The Book Thread Book • Page 55

Currently reading Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

If you're into Percy Jackson and Ready Player One (not necessarily the nerd/geek references but there are a few) I think you'd enjoy this.

It's definitely geared toward a more YA audience

 

I've noticed lately that it's hard for me not to read a book without thinking about how it'd translate to a movie/TV series and then trying to decide what actors would play what.

Anybody else have this issue?

 

Growing up reading fantasy novels before they were really getting adapted with any regularity made this a very popular past time.

I know as an aspiring author, it’s something I think about a lot. What HBO did with Big Little Lies a great blueprint for how I wish books were adapted. Sometimes movies just don’t handle them well.

 

On the flip side I've also noticed that there are books that I read that make me think this would be better in a film format because it plays out so easily that way

 

I think this is in part because in an (mostly unfortunate, maybe not) trend where books are trying too hard to be movies when they don’t always need to be it’s become a thing that publishers look for.

 

Absolutely agree, it tends to be with newer published books and debut authors too it seems

 

There’s a very common thought I’ve seen in writing circles lately that you dont really have permission or a chance to even sell “the book you’re meant to write” (obvious exceptions all over place, see: The Hate U Give) until you’ve written a super derivative, cliched book. Especially in the YA and mystery headings. I’ve seen it get so many aspiring authors (myself included) down. We’re told to write the books we wish we had, and yet then watch the same derivative assassin becomes fairy princess get published for the ninth time over.

 

That's probably why it's magnified for me cuz that's the 2 genres I tend to gravitate to.

I'm sorry that that's the way publishing is now and that you aren't able to breakthrough

 

When I write a book strong enough to get published and get rejected it’ll be harsh. For now, I’m still finding my feet, three huge drafts for two books in. I’m not delusional to think I’m ready. But I see plenty who are who are absolutely being looked over.

 

I'm going to start diving into John Le Carre. Should I start with his first novel, or should I just jump right into The Spy Who Came in from the Cold?

 

I’ve only read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and The Constant Gardener. Both were brilliant but the former was the best book I read last year.

 

Yes! It's a fantastic novel. Quick read, too. I lent it to my girlfriend's mom who didn't seem to really understand it, but I think she was expecting something a bit more conventional, haha.

 

I don't know anything about any of these books, but I might consider checking out a couple at some point: 5 Books You Need to Read If You Love STRANGER THINGS - Riveted

I'm still reading Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk. I haven't been reading as much lately, so it's taking me longer than usual to get through. I am enjoying it, though!

 

reading A Little Life right now, I really like it so far.

 

I've always wanted to check this out but never got around to it, keep me posted on how it goes

 

Currently reading The Woman In The Window.

 

If you’ve not read Illuminae, Gemina, and Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, I highly recommend it. A ton of fun.

 

about to go through the gauntlet and read infinite jest. just trying to legitimize my English major cred yknow

 

i've attempted and quit so many books trying to do just this

 

Oh man good luck. It's a good book but it took me about 6 months to finish cause I could only read about 15 pages a day before I had to switch to something else. Also a good idea to check out the online reading help guides.

 

I just discovered these this weekend when I saw the latest one at HPB. Did you listen or actually read?

 

I listened. Best audiobook production I've ever experienced. I'm sure the book provides a different experience with all the drawings and illustrations, but the full cast production (with some of my favorite narrators, no less!) + sound effects and music really took them to another level.

A friend and I listened to them simultaneously, and both of us got choked up multiple times (she full on sobbed at one point).

 

haha, same. there's some classics I just couldn't bring myself to finish. Jack London is one of the most painfully dull writers I've had the displeasure of trying out and I wasn't keen on the first Lord of the Rings, though I intend to return to that at some point.

this sounds extremely daunting lol hopefully I make it though. I've put this off for like 7 years now, so

 

i wrote my senior thesis on tolkien and plan to get a LOTR tattoo someday, so that second part pains me greatly. but yeah. i just can't handle faulkner or austen on any level. then again, the classics i really love, i adore deeply so maybe i'm just an extremes kinda guy.

 

Yeah the book seemed super cool with how it was executed, definitely piqued my interest. Helps that it seems like it'll be a quick read.


Side note: did you ever figure out how to use Overdrive?