“March is the month of expectation, the things we do not know.” — Emily Dickinson
March was a good month for reading. I began with The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. I’d read this one before but this time it was for a book club pick and I enjoyed discussing it with other readers. Every time I pick up a book I try to focus on the skill behind the story, but it’s also nice to just read for enjoyment.
The Dog Stars is written in first person. Hig, the point of view character, is a pilot who owns a 1956 Cessna that he flies on reconnaissance missions with his dog Jasper as copilot. The author captures the sensation of flying with such details you feel as though you are in the plane with them.
Peter Heller’s writing style is unique and fits with the type of books he writes. The sentences are mostly short and fit perfectly with Hig’s character. Like Cormac McCarthy, Heller doesn’t use dialogue tags or different punctuation for dialogue. I thought at first this would be jarring, but instead it made me feel like I was inside the character’s head and feeling the things he felt.
Woven within this post-apocalyptic story are vivid descriptions of nature, making the loss of some species heartbreaking in this dystopian world. The overall theme, however, is hopeful as Hig searches for community and fellowship despite the struggle to survive.
One of the hardest things I find about writing is coming up with titles. I’m always interested in the meanings behind them, and I learned that Sirius, the dog star, is the brightest star in the sky, and has been used for navigation by ancient societies. Fitting then to use that as the title for a book about searching for home.
The next five books I read last month were chosen because they are similar in theme and plot to the contemporary fantasy novel that I am writing. I’ve heard it many times and it’s great advice – write the book that you want to read, and read the books that are in the genre you want to write.
I picked up Gallant by V.E. Schwab, Broken Ghosts by J.D. Oswald, The Astonishing Color of After, by Emily X.R. Pan, The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
All the above had excellent examples of a well-developed magic system. I also tried to find books where the main character was dealing with loss, grief, and family secrets.
I had read The Hazel Wood years ago when it first came out, so this time around I outlined the plot structure as I read, noting the turning points in the story and where they fell in the book. This is a useful exercise. I’m used to writing short stories, and it’s taken me some adjustment to the longer form of a novel. I tried outlining my story, but that felt too much like homework. Instead, I’ve adopted an approach halfway between discovery writing and strict outlining. I know where the major plot points have to fall, and I’m writing to those as I go. Reading with a focus on how other authors have structured their books is a pleasant way to learn plotting.
One note about the Neil Gaiman book. I know he is a problematic author considering the revelations of his sexual assault accusations. Although it looks like there won’t be any charges brought against him, I don’t feel right supporting his work by buying any new work he produces. The same thing with other authors who turn out to be horrible people despite their storytelling talent – J.K. Rowling for example.
Can we appreciate the work separate from those who produced it? For me the answer is it depends. The books I have on my shelf were bought and paid for before the truth came out on these authors. Throwing out those books won’t make any difference in the world. I’ll keep them and enjoy the stories for their own merits, but I won’t spend any more money supporting those authors. There are plenty of other books to buy, plenty of deserving writers to support.
I always listen to at least one audiobook each month, and in March it was How to Sell a Haunted House. I love Grady Hendrix’s blend of humor and horror. This book had themes of grief, personal loss, family drama, and haunted puppets.
My just-for-fun book this month was book four in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series – The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman. I’m hooked on these books and I also bought the audiobook versions so I can enjoy the wonderful narration. My husband has started reading them, so now I have to wait for him to catch up before we can talk about them. He’s on book two, so I will probably have to read the first three again while I’m waiting for him to get to book four. It’s a struggle but I’m prepared for the sacrifice. (wink)
Let's Get Out of Here 