I guess my writing style is called “narrative non-fiction,” because I take events from my life, and I recreate them in a hopefully interesting and dramatic fashion. That comes from reading a lot of David Sedaris, Dave Eggers, and other authors who get to swim in that great pool of writing while I watch through the fence. I can see that influence in the stories that I put in Dancing Barefoot, and in weblog entries like The Trade and Fireworks. It’s a fine line that I dance across, where I allow myself to be inspired and compelled to write without just being derivative.
One of the great bits of advice Stephen King gives us in his “On Writing” book is to read and read and read, because it makes you a better writer. (I have always preferred reading to TV and movies . . . I wonder if that preference contributed to my lack of success in the entertainment industry? They say that actors should watch lots of other actors, and directors should watch lots of other directors . . . hrmmm. Interesting. But not what this post is about.)
I’ve always been a reader. When I was a kid, I was allowed to stay up as late as I wanted, as long as I was reading, so I still read every night before I go to bed. I often find myself sitting between a cold mug of tea and a dying fire well past midnight, lost in some other author’s world, hours after I told Anne, “I’ll be right there.”
Night before last, I was reading “Wizard and Glass” (Part IV of The Dark Tower series) and I hit the book’s point of no return; that place where something happens and I become consumed by the story. I can’t put the book down, and when I am forced to, the characters live in my mind, sometimes to the point of serious distraction during my day.
All day yesterday, in an effort to leave Roland and Susan and Bert and Mid World behind for a few hours, I thought about other books I’ve read, and what their points of no return were. I share them now, off the top of my head, without going to the bookshelf to cheat. I think I’ll recall the Point of Intrigue as well as the Point of No Return, because this is my blog and I say so. Nyahh.
Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes
POI – the first time Morpheus spoke, and it was in such wonderful lettering, I knew that I was in for something wonderful.
PONR – When Morpheus goes into Hades, and all three incarnations of Satan speak to him, I was hooked.
Neverwhere:
POI – I can’t recall. It must have happened when I read the back.
PONR – “Mind the Gap.”
American Gods:
POI – When Shadow gets called into the Warden’s office for early release.
PONR – On the airplane, when Odin addresses Shadow by name.
I swear, I’ve read stuff by authors who are not named Neil Gaiman. Witness:
Best American Non-Required Reading 2002
POI – “Edited by Dave Eggers.”
PONR – In his introduction, Dave Eggers talks about floating in a stolen swimming pool at night. His description of the blue light shimmering on the walls was perfect.
The Gunslinger:
POI and PONR- “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” I love that line so much, I can quote it in my sleep.
Fables:
POI – You mean it’s like fairy tales, but they live in the real world?
PONR – Bigby Wolf is a detective? Where do I sign?
Ringworld:
POI – It’s a solid ring, one Earth-orbit in circumference.
PONR – Fist of God.
Hitchhiker’s Guide:
POI – Don’t Panic!
PONR – When the Vogons tell Arthur that the plans to demolish Earth are exactly the same as the plans to demolish his house.
Okay, I could easily go on for days like this, but I’ll end now with the my current read, because I bet this is more interesting to me than anyone reading it.
Wizard and Glass:
POI – I had to find out how they beat Blaine the Mono.
PONR – Dinner at the Mayor’s mansion, when Roland dances with Susan.
Have a great weekend everybody. If you need me, I’ll be in my reading in my chair.
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Wil said:
“Night before last, I was reading “Wizard and Glass” (Part IV of The Dark Tower series) and I hit the book’s point of no return; that place where something happens and I become consumed by the story. I can’t put the book down, and when I am forced to, the characters live in my mind, sometimes to the point of serious distraction during my day.”
Wil, I know that feeling. I know it all too well. It’s so interesting when you get lost in a story. Constantly, I find myself IN the story. When I’m reading it in my head, I act out all the actions and emotions. You go into another world and everything around you becomes the setting of the book. Kind of like “The Neverending Story”. Weird, huh?
Thanks for reminding me, about “Wizard and Glass”. I need to get my ass out there and buy it.
Have a good weekend 🙂
POI – I had to find out how they beat Blaine the Mono.
