by Jackie Houchin
I read a lot of print books and listen to a great many audiobooks each year. I do not read anthologies or collections of short stories unless they contain several stories by authors that have a track record I enjoy.
Recently, I have been “reading” (I will use that word whether I use my eyes or ears) a good many short prequels to book series. If the book turns out to be so-so, I haven’t wasted much time. If I like it, I’ll consider the series. Also, more authors are writing their stories as novellas, which I enjoy too. For me “shorter is better.”
Except!
Except when I read authors that I KNOW will come through with an outstanding story. Then I will read longer. Sometimes much longer. I’m currently reading CITY SPIES by James Ponti. It has 378 print pages and I LOVE it. I eat it up. I can’t get enough, even when my eyes are stinging. I’m already looking for the next in the series. (Okay, yes, it’s geared to 10-12 year-olds, but I’m a kid at heart, and it really IS written well.)
In general, for LONG reading, I like fascinating, immersive, tightly-written books, with unique plots and hooks and plenty of jaw-dropping moments. And the characters better resonate with me. I enjoy relevant back-story told well and within the plot. In mysteries, I don’t want to easily figure out who is the villain or how he did the crime. I want to follow the author step by cleverly contrived step to the WOW ending, which, on second thought, makes perfect sense. I want a story that stays with me for a while.
Charles Todd is one of those authors. His Ian Rutledge historical mysteries are top notch. Here are my reviews of two of those books. You can see why I love them and will READ LONG.
Historical Novels and Mysteries need to be believable and take me right to that setting and hold me there. If they do, I’ll READ LONG. Here are three I reviewed that did that.
The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson
The Girl in The Painting by Tea Cooper
A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly
In a LONG READ novel, I want to be carried along with astonishing characters, vivid settings, and heart-wrenching but hopeful story telling. Here are two I loved.
The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay
Light on Bone by Kathryn Lasky
Here’s one dual-time plot that is outstanding and innovative and that I gladly READ VERY LONG.
When The Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
And I could name more. I totally enjoy reading Charles Martin (long & intense), Connie Berry (intricate plots), Katie Gayle (addictive), A.J. Pearce (Historical), Spencer Quinn (Humor, a dog’s POV), and my all-time favorite Mary Stewart, which I read and listen to over and over.
All these books are well written and enjoyable. If these authors keep on writing, and others like them, I think there is hope for readers. (At least in my life time.)
NOTE: I hope you don’t mind the blatant self-promoting of my Words and Reviews blog!
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And a few fun shots of Jolly Ole England – Afternoon Tea at the Ritz with lovely piano music, 150 Picadilly, London.
Buckingham Palace and Big Ben
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The Writers in Residence 
Jackie, a wonderful peek into your reading taste. You set a high bar and your reviews and choices provide much food for thought. Sorry! Your photo of tea at the Ritz sent me back to my job in London although I was a lowly dogsbody in the newsroom, and could never have afforded that luxury. Thank you for sharing your favorite authors.
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Jill, I would probably never have gone to the Ritz or Shangra La teas, if it hadn’t been planned by my friend (and I didn’t know the cost at the time!!), but I’m so glad we got to experience it.
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Jaxon, Some of the books you listed just might be my cup of tea. I have read lots of much older books, sometimes twice, because the few contemporary books I tried to read just didn’t satisfy me. Thanks for the list.
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I hope you will try a few of the books. Charles Todd’s are really well written, if a bit dark in places. I recently found an old Pearl S. Buck book (1965) that is a gothic (psycological) suspense. Wow! I didn’t know she wrote that. So I think we should give old books as well as new ones a try. (And yes, recently I began and shut/discarded THREE books that were just not my “cup of tea.”)
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Reblogged this on Words and Reviews.
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Sounds as if you read many kinds of books, Jackie, and that you keep on going–a very good thing! Thanks for the enjoyable post.
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Because of several book challenges I’m in, I DO read a lot of books in different genres, some that I might not have chosen otherwise. I’ve also found some good reads and authors that way as well.
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Wow!, Jackie, I loved this post, more than one author and scenery caught my interest! And I’m also always looking for book club selections, and right now I’m thinking Charles Todd… Thank you, thank you!
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Madeline, Charles Todd is a wonderful author. His protagonist battles inner nightmares from WW II and a few other deep disappointments. But he plows through it all to do the job and do it well. The complexities of the mysteries/cases and solutions are awesome!
The Girl in the Painting and The Bronte Plot might also be good choices for Book Club offerings.
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Jackie – you always amaze me with how much you are able to read, amidst your busy traveling! Such an interesting array of books. Thank you for a new reading list! And I am envious of your Tea at the Ritz. An experience not to be missed – however expensive!
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Rosemary, it’s because I mostly read AUDIO books. I can listen while I drive, walk, garden, cook, anywhere. They connect via Bluetooth to my hearing aids, so no one else is bothered. Great deal. I read only a few in print or Kindle.
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Miko here. Thanks for all the suggestions, reading and travel-wise. Just like with movies, when you get fully immersed in a story, it will fly by no matter how many pages or minutes long.
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And with the books I mentioned above, I was very immersed – audiobooks, so it seemed like I am right there in the story even more.
One problem with audio books however is that if I don’t care for the narrator, then I usually won’t give the story of the book a chance. If I am very, VERY interested, I may get a Kindle copy to read.
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Sorry to be remiss in commenting this week. Jackie, I enjoyed your post and your pix of London. I love British teas, but have enjoyed mine in Los Angeles. Thanks for your book suggestions as well. Next year, I have two stories being published in anthologies—I hope I can persuade you to read them!
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I will certainly take a look, Maggie. And congratulations on getting TWO stories published. That’s fantastic.
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Jackie – this is so apt for me! For the first time in YEARS, I read two enormous books on vacation – the first was Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe (I missed it the first time around) and then Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel – both coming in at around 690 pages. I know for a fact that I would never have finished either if I’d not had the time to devote to fully immersing in the stories. I think that’s the joy of ‘long’ but you need that time. Back in my real world, I just fall asleep and devote maybe an hour to reading a day. On holiday – I can easily read for four or five hours. I really appreciated your reading list … more books to add to mine!
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