On Writing
Stephen King
It’s been a while since I read a book focused on writing. Many writing books are useful for thinking about creativity in general or for applying to any type of writing, but this one is geared toward fiction, at least in the specifically advising sections that are technically the core of the book. I actually skipped much of those, as I didn’t find much of the advice helpful and appreciated the memoir parts more.
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What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
Haruki Murakami
I really loved this memoir, though I have to say that the translation probably isn't the best. It's hard for me to be entirely certain since I can't read the original in Japanese, but I'm guessing it's no coincidence that Philip Gabriel has translated two of my less favorite Murakami novels (Kafka on the Shore and Sputnik Sweetheart). I kept feeling like there were nuances that I was missing.
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Journal of a Solitude
May Sarton
I got this from the library after Keri Smith made reference to it a few times. I thought maybe it would help me figure out how to start writing in my journal more consistently again, to remind me how to think on a page, and so far it seems to be working. Also it has been good to remember how to enjoy solitude, which is obviously the main recurring theme in this book.
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One Writer's Beginnings
Eudora Welty
For some reason I had the expectation that this book was more specifically about writing, but instead it is a loosely sketched memoir of how honing in on her senses led her to be a writer with a lot of family history. It was far more interesting as a memoir than as any kind of guidance for fiction writing.
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