Exactly. That’s bothered me for years. Not only do I love this series, but that had to be the main reason I went out and bought this the day it came out.
ringworld? goodness… i haven’t read those books in eons. i think it’s time to hie myself down to the ol’ bookstore and buy new copies (mine tend to get lent out).
On Neil Gaiman w/ Terry Pratchett
“Good Omens” A fantastic collabrative book between two very funny men.
POI- The original title. “The Nyce and Accurate Prophecies of Agnus Nutter Witch or Good Omens”
PONR- When the Hell Hound Bounds across the earth towards his destiny. And is named “Dog”
Give it read. You might be surprised how funny Armageddon can be.
“I can’t put the book down, and when I am forced to, the characters live in my mind, sometimes to the point of serious distraction during my day.”
I love when you get a book like that; almost, no am sad when books like that come to an end.
I so gave up on Wizards and Glass.
I was into the Dark Tower series for so long, but then I forgot what it was about.
It was just toooo long between stories.
Then Wizards and Glass came out and I figured it would all come back to me.
But it didn’t.
So I’m disappointed I won’t find out the end of the saga, yet, I’m not disappointed, since I can’t remember it anyway!
Hey, Wil. I’m in the middle of ‘Ender’s Game’. What was the POI and PONR for that book for you?
Myself, the POI happened when a friend described the book. the PONR happened after Ender got on the station and started his military training.
POI for King Novels for me is “author: Stephen King”
I’m about 1/3rd of the way through Wolves of the Calla…
Fantastic…. love the Dark Tower books more than words can say.
J.
It’s interesting how many of those same books I’m a fan of. You have very good taste.
I, too am a big reader, but from talking to other readers I discovered no one reads like me. I picture everything in my head while I’m reading. It’s like watching a movie. I see everything, even people’s mouths when they are speaking. Very detailed, etc. Do you do this?
Wil,
I have to say that while I always thought were a fairly cool fellow, learning that you are a DT fan has boosted you into the stratosphere. If you think Wizard and Glass is addictive, wait until you get to Wolves of the Calla (which I just finished).
Also, are you aware that the DT universe is spreading? If you haven’t, check Insomnia, The Talisman (and its sequel, Black House) and ‘Salem’s Lot.
‘Salem’s Lot didn’t used to have a DT connection but it does now–I recommend you read it before you read Wolves.
I think these are the major tie-ins–but you’ll get more out of Wolves if you’ve read the books above.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
“I, too am a big reader, but from talking to other readers I discovered no one reads like me. I picture everything in my head while I’m reading. It’s like watching a movie. I see everything, even people’s mouths when they are speaking. Very detailed, etc. Do you do this?
Posted by: lee on November 14, 2003 01:33 PM”
I do that; I must confess and then when you hear they are gonna make a movie of the book you have been reading you; well at least I cringe as I know it won’t be what I have been picturing everytime I have been reading the book – and of course those in your mind are THE story to you, so no one will really do it justice. Maybe thats just me.
wow…
couldn’t agree more with you on the reading thing wil..
(and great taste in reading material too)
other great moments in reading:
Grass – by Sherri S Tepper
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553285653/ref=ase_waynesbookstoreA/103-6067545-0013448?v=glance&s=books
-PNR when they trace the stomped markings of the ‘mounts’ and find out it spells ‘fun to kill humans’ in their language..
Burning Bright – by Mellisa Scott
http://www.rscs.net/~ms001/bb.html
-PNR when Illario Ransome hears that his gaming archetypes are being used by someone else, and goes to investigate, and meets Quin Lioe
Enders Game
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312853238/103-6067545-0013448?v=glance&s=books
PNR – c’mon..i know alllll of you have read this..too damn many moments to count..but a good one is right near the begining, when he beats the stuffing out of Stilson, then calmly lets the other boys know that if they dont’ back off, they’ll be next….or, when ender gets control of his own army (dragon army) and starts putting them through the paces of training..
