I know, I am still in the middle of my fall reading! Plus, my boyfriend passed along a fantastic book about language that has been quite fun—in the strictest intellectual-kind-of-fun—to read: The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human Nature. Regardless, I am still working my way through The Bell Jar and today my next batch of books has arrived:
Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters by Marilyn Monroe
I looked for this book in every bookstore I visited this past year, but no luck. The way this book is compiled is fantastic – you can view the handwritten stationery that Monroe used, and typed versions are displayed on opposite pages. Plus, a little historical backstory about her life at the time is included and it’s fascinating to see how events and people in her life affected her writing.
Ernest Hemingway on Writing by Larry W. Phillips
I read a review about this book earlier in the week and was struck by a few of the quotes. I find that books about writing by authors are hit or miss – I am hoping this book, since it is not written by Hemingway himself, will have a more objective view of the craft.
Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz
Horowitz is the force behind the Freelancer’s Union, which I’ve mentioned in a few posts here. I thought it was about time to add it to my freelance writing library collection.
What book have you most recently purchased?
The Hemingway book sounds interesting. I’d like to buy it, but it will have to wait — I’ve been on a bit of a book-buying spree lately! I’ve bought around 20 books in the past couple of weeks, mostly from the friendly neighborhood second-hand bookshop. A few highlights are Women in the Middle Ages by Frances & Joseph Gies and A History of Scotland by JD Mackie. In terms of writing-related books, I recently bought How to write science-fiction & fantasy and Characters & Viewpoint, both by Orson Scott Card.
20?! Amazing! Do you have a library card? 😉 Very nice diversity in your selections. The character one sounds intriguing. Now, time to make time to read.
I do have a library card, but I also have an insatiable love for books. I don’t just want to read them; I want to be surrounded by them and see them and arrange them and enjoy them! 🙂 Fortunately, second-hand books aren’t very expensive and I have the pleasure of buying them from a local bookstore owned and run by lovely people. 🙂
Enjoy your reading!