Lockdown reading and reading as inspiration for writing:

Surprisingly, I haven’t read as much as I usually do in lockdown. If I knew how long I would be at home at the beginning of lockdown, I would probably be shocked at how little I have read so far. I think this may be because I have been substituting some of the time I could be reading with a lot of writing and have been doing a few other different activities I wouldn’t normally do as well. The main times I read in “normal life” are on long journeys or audiobooks as I am getting ready for work in the morning- and as I am doing neither as much lately, I think that may be part of the issue also. I have had more time to think about what I am reading though. Usually (particularly when on holiday) I would just jump from book to book, swiftly picking up the next as soon as I had closed the previous, and I didn’t fully digest what I read. Now, I have more time, I am reading much more slowly and having a break before I pick up the next. Another way in which my reading is different is that (now that I am writing a lot more) I feel like I am looking at novels in a different way. I am thinking more about the writer’s process, wondering how they might have planned their narrative arc, why they have characterised characters in particular ways, etc. I am even starting to think about how I would have written the concept for the book (definitely not saying I would have written it any better, but it is interesting and fun to think about different ways the story could have gone!). I have always known, but now understand more than ever, how much reading can support your writing. Different books can support so many different writing ideas, so I thought I would write a little bit of my reading experience (as of late) and how these books have influenced my writing and the way I look at things.

This is one of the first books I read in lockdown and although it is anthology of all things Spring and not a fiction book as such, it really made me feel happy thinking about that transition from Winter into Spring and how much nature can influence mood and atmosphere. I love the change in seasons and would love to include more exploration of season change and nature in my writing. I feel that anthologies like this are a great place to start for inspiration.

I used to be obsessed with Greek Mythology as a child. I would read The Gorgan’s Head (pictured-not a lockdown read) over and over again… you can probably tell from the discolouration and bent cover… It used to scare me a little bit, yet for some reason it would be the “go to” read when I wasn’t supposed to be reading at night time and I had to sneak out into the hall where the light was left on in order to read it. Despite my childhood obsession, I hadn’t touched anything with any reference to Greek Mythology since studying Homer at University, so it was lovely to take the time to read this Greek re-telling (pictured left). I really enjoyed it and I really liked the romantic element. I have never been any good at writing romance or non-platonic intimate connections between characters, so I felt I learnt a lot about crafting those believable relationships from reading this. 

I really liked the tone and atmosphere of “The Secret History” (my next read). It is totally in line with the atmosphere I like to build in my writing, bordering more on the unsettling and eerie, and I really enjoyed how obsession and the nuances of character motivation was explored using the unreliable narrator. I love narrators who I can judge, speculate about and not entirely trust, and I am keen to build some of these narrators into more of my narratives.

Next was “Americanah.” I had been meaning to read this for such a long time. It had been on TBR for at least half a year and I am really glad I got around to reading it in lockdown. This was a fantastic novel on many levels. It was extremely layered, and again, I feel like it taught me a lot about characterisation and how much impact nuances in social interaction can have within a narrative.

And finally, I am reading “The Last.” This is actually a book my husband had purchased for himself. I am at the stage now of scouring the bookshelves for books I haven’t read yet or have accidently neglected to pick up, and I was initially hesitant wtih reading a book about the end of the world in the current climate. I haven’t finished it yet, but am enjoying the mystery it is currently conveying and I am thinking about how I might best evoke curiosity and mystery within my own writing- particularly as I am intending on writing a YA thriller.

I would love to know what you have been reading in lockdown. Leave me a comment and let me know all about your current reading journeys 😊