Anvil of Stars – Greg Bear
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446364037/gregbear-20/103-6067545-0013448?creative=125577&camp=2321&link_code=as1
-POI – when Hans is elected Pan, and things start becoming grim and fatalistic for the crew
PNR – when Salamandar says ‘ your deceptions are far outweighed by our own’ and you realize the heros are in major, MAJOR deep shit…
A Song for Arbonne – Guy Kay
http://www.brightweavings.com/books/arbonne.htm
PNR when Blaise and his band search the isle for a runaway troubador, and then bean him on the head when he shrieks about not wanting to return to the castle
I love the fourth book in the dark tower. I went back and reread them all just to get ready for the wolves of calla. I stopped reading after the wastelands cause I just couldn’t handle the wait. Now I am waiting on the wolves just for a few weeks. I am nearly 30 and I have been reading this series for over half of my life. I love when a book gets me, Will should do a blogg on great opening lines. The gunslinger is great but so is “the smell of almonds always reminded him of unrequited love” I know that might be little to highbrow for yall but what a great book.
OMG, you like Stephen King. You rock so much more now. I named my domain after one of his books.
I read On Writing like, monthly. I will never get sick of that book. There are points in time where I’m sitting there completely silent, and I’ll burst into giggles because of something he wrote. My family is used to it by now.
I thought I was the only one with the book addiction. I must read before going to bed at night, even if it’s just a page. It helps to take my mind off of my own life and absorb myself into a different life. Is your house overflowing with books? My husband often shakes his head at me and my books which take up just about every available space on my side of the room (I do try to keep from incringing on anyone else). I have to believe that reading does help with your writing Wil, it certainly seems to get better with every entry. What started out as a casual thing for me has now become a full blown “I wonder if there is anything new on Wil’s site since yesterday?” Thank you for letting us all share in a little bit of your life through your excellent writing.
Hey, Wil!
[sorry to be OFF-SUBJECT]
Forgot to say that I’m very stoked that you have the ‘comments’ back up.
There appears to be far less TROLLERS than in the past.
Thx, again!
-sam
“The Gunslinger:
POI and PONR- “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.””
Its strange, I’m a big King fan, and I was captured by The Dark Tower from this line on (for those not in the know, its the first line of the book). But for some reason when I recently heard about Wolves of the Calla, I wasn’t immediately excited.
Now, after reading this line again, I am. Thanks Wil.
I just finished The Talisman after hearing about its ties to DTV, Black House is next, then I think I’ll reread the first 4 again.
Anyone know if the reissue of The Gunslinger is worth it? I’m thinking it must be, otherwise he wouldn’t have redone it.
Check out Pete Fromm. I’ve not only read all of his books, I’ve compiled an almost complete autographed hardback collection. I suggest you start out with one of his short story works (Night Swimming or Dry Rain). How All This Started left my wife sobbing at the end. He also has one non-fiction work called Indian Creek Chronicles, which was the first work of his I read.
Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson:
POI: the 29 minute mark on La Cosa Nostra Pizza delivery
PONR: ‘Reason’
American Gods
POI: when Wil talked about it.
PONR: The reviews on amazon.com
Dputiger said, “I think these are the major tie-ins–but you’ll get more out of Wolves if you’ve read the books above.”
Hearts In Atlantis, the Regulators, and Desperado also have some small tie-ins. Mostly in reference to the Low-Men and slippage.
A lot of King’s novels make reference to one another on occasion, I’ve noticed. It’s something I love about his stuff. And I’ve heard people say that his books are becoming redundant, but I don’t think so at all. They’re always fun, new and exciting to me.
J.
DARK TOWER V: WOLVES OF THE CALLA
POI: “Dark Tower V”
PONR: When Callahan picks up the meat cleaver in the shelter’s kitchen.
Must pick up part 4 of the Dark Tower series. Must see how the gang beats Mono. I have one more PONR for you all.
The Stand: by Stephen King
PONR: Captain Tripps wipes out New York City, and our heroes must make their way out via the Holland Tunnel.
hey wil. I love reading, although at the minute, i do not have enough time to read what i want to read, too busy with school stuff…(which totally sucks) but when i read a good book, i get completely sucked in, and when i’m not reading it, i find myself wondering what the characters are doing! then i realise what i am doing, and work out that are, in fact, not doing anything, because they are characters in a book!! I know its very strange…but it does make reading the book so much better!
