Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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Books I’m Reading in 2014

13 Comments

It was liberating not to keep a public record of everything I read last year. Somehow keeping my list private and mine alone was a good, needed way to reconnect with reading and give myself permission to read what I felt like rather than what I felt I should.

While I’ll continue to keep my entire list to myself, I will certainly keep talking books around here. This is the year I’d really like to learn about this writing thing. Here are some books I’d love to dig into. I already know there’s no way I’ll work through all of these in 2014 (I need a lot of fiction to round out my non-fiction), but here’s to trying!

Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them — Francine Prose

This book has been on my shelf forever. I’ve always believed reading to be the inverse of writing and have tried in the last few years to collect sentences and paragraphs I love into my commonplace book. I hope this book might make my reading even more intentional.

Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication — Ann Whitford Paul

I’ve been told this is the book to read when it comes to picture books. I’ve gone as far as purchasing it! This is a part of my writing I really need to strengthen, and I look forward to learning more.

Writing Irresistible KidLit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers — Mary Kole

Agent Mary Kole has received high praise for this book she published last year. I bought it soon after it came out, but haven’t opened it yet.

Child-Sized History: Fictions of the Past in U.S. Classrooms — Sara L. Schwebel

This came from a recommendation from a friend in my local SCBWI. Here’s a quick description of this absolute must read: For more than three decades, the same children’s historical novels have been taught across the United States. As works of historical interpretation, however, many are startlingly out of step with current historiography and social sensibilities, especially with regard to race. Taken individually, many present troubling interpretations of the American past. But embraced collectively, this classroom canon provides a rare pedagogical opportunity: it captures a range of interpretive voices across time and place, a kind of “people’s history” far removed from today’s state-sanctioned textbooks.

The Writer’s Guide To Crafting Stories For Children — Nancy Lamb

This is another definitive title I’ve had for years. I’ve never read more than the chapter on characterization.

Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom — edited by Leonard S. Marcus

Maybe I first heard of this book while in my adolescent literature class in 1995. Maybe it was from NPR’s Diane Rehm. However I first heard, I was again reminded at The Decatur Book Festival in 2012 when I heard Leonard Marcus tell about discovering files and files of Ursula’s letters at HarperCollins. As one of the most influential editors in the history of children’s literature, I can’t wait to see how she communicated with and brought out the best in her authors.

Show Me a Story! Why Picture Books Matter — Leonard S. Marcus

In Decatur Leonard moderated a panel on picture books. I left the session telling my sister about his latest book. She bought it for me for Christmas that year. Here’s the description: In compelling interviews by the acclaimed Leonard S. Marcus, twenty-one top authors and illustrators reveal their inside stories on the art of creating picture books.

Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art — Madeleine L’Engle

Three people this last year have recommended this book to me. I treated myself to a copy this Christmas and have read about a third. It is marvelous so far and reminds me a lot of Annie Dillard.

How to Write a Novel: 47 Rules for Writing a Stupendously Awesome Novel That You Will Love Forever — Nathan Bransford

I’ve followed former agent/middle-grade author Nathan Bransford blog for years. This is his experiment in self-publishing. I’ve got a copy on my Kindle and look forward to digging in.

What do you plan to read this year?

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Filed Under: books and reading

Comments

  1. taracreel says

    January 6, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    Thanks for posting all of these book recs. They all look amazing!

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 6, 2014 at 2:44 pm

      You’re welcome! Tell me if you pick any up, and we can compare notes.

      Reply
  2. Sarah M says

    January 6, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    I have never heard of any of these save one: Walking on Water. It’s actually one of my very favorite nonfiction books. I try to read it once a year, but missed that in 2013. The writing book I am now focusing on is Julia Cameron’s, “The Right to Write”. With your notes, I think “Writing Picture Books” might be my best place to start.
    Thank you for the list.
    Sarah M

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 6, 2014 at 5:36 pm

      I’ve worked through half of Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Something I should pick up again and finally finish! Happy to hear this list was helpful. Let me know what you think!

      Reply
  3. Natalie Aguirre says

    January 6, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    I haven’t read any books on craft in years. I want to read Cheryl Klein’s book and James Scott Bell’s book on revision. Hope I can at least get to these too. Thanks for sharing your list.

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 6, 2014 at 8:19 pm

      I loved Cheryl’s book and will be re-reading portions soon for a revision class I’ll be teaching in March. It’s really incredible.

      Reply
  4. Sonia Gensler says

    January 6, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    Thank you for this list! I own DEAR GENIUS, but haven’t done more than skim through. Perhaps this is the year to dive in. AND I am intrigued by this notion of keeping my reading list private. (Not sure how I missed your post on that.) Will ponder . . .

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 6, 2014 at 10:31 pm

      It’s been so freeing, Sonia. I know deep down that people aren’t looking over my shoulder, regularly checking my book list at Goodreads. But somehow having the information out there created a weird burden that wearied me. I want to read for myself, you know? Not answer to anyone, real or imagined.

      Reply
    • Marcia says

      January 10, 2014 at 3:12 pm

      Isn’t it something how peer pressure even enters in to what we read? I like keeping a private list too. I’ve often been uncomfortable with being asked what I’m reading, and I realize it’s because we judge people by what they read.

      Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 10, 2014 at 5:29 pm

      Marcia, I’m never going back. I have no problem reading a variety of books. I’m not worried about people judging supposed quality, in other words. The more I write the more I know there are so many things I can’t do that others can. (I’ve learned to be more open, in other words). But somehow knowing someone could access what I’m reading, it felt like having someone hovering nearby. In this very public space we try to establish as authors, it was liberating to reclaim something as just for me.

      Reply
  5. Jessica Hoffman says

    January 20, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    Hi, Just came across you from Modern Mrs Darcy. I would be interested in re-reading GWTW! 🙂 It’s been years and always such a favorite.

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 21, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      Wonderful! Adding you to the list.

      Reply

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