog: What the Original Star Wars Trilogy got right, the latest Star Wars trilogy got so wrong, and the Space Lore series does well
It can be found here:
Blog: What the Original Star Wars Trilogy got right, the latest Star Wars trilogy got so wrong, and the Space Lore series does well
April 16, 2020
FREE AUDIOBOOK
Exciting news for everyone: I know everyone is staying inside these days, so chances are you’re running out of things to keep you entertained. What better way to spend part of your day than by listening to a free audiobook? Well, the audiobook version of my novelette, The Last Astronaut, has just been released and I’ve decided to make it 100% free!
You can download it at any of these sites:
Chirp Audiobooks
Google Play
Rakuten Kobo
Apple / iBooks
eStories
Kenneth Foster did a great job with the narration and Mark Andrich’s music is amazing. If you’ve read or listened to any of my other Great De-evolution stories, you know they aren’t your typical end-of-the-world tales. They are quiet and reflective, and The Last Astronaut is exactly the same.
Download a copy of the audiobook today. And if you enjoy it, tell all your friends and family about it and share these links with them so they can get a free copy too.
You can download it at any of these sites:
Chirp Audiobooks
Google Play
Rakuten Kobo
Apple / iBooks
eStories
Kenneth Foster did a great job with the narration and Mark Andrich’s music is amazing. If you’ve read or listened to any of my other Great De-evolution stories, you know they aren’t your typical end-of-the-world tales. They are quiet and reflective, and The Last Astronaut is exactly the same.
Download a copy of the audiobook today. And if you enjoy it, tell all your friends and family about it and share these links with them so they can get a free copy too.
January 8, 2020
My Favorite Books Read in 2019
Each year, I make a list of the books that I read for the first time and most enjoyed. As usual, many of the books that I read last year were very good but only a few will stick with me for a long time.
8. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants (2013) by Malcolm Gladwell – I enjoyed this a lot. I learned a lot and Gladwell presents one fascinating story after another, although I slightly preferred the other books of his that I’ve read over this one. The last couple chapters in particular felt like they had been cut from The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and were a better fit there. Regardless, this was an easy and enjoyable read. Recommended.
7. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (2017) by Timothy Snyder – I liked this but it felt rushed at times and I wish it would have had a little more behind each of the twenty lessons. In terms of approach, it was a good move to start by listing all twenty lessons right away and then explaining them. One thing did irk me, however, and that was the author’s establishment bias. He notes how propaganda is put out by Russian-produced news stations but not the propaganda disseminated by U.S. news stations, he notes ways in which we are closer to tyranny because of the current president but not ways in which we are closer to tyranny because of previous presidents, etc.. I liked his overall message but wish he could have distanced himself from the establishment narrative a little more.
6. So You've Been Publicly Shamed (2015) by Jon Ronson – This books dissects how social media shaming has become a force for both good and bad and often ruins lives. Ronson starts with an account of a journalist who added slight falsehoods to a Bob Dylan story and how the shaming he received was completely uneven with the scale of what he had done. The rest of the book goes into detail on various other times that social media shamings have ruined people’s lives and the group think that causes today’s society to engage in that kind of behavior. A really fascinating read.
5. Siddhartha (1922) by Hermann Hesse – As a huge fan of Paulo Coelho’s, the biggest compliment I can give this book is saying that if Coelho had been born 70 years earlier and been German instead of Brazilian, this is a book he would have written. Everything that I enjoy about Coehlo’s writing was present here as well. I felt like I was learning about life via a simple, very accessible tale. I’ll definitely be adding Hesse’s other major works to my to-read list.
4. I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2016) by Iain Reid – This story reminded me of what it would be like if David Lynch spent his time writing books instead of making movies. The book does an excellent job of being creepy and keeping you guessing as to what is really happening. I had a feeling the end would use the device that was ultimately employed but I was wrong about the direction in which it was delivered (avoiding spoilers). There were a couple books I enjoyed more than this one in 2019 but I found myself thinking of this book long after I had finished it, and that’s the mark of a good book.
Odd side note: The worst part of this book is the publisher’s description, which focuses on something that happens 75% of the way through the book. This can only lead to either misleading readers or else making them feel like the first 75% of the story is a waste when it isn’t at all.
3. Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment (1998) by Surya Das – This was excellent. I’ve read a couple books that are similar, most notably I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. What makes this book so much more enjoyable than the others I’ve read is that it’s accessible and casual at every turn. There were huge chunks of I Am That that were dense and just didn’t make sense to a novice like me. This book excels by being extremely easy to follow while also not preaching. Highly recommended if this subject matter interests you at all.
2. Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage (1981) by Kurt Vonnegut – This is Vonnegut at his nonfiction best. As much as I liked A Man Without a Country, I think this was superior. Among the highlights for me were his thoughts back when he was a writing teacher, the self interview he did for the Paris review, his family’s thoughts on his writing, and the impact that the Dresdon fire bombing that he wrote about in Slaughterhouse 5 had on him throughout his life. Much of the book is classic Vonnegut in the fact that it is humorous and pessimistic, but there are also plenty of touching parts where you feel like you are actually getting to know the man behind the sarcasm and wit.
1. Wolf in White Van (2014) by John Darnielle – It’s extremely rare to find a book that is flawless in approach and execution but there isn’t a single thing I would change about Wolf In White Van. There are two ways authors can evoke childhood memories from their readers. The first is by focusing on pop culture, as Ready Player One successfully does. The second is by focusing on the sense of alienation that all kids have at one time or another. Darnielle excels in this regard, and yet it is only one aspect of the story that is excellent.
The story itself is enthralling but it also leads to a mystery of what ultimately happens, which is not fully explained until the end. The climax, detailing what happened, worked perfectly for me. However, the best part of this book might be the second mystery, which you can only think about after you finish the book, and this is ‘Why’ the climax happened the way it did. As for this element, you have to remember small clues Darnielle gives throughout the book. A sentence here and a sentence there provide hints as to why this series of events unfolds. If you’re like me, you’ll be thinking about all of the subtle clues that are offered as the story plays out to a haunting conclusion. Answers are never clearly given, you have to work for them, and I absolutely loved that.
Even when I read this I knew it would be my favorite book of the year. The last book I can remember that evoked such a successfully haunting story is Hannah Pittard’s The Fates Will Find Their Way, which I also loved and was my favorite book read of 2013.
Honorable mention: Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster (1997) by Jon Krakauer – This isn’t included above because it was my third time reading it. I originally read this in high school and loved it. It’s by far my favorite outdoors / nonfiction adventure / true-life disaster book. Krakauer has a straight forward way of recounting the events that unfolded in a way that’s extremely engrossing. He originally went to Everest to write an article for Outside magazine about the commercialism of the world’s highest peak and how it had become over-traveled and polluted as a result. Through recounting the events of that expedition, he successfully discourages others from wanting to do the same thing. In that regard, the book is not only entertaining but also an effective public service announcement.
8. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants (2013) by Malcolm Gladwell – I enjoyed this a lot. I learned a lot and Gladwell presents one fascinating story after another, although I slightly preferred the other books of his that I’ve read over this one. The last couple chapters in particular felt like they had been cut from The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference and were a better fit there. Regardless, this was an easy and enjoyable read. Recommended.
7. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (2017) by Timothy Snyder – I liked this but it felt rushed at times and I wish it would have had a little more behind each of the twenty lessons. In terms of approach, it was a good move to start by listing all twenty lessons right away and then explaining them. One thing did irk me, however, and that was the author’s establishment bias. He notes how propaganda is put out by Russian-produced news stations but not the propaganda disseminated by U.S. news stations, he notes ways in which we are closer to tyranny because of the current president but not ways in which we are closer to tyranny because of previous presidents, etc.. I liked his overall message but wish he could have distanced himself from the establishment narrative a little more.
6. So You've Been Publicly Shamed (2015) by Jon Ronson – This books dissects how social media shaming has become a force for both good and bad and often ruins lives. Ronson starts with an account of a journalist who added slight falsehoods to a Bob Dylan story and how the shaming he received was completely uneven with the scale of what he had done. The rest of the book goes into detail on various other times that social media shamings have ruined people’s lives and the group think that causes today’s society to engage in that kind of behavior. A really fascinating read.
5. Siddhartha (1922) by Hermann Hesse – As a huge fan of Paulo Coelho’s, the biggest compliment I can give this book is saying that if Coelho had been born 70 years earlier and been German instead of Brazilian, this is a book he would have written. Everything that I enjoy about Coehlo’s writing was present here as well. I felt like I was learning about life via a simple, very accessible tale. I’ll definitely be adding Hesse’s other major works to my to-read list.