Just one quick thing….all that reading you do must be doing something, becuase your writing is superb (i love that word!!) and pretty much does the same thing as when i read a book…i get sucked in, and i’m right there with you! i too, have an obsessive compulsion to check your site everytime i’m online, just to see if you have added anything new!! thank you so much for that!!
rach
xxx
My two would be:
Atlas Shrugged
POI – When Reardon gives the bracelet to his wife
PONR – When the John Galt line is finished
Cryptominicon
POI – When Randy gets in the debate with his girlfriend’s associates about the information superhighway
PONR – When the guys show up with shotguns to stop the server from being removed
Another incurable bookworm here. “Just let me finish this chapter” was always good for at least a 20-minute delay in whatever my parents were after…
Also a fan of King, a rabid fan of Gaiman, and an unabashed Potterholic these days.
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
POI – Hey, this reads kinda like Roald Dahl!
PONR – three chapters later I come up for air and buy the book and leave the store with it.
This just reminded me of a big family trip my parents took us all on, back in 1986 or so. We drove all over the Western United States in an RV, and I remember hardly any of the sights, because my face was buried in The Stand, The Shining, The Dead Zone, and Night Shift. I think I read more on that trip than at any other time in my life.
The re-issue of The Gunslinger is very mild re-issue compared to the mammoth parts added back to The Stand.
I believe King says he adds about 35 pages, or 9000 words. He also corrects a number of errors.
Frankly, part of me wishes King would simply re-write The Gunslinger altogether. Although the new sections do make the book flow more smoothly, they also jar badly with his younger style of writing.
We see Susan mentioned now, links made to Sheb the piano player, and even words mentioned that would pop up again until Wolves of the Calla–but more than anything this serves to underline just how inferior this book is to his later DT works–even King has said in one of his forwards that the DT saga really begins with “Drawing of the Three.”
Is it worth reading? Sure, especially since its short. Worth buying? Maybe in paperback.
I don’t expect King to ever re-write a novel–but if I could pick one novel I wish he WOULD re-write from the ground-up, Gunslinger would be it.
Here’s a few:
The DragonBone Chair
(Tad Williams)
POI: The story of John Prespyter going to fight the Dragon
PONR: [there isn’t one; it’s pretty even]
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
(Douglas Adams)
POI: when you first hear Dirk’s voice
PONR: “Who _are_ you?” “I have absolutely no idea.”
Weird Sisters
(Terry Pratchett)
POI: “Give me the Child”.
“No,” she said, on general principles.
PONR: “I want Thunder, and I want Thunder NOW!”
The Computer: From Pascal to Von Neumann
(GoldStein)
POI: Charles Babbage’s idea in the 1800’s of a mechanical version of what would have been a general-purpose computer (he never built it).
PONR: The shift from when it took 20 minutes to set up an electro-mechanical machine to do a day’s calculation to when it took 40 minutes to set up a calculation on ENIAC to do a 1 minute calculation.
Yes!
I agree entirely with your ideas on the WRITINGSTYLE….I myself have been calling it “(POETIC) DOCUMENTARY JOURNALISM”….allowing one’s life to stewabout, to be regurgitated later into a formal construct with an inherent style draped about it….
Excellent!
I love your photos too, check mine out sometime….we seem to have an alarming number of STYLISTICS in common.
When I was a girl, the worst punishment my parents could inflict was to take away my books. I, too, still read before sleep every night. I find it hard to sleep without reading, and I’d rather read than watch TV – though I admit to watching a bit of “The Buddy System” on WE tonight 😉
And your description of PONR was terrific. I find it hard to put books down sometimes, and think I will have to start paying attention to that point.
Especially since I am currently writing my second novel!
Ender’s Game…wow, that brings back memories. I picked it up in the school library when I was in the sixth grade and flipped through the first pages. When the nurse tells Ender that it won’t hurt to have his monitor removed, and he knows she’s lying, it was like a revelation for me. It was the first really honest book I had ever read, and I still love it. PONR? First page of any of OSC’s books.
For those OSC fans among you, just wanted to mention that the new Alvin Maker book is out, and it totally RULES! I just bought it yesterday and I’m already done with it. Farkin’ fabulous.
And Wil, just knowing that you’re a huge King fan makes you all kinds of cooler in my book. That is all.
I’ve just got back into social reading, it seems to help calm me down after tackling Microsoft Networking Products. A couple of interesting science fiction reads you might consider are the Bio of a Space Tyrant series by Piers Anthony and also the Conquerer series by Timothy Zhan.
Wil, also wanted you to know that I started my blog and am using Movable Type. Great stuff!
