Thread: What are You Reading?

This is not about what I am reading now, 1 novel and one autobiography, but about reading fiction in general. In another post I mentioned that it is difficult for me, not impossible, to read science fiction or historical fiction for the same reason: a surplus of explanation or description of the action taking place in the book. The other thing that hangs me up is when the narrator of a novel will use words to describe the thoughts or action of the characters which the characters themselves would not use. I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced this...or even if it makes any sense?

reading this forum is the most I've read since college

I am reading The Stand by Stephen King right now

Originally Posted by WW243

This is not about what I am reading now, 1 novel and one autobiography, but about reading fiction in general. In another post I mentioned that it is difficult for me, not impossible, to read science fiction or historical fiction for the same reason: a surplus of explanation or description of the action taking place in the book. The other thing that hangs me up is when the narrator of a novel will use words to describe the thoughts or action of the characters which the characters themselves would not use. I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced this...or even if it makes any sense?

Consider it being married, temporarily, to the author. There is a certain amount of give and take in the relationship that is swept under the rug...that said, making up new words and adding definitions for them for the sake of difference is a pain in my mind and padding for extra word count.
~Richard.

The One World School House by Salman Khan

I'm about Halfway through a short play called The Devil and Daniel Webster by Stephen Vincent Benet. The play is about afarmer being defended in a trial for his soul by the famous U.S. senator Webster.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

I'm about Halfway through a short play called The Devil and Daniel Webster by Stephen Vincent Benet. The play is about afarmer being defended in a trial for his soul by the famous U.S. senator Webster.

Excellent - soon you can have a shave with that nice Wade and Butcher with Daniel Webster's etching on it...must be fascinating to read something about the man and also hold an actual piece of history associated with him. I'm going to look the play up on my Kobo.

I had heard about the play many years ago and my recent "Webster" Wade & Butcher acquisition reminded me of the play. The play is based on a Washington Irving short story which is based on the German Faust tale.

Update...
I'm on an Old Scratch kick tonight. I finished the play of the Devil and Daniel Webster and watched some of the highlights from the 1941 film based on the play. I also read the Irving story The Devil and Tom Walker. Great stuff if you are a Washington Irving fan.

Angels and Demons. The "science" is horrendous, but it's a page turner.

Finished Angels and Demons, and now reading The Da Vinchi Code. I wish I'd left a nice time gap between the two, because back to back it's like deja vu. Oh well, I'll change it up before I read any more of the series.