4. I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2016) by Iain Reid – This story reminded me of what it would be like if David Lynch spent his time writing books instead of making movies. The book does an excellent job of being creepy and keeping you guessing as to what is really happening. I had a feeling the end would use the device that was ultimately employed but I was wrong about the direction in which it was delivered (avoiding spoilers). There were a couple books I enjoyed more than this one in 2019 but I found myself thinking of this book long after I had finished it, and that’s the mark of a good book.
Odd side note: The worst part of this book is the publisher’s description, which focuses on something that happens 75% of the way through the book. This can only lead to either misleading readers or else making them feel like the first 75% of the story is a waste when it isn’t at all.
3. Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment (1998) by Surya Das – This was excellent. I’ve read a couple books that are similar, most notably I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. What makes this book so much more enjoyable than the others I’ve read is that it’s accessible and casual at every turn. There were huge chunks of I Am That that were dense and just didn’t make sense to a novice like me. This book excels by being extremely easy to follow while also not preaching. Highly recommended if this subject matter interests you at all.
2. Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage (1981) by Kurt Vonnegut – This is Vonnegut at his nonfiction best. As much as I liked A Man Without a Country, I think this was superior. Among the highlights for me were his thoughts back when he was a writing teacher, the self interview he did for the Paris review, his family’s thoughts on his writing, and the impact that the Dresdon fire bombing that he wrote about in Slaughterhouse 5 had on him throughout his life. Much of the book is classic Vonnegut in the fact that it is humorous and pessimistic, but there are also plenty of touching parts where you feel like you are actually getting to know the man behind the sarcasm and wit.
1. Wolf in White Van (2014) by John Darnielle – It’s extremely rare to find a book that is flawless in approach and execution but there isn’t a single thing I would change about Wolf In White Van. There are two ways authors can evoke childhood memories from their readers. The first is by focusing on pop culture, as Ready Player One successfully does. The second is by focusing on the sense of alienation that all kids have at one time or another. Darnielle excels in this regard, and yet it is only one aspect of the story that is excellent.
The story itself is enthralling but it also leads to a mystery of what ultimately happens, which is not fully explained until the end. The climax, detailing what happened, worked perfectly for me. However, the best part of this book might be the second mystery, which you can only think about after you finish the book, and this is ‘Why’ the climax happened the way it did. As for this element, you have to remember small clues Darnielle gives throughout the book. A sentence here and a sentence there provide hints as to why this series of events unfolds. If you’re like me, you’ll be thinking about all of the subtle clues that are offered as the story plays out to a haunting conclusion. Answers are never clearly given, you have to work for them, and I absolutely loved that.
Even when I read this I knew it would be my favorite book of the year. The last book I can remember that evoked such a successfully haunting story is Hannah Pittard’s The Fates Will Find Their Way, which I also loved and was my favorite book read of 2013.
Honorable mention: Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster (1997) by Jon Krakauer – This isn’t included above because it was my third time reading it. I originally read this in high school and loved it. It’s by far my favorite outdoors / nonfiction adventure / true-life disaster book. Krakauer has a straight forward way of recounting the events that unfolded in a way that’s extremely engrossing. He originally went to Everest to write an article for Outside magazine about the commercialism of the world’s highest peak and how it had become over-traveled and polluted as a result. Through recounting the events of that expedition, he successfully discourages others from wanting to do the same thing. In that regard, the book is not only entertaining but also an effective public service announcement.
November 6, 2019
Writing tips by three great authors
I’m always looking to learn from other writers. As I developed my own writing voice and my own style of telling stories, I’ve found various lessons and insights that were helpful. Here is a collection from three authors I’ve enjoyed.
Robert Heinelein’s Rules of Writing:
1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
4. You must put the work on the market.
5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.
6. Start Working on something else.
Heinlein’s rules were the very first set of writing tips I remember reading. Of course, this was a long time ago and the industry has changed a lot since he wrote those rules, especially in regards to Rules #4 and #5.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Basic Tips for Writing:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
I included Vonnegut’s tips because I love everything that has anything to do with him. His voice as a writer made a big impact on me and ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’ is one of my all-time favorite books. I also enjoy how frank he is in everything he says, even his writing advice.