These are some pretty great books. I have a couple more faves if anyone’s here shopping for authors;
Anything by Tim Powers, particularly Last Call, and Declare
Anything by F. Paul Wilson, especially the Repairman Jack books
Everything by Joe Lansdale, but Freezer Burn is a good place to start
And if by any chance you aren’t all addicted to it already, the absolutely amazing Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, because everyone on the planet should be lining up for the fourth book in that series.
Beware though, these will eat up your life forever as you reread them over and over again!
Lack of success in the acting business?
Careful, my friend. There are thousands upon thousands of us out here who would enjoy your lack of success.
Dave Eggers, eh?
you should probably check out “Please don’t kill the freshman”
He’s the one who discovered the writer, Zoe Trope, as well as wrote the stuff on the cover.
Good stuff… especially considering she was 14-16 when she wrote it.
As usual, great entry. 🙂
I saw some mention of this above, but I would be a failure as a bookworm if I let a book post go by without saying this… if you like Gaiman and Adams, go read some Discworld.
Now.
Right now.
Terry Pratchett is absolutely hilarious. It’s a big ol’ series now, but it doesn’t really matter where you start – they get funnier as they go. My personal favorite is Soul Music. Small Gods is great if you’re in the mood for a commentary on modern religion; Hogfather is very appropriate for the upcoming Holiday season.
They’re all quick reads, but they still manage to be highly amusing social commentaries.
I saw “Good Omens” mentioned above – I just have to put in my two cents worth!
FUNNIEST.
BOOK.
EVER.
WRITTEN.
PONR: The opening scene in the Garden of Eden.
Fun post!
I’ve felt that way about the Dark Tower series.
Every Terry Pratchett book I’ve ever read has the PONR. So do Misery and The Silence of the Lambs. It’s really amazing to realize for how long you’ve been reading a book, when it really only feels like you’ve been there in that world for a few minutes.
Those are all awesome PNRs. And like you, I’ve lost plenty of sleep hours to a book because I just HAD to find out what happened.
Thanks for sharing, Wil!
CHINA STAR SUSHI BAR
POI-ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI
PONR-$5.95
Just to drive the point home…
If you haven’t,
READ GOOD OMENS NOW.
It’s the “Hitchiker’s Guide…” meets “The Omen”.
i was diagnosed with tuberculoses when i was 9 years old…for the next two and half years i was allowed virtually no physical activity…so when everyone else was in P.E. i was in the library all by myself…usually with no librarian present…it was the best break i ever had…of course the reading continued when i got home from school and all summer long…after all…it was all that i was allowed to do.
Wil,
From the books you’ve posted, I think that you’ll really like the Hyperion books by Dan Simmons. I was completely hooked by the opening to Hyperion, and the rest of the series is simply brilliant. His new book, Illium, is phenomenal as well.
Of course for pure geek heaven you can’t beat Cryptonomicon and Quicksilver from Neal Stephenson as well!
According to my mom, I started reading when I was 3-1/2. I never stopped. I still remember how, when I had my tonsils removed at age 4-1/2, the nurses kept having to shush me because I was intent on reading aloud to them from a book called “The Horse That Couldn’t Neigh.” And I’m another one who sees a “film” unreel in my mind as I read–it’s always been one of my greatest pleasures.
And my love of reading is why I keep coming back to WWDN. Thanks for feeding the beast.
Syd
“I want you to kill a man.”
First sentence. R A Heinlein.”The Cat Who Walks Through Walls”. (I think)
The Dark Tower series are some of my all-time favorite books.
I’m currently reading Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla. Seven long years of waiting for this book are finally over.
Gawd Damn, I love Stephen King.
For me, the PONR in Neverwhere was pretty much the first page.
And speaking of Dave Eggers, I found his “Heartbreaking Work” at the bottom of my “To Read” stack yesterday and then today during this afternoon’s blog troll you were like the 2nd blog in a row to mention it. So I think I’m going to have to take this as some kind of sign to read that book.
Hi Will, Longtime fan (TNG and WWDN) and firstime poster. I just got through reading the latest in the Darktower series: Wolves of the Calla. Immediate point of no return. If you’re a S.K. fan as I am, I know you’ll devour this book in a few days. Long days and pleasant nights.