Writer's Block: Best book ever!

[uberreiniger]

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House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. I don't think there's many people on my list who haven't read it, but if you haven't yet then why haven't you? Not only can you find something new every time you read it, but that's what the entire book is made for. I never get sick of it, but I do need long breaks from it because it messes with me.

And in keeping with the book theme, a few more days' worth of questions from dungeonwriter's 30 day book meme.

5. By age, who is your youngest character? Oldest? How about “youngest” and “oldest” in terms of when you created them? In the Apocalypse Woman universe there's a character we meet literally the day she is born. Then there are the angelic and demonic characters who have existed since before the dawn of time, so I think I'm running the gamut as far as it can be run :) For the rest, there are characters who have been with me since childhood and new ones I'm coming up with every day so the gamut is covered there too.

6. Where are you most comfortable writing? At what time of day? Computer or good ol' pen and paper?
I need solitude to write. I can do it with friends and family nearby but it's very, very hard to concentrate. I do my best writing very late at night/early in the morning. Some stories come out better typed on the computer, others seem to flow better when given a first draft on paper. I don't know why.

7. Do you listen to music while you write? What kind? Are there any songs you like to relate/apply to your characters? All my important characters have theme songs. Some even have entire playlists. However, I can't listen to said music while writing or I'll get so wrapped up in thinking about the characters I won't be able to write about them!

8. What's your favorite genre to write? To read? My favorite genre to write is what I call "hyphen fantasy", as in sci-fi-fantasy, horror-fantasy, romance-fantasy, etc. If there's not magic or something paranormal and weird going on then it's probably not the right story for me to tell. My reading tastes lean this way as well. I like things of many genres, but I don't like anything that's "typical" of it's genre. Cookie-cutter Tolkien novels aren't my bag, neither is your standard Harlequin bodice ripper. Now give me some lusty orcs ripping those bodices and maybe we'll talk.

Comments

[ayashi.livejournal.com]

House of Leaves has been in my possession for a few years now! I Still haven't managed to read it, partly because the person who originally recommended it to me was my best friend's then-boyfriend who cheated on her and then broke up with her. It is difficult for me to not associate the book with him :P But I spent a fair amount of money on it so I am definitely going to read it eventually!

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I can see why that would make it off-putting, but I promise it's worth swallowing the bad memories and diving into.

[lizzie_borden]

House of Leaves is definitiley one of my re-read ones. However, I re-read LOADS of books. Just about everything I own by Sax Rohmer has been re-read several times. I've read the entire Harry Potter series multiple times (and am currently on a very relaxed slog through it again), but I've have to say, my most re-read books are my Halloween list that I read every year in September/October (in no particular order):
From the Dust Returned - Ray Bradbury
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
Hell House - Richard Matheson
The Shining- Stephen King

and I always ALWAYS finish up with Dragonfly by Frederic S. Durbin (and then read it again in April as a birthday present to myself).

And to add one other to the list- The Watership Down is one I've read several times.. the interesting bit about it is that I am ALWAYS fascinated to discover that each read is different for me, because each time I go through it, I find that I've changed a bit, have a different perspective to absorb it from, and end up identifying with completely different characters from the read before.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I remember you talking about Dragonfly the other day. I made a mental note to read it but then forgot so thanks for bringing it up again. I read Watership Down for the first time about two years ago and was amazed by it. I steered away from it for most of my life because the movie was so traumatic and depressing, but the book really is beautiful.

I need to read Something Wicked This Way Comes again. That was one of my favorite books as a child.

[rosehiptea.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've never read House of Leaves. I really need to.

I do a lot of writing late at night/early in the morning too. Except usually I'm working then, but now and then I sneak some time anyway. Of course mine is mostly fanfic.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I exhort you to read this book and fully absorb all it's troubling implications!

[nightshade-7976.livejournal.com]

I haven't read it simply because it's EXPENSIVE!!!! But it's on my list of books to get when I have the money. :)

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I guarantee it's worth every penny.

[lucretiasheart.livejournal.com]

"I never get sick of it, but I do need long breaks from it because it messes with me."

Yeah, I had some weird-ass dreams.

...

I mean, weird-ass even for ME. *blinks*

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

You know, I've never had a dream about it. But it's still a dangerous book for me as I'm very prone to apophenia.

[lucretiasheart.livejournal.com]

"apophenia"

What's that? It sounds intriguing!

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Learn all you can about it, babe. Of everyone I know I'm sure you'd dig it the most.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia

[lucretiasheart.livejournal.com]

AH! Yes, I know what this is, and have known about it for years, although I certainly forgot its "proper" name!

I have attempted to be aware of the human mind's tendency to see patterns everywhere-- even where none really exist-- because it's important to me to be able to verify some of what happens to me, at least to myself. (Proving such things to other people--? Meh!)

However, knowing the name of it is SO handy because when I try to explain this concept to other people who over-interpret events I can direct them to a wiki article and set them back on the path of righteousness! ROFL!!

Seriously, thank you.

And hey-- you called me "babe!" Bonus points! ;^)

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I'm not in the habit of calling mediums who've been to other worlds babe - especially married ones - but in your case I'll make the exception :)

I love to look for patterns and if necessary make them up. Does it count as apophenia if you know you're doing it?

[lucretiasheart.livejournal.com]

"I'm not in the habit of calling mediums who've been to other worlds babe - especially married ones - but in your case I'll make the exception :)"

*blushes bright pink* Awwww!

"Does it count as apophenia if you know you're doing it?"

I would think that would be called "conspiracy theorizing" or "synchronicity mongering" or something...

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I think Synchronicity Monger sounds like an awesome title! Although since everything sounds cooler in Latin I might change it to Ecclesiarch of Apophenia.

[lucretiasheart.livejournal.com]

(*tries it on for size*)

"Ecclesiarch of Apophrenia"

*CUE HEROIC THEME MUSIC*