World War II, the Korean War and Broadway were backdrops for many of Janet Lambert’s books.  I knew zip about any of these settings, but Penny and Tippy Parrish became two of my best friends as I entered adolescence.  By today’s standard’s, the romances were boringly sweet.  The sisters never confronted problems of drugs, alcohol, poor body-image, neglectful parents, or personal safety.  Yet I loved their idyllic world that took them around the globe with their professional Army father.  As they moved into adulthood, they each encountered tragedy and survived with grace.  I often cried during these reads.  I realize I still like books that can make me cry without making me feel manipulated.  I like to think a few readers of Prince of Frogs shed some real tears.

Transition to “Adult” Books

During my teens, I read dozens and dozens of books about pioneer women and women whose lives were intertwined with famous men or famous events.  I also read most of the “important” male authors: Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Updike, Saul Bellow.  I read anything about Josephine and Napoleon.  Mary Todd Lincoln intrigued me almost as much as Abraham Lincoln.  Her mental illness mystified me and drove me to read more about psychologoy: Freud, Jung, Karl Menninger.   Scarlett O’Hara’s grit reminded me of Josephine Bonaparte as well as some of Pearl Buck’s Chinese heroines.  I devoured Agatha Christie like popcorn, read some of Perry Mason, dabbled in John D. Macdonald.  Peyton Place didn’t shock me—or turn me into a nymphomaniac as many reviewers and critics predicted.

Reading as an Adult

My reading as an adult has been eclectic.  Although I’ve read thousands of books for pleasure, some were required reading to:

• fulfill college reqs
• teach high school English
• prepare for a business presentation
• learn about a specific topic, such as diabetes
• gain credibility with a specific audience (such as software users)
• lead workshops
• become knowledgeable about a topic (e.g. Artificial Intelligence)
• apply specific skills and for reasons I’ve forgotten

Some years I read voraciously for pleasure.  Some years my TBR (to- be- read) stack reached the ceiling, filled bookcases and occupied much of my house.  A friend declared I owned “too many books.” 

Heresy.  A view shared by a good friend who records titles, authors, snippets from the books and often her assessment of each book she reads every year.  I am in awe of her.  A couple of years ago, we spent a whole afternoon-–5 hours-–discussing books.  We stopped because my husband didn’t know where I was and because she had to get ready for a business meeting the next day.  Otherwise . . .

Today, I continue to read across fiction genres.  Physics, health, linguistics, anything by Anne Lamott or Diane Ackerman, European mythology, witchcraft, major religions and poetry are a few of the non-fiction books that line my shelves.  I collect many of the Newberry and Caldecott winners, read women’s fiction, 80% of the NYT bestsellers, use poetry to kickstart my imagination.  I’d say 9½ times out ten, I buy a book every time I enter a bookstore.

Naming Favorite Books

Most authors sidestep questions about favorite books.  I definitely have many favorite books—books I read and reread because they touch emotions untapped by the hundreds of other books I read for pleasure, escape, knowledge.  These favorites are books I’d want on a desert island or in my spaceship or on my bookshelves forever.  A better place to name these books, IMO, is in my journal.  Hope you’ll check out Tangents if you’re interested in these titles or other mundane and profound topics.

Preview of Books in the Works

Just as I read across a spectrum of genres, topics and ideas, I also write across a broad spectrum.  Sometimes I write to try out a specific craft technique (such as writing from the first person).  Sometimes I write in a different genre (such as middle-age fiction for girls).  Sometimes I write to learn about writing  (an example is  a long, psychological novel with multiple points of view and a complex plot).  Sometimes I write about an idea that fascinates me, but may never be published.  (A love story about reincarnation).

I’ve never written a book I didn’t think was publishable.  Admittedly, several I’ve written may take more time than I want to devote to salvaging the book, but I think writing is mostly about rewriting.  In theory, rewriting can strengthen the inherent weaknesses.  From time to time, I’ll write more in Tangents about these books in the works to see what you think about them.