Books we return to

[Daan Doornbos]

Hi everyone,


I think most people in the forum read regularly. I would like to know which books or series you keep returning to, and why.

And if you want, how did these sources help you develop as a writer?

 

[Daan Doornbos]

In my case there are three:

• Dune (#1) by Frank Herbert
  
• Game of Thrones (#1 en #2) by George R.R. Martin
  
• The First Law-series by Joe Abercrombie

Dune's been awhile. The first read through was way back when I was sixteen, and it made a huge impression. Then throughout the years I re-read it at least three times. The last read through felt a bit less grand. However, Dune has always inspired me with its intrigue, dialogue and epic worldbuilding.

GoT I read first as a student. And I then thought of it as the best fantasy novel I had ever read. And why weren't more fantasy stories as real and worldly as this? Then, some years later I read through book one again. And recently I picked up the audiobooks (#1 and #2) because I was stuck and needed some inspiration. I like to study Martin's storybuilding, imagery and prose. There's a lot to learn.

Lastly, the First Law-series. These I only discovered recently (2018 or 2019) and opened me up to the fact that fantasy can be very grim. And heroes can be very dark. I've not read any of the novels, but had the joy to listen to the audiobook editions with Stephen Pacey, which I highly recommend. From these stories I also learned that characters and pace are much more essential to crafting a great story then many other features such as worldbuilding.

 

[Diana Silver]

Lord of the Rings - Whenever I am so careless as to pick it up and skim a paragraph, any paragraph, I get drawn into wanting to read the whole thing again.

Journey to the West - Any translation I can get my hands on, I've read. The four-volume full academic translation cover to cover. I personally don't need my fantasy realistic or worldy, I would rather have the fighting scenes be written as stylized poetry.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik - Uncomplicated, compelling, just fun. And because it doesn't take long to read, I might as well read it again. ^.^ Out of my top three, this is the one I would most aspire to learn from as a writer. But only because the first two entries cannot be redone in the current day.

 

[CupofJoe]

The David and Leigh Eddings' Elenium and Tamuli series. Maybe a little out of favour now, but they are easy reads with likeable characters.
Anything by Sir Terry Pratchett. I feel some books are better than others but all have been reread at least once.
JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit for when I want to go back to childhood for a while. I can read it in a day. Just give me a comfy chair, and an endless supply of coffee and biscuits.
As for the story I read for the writing and I think has influenced me… Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. I don’t think writing get tighter and yet comfortable than this.