writers

So I've spent the morning reading other people's blogs. I know that is really productive. But someone who shall remain nameless (David) sent me one post and like magic I couldn't read just one. Until I got to a boring one. Then I moved on to my own boring blog.

But it gave me pause. Twice today in this blogomania, I've been stopped by how dreadful or boring the post was. And I resolved in my mind not to read the books by these authors because their blog posts are awful. But then I thought--wait a minute.

I have also enjoyed a number of blog posts and can't read the books by these people to save my life. What gives here?

Maybe some people can sweat and claw their way through a novel and come out with great writing. But can't write an essay to save their souls. And others blithely toss off fun little blog posts and mess up novels.

Ok, that part is obvious if you think about it. But writers are urged to do this as a way to reach readers. What if some are doing themselves more harm than good? What if this isn't actually a good marketing technique because you put people off doing it? I haven't even touched on the fact that one writer pissed me off royally with subject matter. And I haven't read him before and now don't intend to. Maybe I'm not the be all and end all of mystery readers, but I try almost everyone once. That one won't make my list.

Have writers A. opened mouth, B. inserted foot in trying to win your attention? This seems worse to me than just reading a book you don't like. This is shooting yourself in the foot.

A new year, the same old thing

I've decided to keep track of every book I read this year. I've been asked a number of times how many books I read in a year. I'm really not sure, so I'm keeping track. My guess is that I read about 150 books. Much of the count will depend on whether we take a real vacation and sit on our butts. I read a book a day that way.

Right now I'm reading the Inspector Wexford series by Ruth Rendell. The jury is still out on how much I like them. I like her twists, but I have guessed all of them so far. Which is not a bad thing, but we'll see. I'm not desperate to finish them, but I haven't thrown them down in disgust. A lot of books fall into this category for me. It's like I don't mind reading them.

Many people are trying to choose the best thing they read in 2009. I think without a list to remind me what I read that I forget basically every book before May. I know I read a bunch in February and April because of surgery for me and the birth of Mouse. I read 3 whole series I hadn't read before this year.

Happy reading. Here's to the list to come.