My Reading Life

I read Pat Conroy's newest book, My Reading Life, recently.

Let me first say: it was outstanding! Conroy is a brilliant writer who is truly a wordsmith, a word master! I always find it interesting to see what my favorite authors read and enjoy or discount.

Conroy, since he was a sophomore in high school, has consistently read 200 pages a day. Can you imagine?! How wonderful! How time consuming. Clearly, I need to make it as a big-time novelist, so I can find time in my day to read 200 pages. This teaching business coupled with parenting a toddler and being a wife, really cuts into the day! As it is, I'm writing in the wee hours of the morning and late at night. And my reading? I'd say it's coming in at between 50-70 pages a day. But I'm inspired to push that number higher.

Anyway, Conroy talks about how his prolific reading and writing have been intertwined over the years, and it makes perfect sense.

I feel like he wrote the book to me. I am NOT a book highlighter, and I wore out two highlighters (that might have been on the brink anyway, but still) highlighting sections about writing novels and fiction. It's powerful stuff.

Five stars. If you're a reader and/or a writer- buy this book. Have Kleenex and highlighters at the ready!

You'll want to come back and thank me later for recommending this title to you, but really- it's not necessary.