Stephen King’s Tips for Becoming a Better Writer:
1. Get to the point.
2. Write a draft, then let it rest.
3. Cut down your text.
4. Be relateable and honest.
5. Don’t care too much what others may think.
6. Read a lot.
7. Write a lot.
Stephen King’s tips are last because I relate to them the most. If I were going to suggest some tips for aspiring authors they would most resemble the list King put together.
For another list of writing tips, check out an article the Guardian posted a couple years ago, with writing tips by the likes of Margaret Atwood, Elmore Leonard, Richard Ford, Neil Gaiman, and others.
If these tips help at least one aspiring writer, then they have served their purpose. If you’ve found other writing tips that are particularly useful, I’d love to hear them.
Robert Heinelein’s Rules of Writing:
1. You must write.
2. You must finish what you write.
3. You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
4. You must put the work on the market.
5. You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.
6. Start Working on something else.
Heinlein’s rules were the very first set of writing tips I remember reading. Of course, this was a long time ago and the industry has changed a lot since he wrote those rules, especially in regards to Rules #4 and #5.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Basic Tips for Writing:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
I included Vonnegut’s tips because I love everything that has anything to do with him. His voice as a writer made a big impact on me and ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’ is one of my all-time favorite books. I also enjoy how frank he is in everything he says, even his writing advice.
Stephen King’s Tips for Becoming a Better Writer:
1. Get to the point.
2. Write a draft, then let it rest.
3. Cut down your text.
4. Be relateable and honest.
5. Don’t care too much what others may think.
6. Read a lot.
7. Write a lot.
Stephen King’s tips are last because I relate to them the most. If I were going to suggest some tips for aspiring authors they would most resemble the list King put together.
For another list of writing tips, check out an article the Guardian posted a couple years ago, with writing tips by the likes of Margaret Atwood, Elmore Leonard, Richard Ford, Neil Gaiman, and others.
If these tips help at least one aspiring writer, then they have served their purpose. If you’ve found other writing tips that are particularly useful, I’d love to hear them.
September 30, 2019
Believe in yourself
This entry was published on my blog almost a decade ago but it’s as true today as it was then. Never give up on your dream.
—————————————————————————–
For a long time, I thought my dream of being a writer was pointless. Only one thing was standing in my way: I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t think I would actually be able to write a book that anyone would want to read, so I didn’t bother to try.
Shortly after college, though, I met a group of highly determined people and I realized the only difference between us was that they believed they could do whatever they set their minds to while I believed the exact opposite. Over the course of time, their optimism and persistence changed my outlook. This led me to understand a few insights that have molded who I am today:
* Your mindset is contagious. If you don’t believe in yourself, you are guaranteeing no one else will either. Successful people don’t surround themselves with pessimists and cynics, they surround themselves with positive thinkers and optimists. Do not give your time to anyone who would belittle your goals or make a joke out of your aspirations because doing so infects your outlook.
* People who believe in themselves don’t keep going only because they are determined—when you truly believe in yourself, you know it’s a matter of time until you achieve your goal. Maybe it will take ten years. Maybe it will take twenty. But it will happen eventually.
* Dreams aren’t easy to achieve, but when you struggle toward something that truly makes you happy, the necessary hard work doesn’t feel like work at all. I look forward to the time I get to sit in front of my computer and edit one of my awful first drafts. If achieving your dream was easy and didn’t require daily pain, it wouldn’t be worthy of being called a dream in the first place.
—————————————————————————–
For a long time, I thought my dream of being a writer was pointless. Only one thing was standing in my way: I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t think I would actually be able to write a book that anyone would want to read, so I didn’t bother to try.
Shortly after college, though, I met a group of highly determined people and I realized the only difference between us was that they believed they could do whatever they set their minds to while I believed the exact opposite. Over the course of time, their optimism and persistence changed my outlook. This led me to understand a few insights that have molded who I am today:
* Your mindset is contagious. If you don’t believe in yourself, you are guaranteeing no one else will either. Successful people don’t surround themselves with pessimists and cynics, they surround themselves with positive thinkers and optimists. Do not give your time to anyone who would belittle your goals or make a joke out of your aspirations because doing so infects your outlook.
