New Books, Old Books.
There is a tendency, I've noticed, for people to try and remain current with books. It's admirable in some ways. New books, after all, define the new moments we're in. They tend to receive the most attention and they become the talking points for people who relish ideas and stories and big acts of imagination.
(Sure, movies too, but … let's get down to brass tacks here. You're at a party. You meet someone fine looking. Are you more likely to get naked because you both read the same book, or liked the same movie?
I rest my case.)
The thing is, though, most good books weren't published this year. They came out … most likely … sometime in the last 2500 years. From Aesop's Fables to Sun Tzu, old stuff still works and can still get you laid.
You don't have to ask me how I know. I just know.
One of the downsides of old(er) books, however, is the sense that they're "yesterday's books." That's a rather different matter from being old. That's where the book is no longer in discussion. It's no longer active in the public imagination. It no longer stimulates. The Mojo is gone.
One mistake that we authors sometimes make is not letting you all know — our readers – how much those other books are current, alive, and dynamic in our own lives. You might even mistakenly think you're now alone with your love. But I assure you, that isn't the case.
The Girl in Green, for example, is with me all the time. I miss spending time with Arwood and I think about Miguel and Charlotte and whether they might have a future together. In Norwegian by Night, I think about the future of little Paul (yes, I do think Rhea and Lars adopted him …). And in American by Day, I'm sure that Sigrid and Irv still have a story together.
Don't ever feel like you need to stay current with our work. OK, yes, sure, it would be nice if you kept up, but our back catalogues are not "behind us." They are ever-present and very much alive with us.
So go ahead. Pick up an old book by an author you love. And feel confident that you are helping bring old magic back into the world and helping it move forward.
(And it might lead to sex …)
— DBM.
(Sure, movies too, but … let's get down to brass tacks here. You're at a party. You meet someone fine looking. Are you more likely to get naked because you both read the same book, or liked the same movie?
I rest my case.)
The thing is, though, most good books weren't published this year. They came out … most likely … sometime in the last 2500 years. From Aesop's Fables to Sun Tzu, old stuff still works and can still get you laid.
You don't have to ask me how I know. I just know.
One of the downsides of old(er) books, however, is the sense that they're "yesterday's books." That's a rather different matter from being old. That's where the book is no longer in discussion. It's no longer active in the public imagination. It no longer stimulates. The Mojo is gone.
One mistake that we authors sometimes make is not letting you all know — our readers – how much those other books are current, alive, and dynamic in our own lives. You might even mistakenly think you're now alone with your love. But I assure you, that isn't the case.
The Girl in Green, for example, is with me all the time. I miss spending time with Arwood and I think about Miguel and Charlotte and whether they might have a future together. In Norwegian by Night, I think about the future of little Paul (yes, I do think Rhea and Lars adopted him …). And in American by Day, I'm sure that Sigrid and Irv still have a story together.
Don't ever feel like you need to stay current with our work. OK, yes, sure, it would be nice if you kept up, but our back catalogues are not "behind us." They are ever-present and very much alive with us.
So go ahead. Pick up an old book by an author you love. And feel confident that you are helping bring old magic back into the world and helping it move forward.
(And it might lead to sex …)
— DBM.
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Marianne
(new)
Nov 02, 2020 10:17AM
A great way to pick them up again is to listen to the audio: you find yourself noticing things you may have skimmed when reading in print (not that I ever skimmed your books, Derek!), and laughing out loud because the narrators are so skilled at bring characters and moments to life. And you can do all that while doing mundane chores or on a daily drive: perfect!
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I’m a big believer in comfort reading. Visiting old literary friends is a lovely way to spend some time.
So very true BUT this doesn't mean you can get away without writing new ones .....
I usually give away books after I've finished reading them. The few that I keep are those I know I'll read repeatedly -- usually because of the characters. That's why The Girl in Green and Norwegian by Night are keepers for me.
