Thursday, September 22, 2005
5 reads for writers
I was just asked for 5 great books for writers for an upcoming publication, but you get to read my picks here first--cheers-feel free to add your own...R
These are not the 5 best books ever (impossible to say...and subjective as well), but 5 books that a writer, or aspiring writer, can't go wrong reading:
1) The Great Gatsby: Fitzgerald's high water mark is a beautiful book, full of effortless musical language and some killer scenes. And maybe the best ending ever.
2) Reasons to Live: AMy Hemple's first collection is one of the few books that I have no issues with. What a stunner. So tight, so clean, and so spare. As beautiful and awe-inspriring as that other great force of minimalism--the desert.
3) Revolutionary Road: Richard Yates is so often called a 'writer's writer'. Why? He's among the best stylists the 20th century produced. Such amazingly beautiful work. Yates' beautully-rendered despair is rivaled only by Beckett.
4) Self Help: Lorrie Moore is so good at funny, sad stories. Great stuff.
5) Jesus' Son: Denis Johnson is just SO good. One of the few books I wish I'd written.
6) Darrell Spencer: (Couldn't stop at 5-ha) ANY of his books of stories...Maybe the best short story writer working today.
And a bonus new book... 7) Tod Goldberg's Simplify. A great read.
These are not the 5 best books ever (impossible to say...and subjective as well), but 5 books that a writer, or aspiring writer, can't go wrong reading:
1) The Great Gatsby: Fitzgerald's high water mark is a beautiful book, full of effortless musical language and some killer scenes. And maybe the best ending ever.
2) Reasons to Live: AMy Hemple's first collection is one of the few books that I have no issues with. What a stunner. So tight, so clean, and so spare. As beautiful and awe-inspriring as that other great force of minimalism--the desert.
3) Revolutionary Road: Richard Yates is so often called a 'writer's writer'. Why? He's among the best stylists the 20th century produced. Such amazingly beautiful work. Yates' beautully-rendered despair is rivaled only by Beckett.
4) Self Help: Lorrie Moore is so good at funny, sad stories. Great stuff.
5) Jesus' Son: Denis Johnson is just SO good. One of the few books I wish I'd written.
6) Darrell Spencer: (Couldn't stop at 5-ha) ANY of his books of stories...Maybe the best short story writer working today.
And a bonus new book... 7) Tod Goldberg's Simplify. A great read.