* People who believe in themselves don’t keep going only because they are determined—when you truly believe in yourself, you know it’s a matter of time until you achieve your goal. Maybe it will take ten years. Maybe it will take twenty. But it will happen eventually.
* Dreams aren’t easy to achieve, but when you struggle toward something that truly makes you happy, the necessary hard work doesn’t feel like work at all. I look forward to the time I get to sit in front of my computer and edit one of my awful first drafts. If achieving your dream was easy and didn’t require daily pain, it wouldn’t be worthy of being called a dream in the first place.
August 16, 2019
My Favorite Books That Retell Shakespeare's Plays
It’s been a while since I had a blog post because I’ve been finishing up my next book, so I’ll jump right in. This list contains my favorite books that retell Shakespeare’s classic plays. Obviously, Shakespeare has influenced hundreds of writers and impacted just as many books. This list is dedicated to those books that were not only influenced by the Bard but actually retell an entire Shakespearean play in a modern reinterpretation.
5.
West Side Story (1961) by Irving Shulman – I didn’t care for this when I first had to watch the movie version in high school, but I include it here because it was the first time I remember seeing one of Shakespeare’s plays retold in a modern setting. This is one of the clearest interpretations, with the story mirroring that of Romeo and Juliet. Musicals aren’t my thing and I’m much more fond of Shakespeare’s historical plays than I am with Romeo and Juliet but West Side Story does a great job of retelling the original story.
4.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966) by Tom Stoppard – This is a short and quick read to be sure, but it’s worth it. Stoppard retells Hamlet from the point of view of two of its minor characters. The book works mainly because of its absurdist comedy. I’ve read a couple other books that retell Shakespeare’s plays by presenting it from another character’s point of view and those books almost never work for me because they are lacking Shakespeare’s ability as well as something to keep the reader turning pages. Stoppard does that with comedy and does it well.
3.
The Sword In The Stone: Space Lore V (2018) by me! – I hate including my own book in this list but I genuinely love the story I created. Each book in my Space Lore series combines elements of a Shakespearean historical play with parts of Arthurian legend and then transports it to another galaxy, but none more so than Book 5, The Sword in the Stone, which retells Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Imagine Caesar, Brutus, the Soothsayer, and the rest of the cast set amongst intergalactic war and you can understand why I’m so pleased with how The Sword in the Stone turned out.
2.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (2008) by David Wroblewski – A young, mute boy runs away into the wilderness with his dogs. How could this possibly be a retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet? But it is, and it works perfectly. Edgar’s father dies and his uncle may have had something to do with it. When his uncle takes the place of his father at home, it becomes too much for Edgar. The rest of the story is a brilliant version of Hamlet, where dogs accompany Edgar on his journey and back home again.
1.
Hag-Seed (2016) by Margaret Atwood – I started this book thinking it would be okay. The premise didn’t sound particularly exciting and I hadn’t heard anything good or bad about it so I figured it would be lackluster. Immediately after starting it, however, I knew it would be good. As always, Atwood does a great job of using dialogue and dysfunction to keep you interested as the story unfolds. By the time I was half way through the book I knew I had deeply underestimated the story. I’m familiar with a bunch of modern Shakespearean re-envisions but this is my favorite. The depth by which Atwood is able to retell The Tempest within her new setting while also having the actual Shakespearean play unfold as a plot point is genius.
5.
West Side Story (1961) by Irving Shulman – I didn’t care for this when I first had to watch the movie version in high school, but I include it here because it was the first time I remember seeing one of Shakespeare’s plays retold in a modern setting. This is one of the clearest interpretations, with the story mirroring that of Romeo and Juliet. Musicals aren’t my thing and I’m much more fond of Shakespeare’s historical plays than I am with Romeo and Juliet but West Side Story does a great job of retelling the original story.4.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966) by Tom Stoppard – This is a short and quick read to be sure, but it’s worth it. Stoppard retells Hamlet from the point of view of two of its minor characters. The book works mainly because of its absurdist comedy. I’ve read a couple other books that retell Shakespeare’s plays by presenting it from another character’s point of view and those books almost never work for me because they are lacking Shakespeare’s ability as well as something to keep the reader turning pages. Stoppard does that with comedy and does it well.3.
