Author's Bookshelf

Author’s Bookshelf: Elves, Detectives, Battles, and Boxing

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I actually spent a good bit of reading time in study this week; studying writing, publishing, etc… I did find time to read other things though.

After months of buddy reading with a dear friend of mine, we reached the end of Tolkien’s Return of the King. (We began with the first book months ago!) I can honestly say that I loved the entire series even more this time than after my first reading. Faramir and Frodo are my favorites, but I love many of the characters in The Lord of the Rings. The way Mr. Tolkien portrayed good vs. evil and the ultimate triumph thereof is honestly beautiful.

On the recommendation of a friend, I read my first Louis L’Amour book, Off the Mangrove Coast. I thought it an intriguing collection of short stories. Detectives, boxers, cowboys, and sailors, adventurers, actors, and an insurance man. The stories had quite a mix. Some stories I liked, others not so much. I wasn’t very fond of The Diamond of Jeru, but I rather enjoyed The Unexpected Corpse. I won’t give an order of all the stories and what I liked least to most, but it was a good mix.

I haven’t finished it yet, but I’ve also worked on Starlight and Time by Dr. Russel Humphries. I expect to complete it soon.

What are you reading this week?

To the KING be all the glory!

Author’s Bookshelf: Myths and Mermaids

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Reading is easily one of my favorite pastimes. It both relaxes and refreshes my brain. Ironically, it is always the first activity that I drop, when I have too many things swirling through my brain; ironic, considering, reading also helps me relax my thoughts enough to stop the swirling and organize what I must do.

All that to say 2020 reading commenced rather slow. Until last week, when I got my reading schedule going again.

First, I finished reading Shallows by Denver Evans. I enjoyed it as a new take on mermaids, though admittedly, I have read nothing about mermaids besides Hans Christian Anderson. I did quite like Emerson Kadwell and the story made me wish, again, to go on a boat someday.

Thanks to a night of very little sleep, I found the time to read C.S. Lewis’ Till We Have Faces in little more than one day. That is a fascinating read; a retelling of a Greek myth, but in Mr. Lewis’ style. I didn’t particularly care for Orual, the main character and narrator, most of the time, but I don’t think that you’re supposed to. Honestly, I’m still trying to sort through the book in my head. Not the story. That was clear enough. It’s the whole point of the book that I’m trying to get to and understand. I’m still thinking about it and I finished it on Friday night – well, Saturday morning.

Currently, I’m still actively reading The Return of the King and getting my first taste of Louis L’Amour in Off the Mangrove Coast and one other book about writing. I’m technically in the midst of a few others, but I haven’t been active in them this week. One can only read so many books at once and pay attention!

What have you been reading this week?

To the KING be all the glory!