I recently posted my current reading list for anyone looking for book suggestions. And truthfully, I wanted to let some of my reading/writing friends know that I haven’t been a slacker, at least not in the reading department. Here’s an update on my progress as of today.

I finished The Shy Reader by Hope Clark and am recommending this to all writers, especially those who need reminding that at some point writers need to leave their comfort zones and make others aware of their work.

Paragraph from Amazon review: While there are several excellent chapters in the book, to me the ones that are truly superlative are Chapters 7 – 10. She explains the differences and advantages of different types of social media in ways that are easily understandable. Until reading this chapter, I wondered whether I was wasting my time on LinkedIn (probably) and whether I should give Pinterest a shot (again, probably). I also picked up numerous tips about blogging from Chapter 9. I already use visuals with my blogs and now I have the expert’s permission to get funky with them.

Here’s a bit of my Amazon review of The Last Lecture, Randy Pausch.

Arranged in 61 short chapters, The Last Lecture is filled with stories, adventures, life lessons, and photographs that Dr. Pausch chose from a full life, one regrettably ended early from terminal cancer. Though he and his wife know with certainty that their time together is limited, they “push through” and strive for normalcy balanced with realism.

The writing is poignant yet humorous, personal yet universal, and straightforward yet inspiring…. A humorous example is the description of the mishap of the hot air balloon on his wedding day. Pausch never shies away from speaking of his illness, and yet he never lets it define him.

While it seems a little weird to say that I actually enjoyed reading a book written by a man looking death square in the face, I did. I think if more of us lived our lives this way, fully aware that this life is precious and fleeting, we’d be happier, braver, more loving, and more fulfilled people.

In the prior post about current books, I had begun Acrux Landing by G. R. Hinkle, a former colleague of mine. Amazed at the original vocabulary (empies, drigents, and limoglings), I posted a review on Amazon; here’s part of it: “I’ve always identified with the North Face reminder to ‘Never Stop Exploring,’ a theme that pervades the book. That’s why I was delighted to read these words, ‘Adventures will magnify the awe you have for the universe.’ Amen to that!”

I’ve read bits and pieces of When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd. A book written for people (especially women) who are attempting to redefine their lives and explore their spirituality, I recognize myself in every section that I’ve read so far. Her take on “The Little Red Hen” was especially sobering. 

I’ve been dipping into A Philosophy of Walking by Frederic Gros, a Vine selection that is a compendium of information about famous walkers like Thoreau and Nietzsche. Nietzsche is quoted as saying to sit as little as possible and that, “Sitting still is the real sin against the Holy Ghost.”

I’ve read about 30 pages of The In-Between Hour by Barbara Claypole White and am anxious to get back to it. What’s happening on Saponi Mountain this afternoon?

What are you reading? What are you writing? Is your reading affecting your writing and vice versa? Please share.