The Sword In The Stone: Space Lore V (2018) by me! – I hate including my own book in this list but I genuinely love the story I created. Each book in my Space Lore series combines elements of a Shakespearean historical play with parts of Arthurian legend and then transports it to another galaxy, but none more so than Book 5, The Sword in the Stone, which retells Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Imagine Caesar, Brutus, the Soothsayer, and the rest of the cast set amongst intergalactic war and you can understand why I’m so pleased with how The Sword in the Stone turned out.2.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (2008) by David Wroblewski – A young, mute boy runs away into the wilderness with his dogs. How could this possibly be a retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet? But it is, and it works perfectly. Edgar’s father dies and his uncle may have had something to do with it. When his uncle takes the place of his father at home, it becomes too much for Edgar. The rest of the story is a brilliant version of Hamlet, where dogs accompany Edgar on his journey and back home again.1.
Hag-Seed (2016) by Margaret Atwood – I started this book thinking it would be okay. The premise didn’t sound particularly exciting and I hadn’t heard anything good or bad about it so I figured it would be lackluster. Immediately after starting it, however, I knew it would be good. As always, Atwood does a great job of using dialogue and dysfunction to keep you interested as the story unfolds. By the time I was half way through the book I knew I had deeply underestimated the story. I’m familiar with a bunch of modern Shakespearean re-envisions but this is my favorite. The depth by which Atwood is able to retell The Tempest within her new setting while also having the actual Shakespearean play unfold as a plot point is genius.
December 22, 2018
Best Books Read of 2018
Each year, I look back at the books I’ve read. Here are the five books I read for the first time this year that I most enjoyed (regardless of when they were originally published).
5. The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976) by John Steinbeck – Steinbeck is one of my all-time favorites authors, but I didn't even know this book existed until I found an old copy in a used book store. It’s incredibly neat that one of my writing idols translated Sir Thomas Malory's Arthurian tales from Middle English into modern English and then added a little bit to the stories where he felt gaps existed. The result is a series of tales that become accessible to current audiences. The best part for me, however, was the final 60 pages, containing Steinbeck's personal letters in which he discussed his approach to the translation. Steinbeck goes into detail on his approach to editing and translating, the problems he faced in both regards, and how he planned to fix those issues. Those pages in particular are a must read for anyone who has ever tried to edit or translate someone's work or likes insight into Steinbeck’s mind.
4. Hag-Seed: The Tempest Retold (2016) by Margaret Atwood - I started this book thinking it would be a 3-star. The premise didn't sound particularly exciting and I hadn't heard anything good or bad about it so I figured it would be lackluster. Immediately after starting it, however, I knew it would be at least a 4-star. As always, Atwood does a great job of using dialogue and dysfunction to keep you interested as the story unfolds. By the time I was half way through the book I knew I had deeply underestimated the story. I'm familiar with a bunch of modern Shakespearean re-envisions but this might be my favorite. The depth by which Atwood is able to retell The Tempest within her new setting while also having the actual Shakespearean play unfold as a plot point within that story is genius.
3. 2666 (2008) by Roberto Bolano – This is a large book (900 pages) but after only a few pages I already found myself invested in the story. Bolano’s intention was that the book be sold as five separate parts before being sold as one collected volume. Each part has a different but related story that converges into one brilliant storyline. The two parts dealing with fictional author Archimboldi (books 1 and 5) were my favorites but all were good. Bolano creates an epic tale that spans characters across the world. The result is well worth the long read. The only detraction is that the collected volume starts with an introduction that says it was Bolano's dying wish that the books be released separately before being released as one volume but the publisher and Bolano's family disagreed and published the collected version first. What is the goal of making a point to emphasize you went against a dying man's last wish? Other than that, great book.
2. The Buried Giant (2015) by Kazuo Ishiguro - On its surface this book is a fable that recounts an old couple wandering the lands in a post Arthurian world, looking for a son that left them long ago. In that context, the story was worth 4 stars for me until I got to the ending, which I didn't care for. However, I interpret the entire story as an allegory for an old couple looking back on their relationship together and all the struggles and decisions they had to make over decades together. Everything--the candles, the dragon, the fog, the warrior--are all devices to continue the metaphor of a relationship that went through tremendous challenges over the years. In that context, the story is superb and the ending is not only satisfying, it is perfect and incredibly touching.
1. Manuscript Found in Accra (2013) by Paulo Coelho – Another great book by Coelho, and maybe my favorite of his outside 'The Alchemist'. Coelho is at his very best here, using the story to convey wisdom of the world and lessons to help the reader feel like they can understand the nature of life. If you found Coelho because of 'The Alchemist', I would definitely recommend either this book or 'The Zahir' as the book of his that most provides a comparable experience.
Honorable mention. The Great Train Robbery (1979) by Michael Crichton – This isn’t included in the top 5 because it was my second time reading it. I originally read this in middle school and loved it. It was one of the reasons I spent a childhood summer reading everything I could find by Crichton and I think it might be my favorite of all of his books. It has a great blend of historical fiction, nonfiction, and the author's natural ability to provide a sense of excitement and adventure. Highly recommended even if you typically only enjoy Crichton's science fiction.
5. The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976) by John Steinbeck – Steinbeck is one of my all-time favorites authors, but I didn't even know this book existed until I found an old copy in a used book store. It’s incredibly neat that one of my writing idols translated Sir Thomas Malory's Arthurian tales from Middle English into modern English and then added a little bit to the stories where he felt gaps existed. The result is a series of tales that become accessible to current audiences. The best part for me, however, was the final 60 pages, containing Steinbeck's personal letters in which he discussed his approach to the translation. Steinbeck goes into detail on his approach to editing and translating, the problems he faced in both regards, and how he planned to fix those issues. Those pages in particular are a must read for anyone who has ever tried to edit or translate someone's work or likes insight into Steinbeck’s mind.
4. Hag-Seed: The Tempest Retold (2016) by Margaret Atwood - I started this book thinking it would be a 3-star. The premise didn't sound particularly exciting and I hadn't heard anything good or bad about it so I figured it would be lackluster. Immediately after starting it, however, I knew it would be at least a 4-star. As always, Atwood does a great job of using dialogue and dysfunction to keep you interested as the story unfolds. By the time I was half way through the book I knew I had deeply underestimated the story. I'm familiar with a bunch of modern Shakespearean re-envisions but this might be my favorite. The depth by which Atwood is able to retell The Tempest within her new setting while also having the actual Shakespearean play unfold as a plot point within that story is genius.
3. 2666 (2008) by Roberto Bolano – This is a large book (900 pages) but after only a few pages I already found myself invested in the story. Bolano’s intention was that the book be sold as five separate parts before being sold as one collected volume. Each part has a different but related story that converges into one brilliant storyline. The two parts dealing with fictional author Archimboldi (books 1 and 5) were my favorites but all were good. Bolano creates an epic tale that spans characters across the world. The result is well worth the long read. The only detraction is that the collected volume starts with an introduction that says it was Bolano's dying wish that the books be released separately before being released as one volume but the publisher and Bolano's family disagreed and published the collected version first. What is the goal of making a point to emphasize you went against a dying man's last wish? Other than that, great book.
2. The Buried Giant (2015) by Kazuo Ishiguro - On its surface this book is a fable that recounts an old couple wandering the lands in a post Arthurian world, looking for a son that left them long ago. In that context, the story was worth 4 stars for me until I got to the ending, which I didn't care for. However, I interpret the entire story as an allegory for an old couple looking back on their relationship together and all the struggles and decisions they had to make over decades together. Everything--the candles, the dragon, the fog, the warrior--are all devices to continue the metaphor of a relationship that went through tremendous challenges over the years. In that context, the story is superb and the ending is not only satisfying, it is perfect and incredibly touching.
1. Manuscript Found in Accra (2013) by Paulo Coelho – Another great book by Coelho, and maybe my favorite of his outside 'The Alchemist'. Coelho is at his very best here, using the story to convey wisdom of the world and lessons to help the reader feel like they can understand the nature of life. If you found Coelho because of 'The Alchemist', I would definitely recommend either this book or 'The Zahir' as the book of his that most provides a comparable experience.
Honorable mention. The Great Train Robbery (1979) by Michael Crichton – This isn’t included in the top 5 because it was my second time reading it. I originally read this in middle school and loved it. It was one of the reasons I spent a childhood summer reading everything I could find by Crichton and I think it might be my favorite of all of his books. It has a great blend of historical fiction, nonfiction, and the author's natural ability to provide a sense of excitement and adventure. Highly recommended even if you typically only enjoy Crichton's science fiction.
