The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

5.10 -- About the Author
Read a book about an author or about writing. It could be a biography/autobiography of an author, a book on the craft of writing, or a book with a main character who is an author. Examples: Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, Zen in the Art of Writing, The Angel's Game Optional: Write a quick note/email to your favorite living author and tell them how much you enjoy their work.

If you need suggestions OR have suggestions for books to read for this task, please post them here.

Books approved for this task:
Grammar books -- Ex. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English

Literary criticism -- Ex. Jane Austen: A Companion or Lectures on Literature
How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines

Cartoonists -- Ex. Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography

Books can be about book authors, newspaper journalists, freelance writers, magazine or newspaper columnists, short story authors, bloggers -- Ex. Designer Knockoff, My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire, Books: A Memoir, The Accidental Bestseller, Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded by John Scalzi

Memoirs about the writing life -- Ex. A Moveable Feast, Literary Life: A Second Memoir

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
Don't Know Much About Literature: What You Need to Know but Never Learned About Great Books and Authors
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
Front Row at the White House by Helen ThomasAgatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days by Jared Cade
Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women
On Writing by Stephen King
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark
Once Again to Zelda: The Stories Behind Literature's Most Intriguing Dedications
On Literature by Umberto Eco
How to Read Novels Like a Professor: A Jaunty Exploration of the World's Favorite Literary Form

Books that will NOT work for this task:
Autobiographies of people who are not primarily writers - Ex. Africa in My Blood: An Autobiography in Letters: The Early Years by Jane Goodall

Memoirs that have nothing to do with the writing life -- Ex. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress or Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

Will you accept Eats, Shoots & Leaves, which deals with grammar? Or does the book have to be about writing stories, etc?

while Jane Goodall is primarily thought of as a primatologist, she has written several books, so would Africa in My Blood : An Autobiography in Letters work for this task? thanks! :)

also, would you count a memoir for this task? i was thinking of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

just trying out some different books! thanks for your help! :)

Riona wrote: "Will you accept Eats, Shoots & Leaves, which deals with grammar? Or does the book have to be about writing stories, etc?"

Grammar books work.

kiki wrote: "while Jane Goodall is primarily thought of as a primatologist, she has written several books, so would Africa in My Blood : An Autobiography in Letters work for this task? thanks! :)"

No, this one won't work, Kiki. From the description, it sounds like it's still about her life as a primatologist, not as a writer. Sorry.

that's okay, thanks!

Would a newspaper reporter be considered an author? I would like to read Designer Knockoff and she is a fashion columnist.

Would any of these books do?
Don't Know Much About Literature: What You Need to Know but Never Learned About Great Books and Authorsor Talking Books: Children's Authors Talk About the Craft, Creativity and Process of Writing

I came accross this one that sounded interesting, if it works:

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

Valorie wrote: "Would a newspaper reporter be considered an author? I would like to read Designer Knockoff and she is a fashion columnist."

Yes, book authors, newspaper journalists, freelance writers, and magazine or newspaper columnists work.

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Valorie wrote: "Would a newspaper reporter be considered an author? I would like to read Designer Knockoff and she is a fashion columnist."

Yes, book authors, newspaper journalists,..."

Great thanks!

and what about memoirs? does that count as an autobiography, or no?

I would like to read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress or one of Jen Lancaster's books. They are both written by women as memoirs (more or less) of their lives. Would those work? They aren't a traditional auto-biography, but are certainly auto-biographical in nature by telling stories of their lives.

Autobiographies and memoirs will both work as long as they are about the author's life writing books (or the journalist's life writing articles). So, for example, Larry McMurtry's Books: A Memoir would work.

Christine US wrote: "I would like to read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress or one of Jen Lancaster's books. They are both written by women as memoirs (more or less) of their lives. Would those work? ..."

From the description, this has nothing to do with her work as an author. Memoirs and autobiographies should be about the author's life writing books (or the journalist's life writing articles).

Kristi - was mine in msg 12 ok?

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "Kristi - was mine in msg 12 ok"

Whoops, missed you and Jayme! I was typing while you posted ;o).

Jayme -- either of those books will work.

Dee - The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary works, too.

Anyone else get skipped? Sorry!

This list might help, too -- Books about the publishing industry As with all lists, however, be careful. If you're not sure if a book will fit, ask here and I'll let you know.

how about A Room of One's Own?

kiki wrote: "how about A Room of One's Own?"

Yes, that will work.

yeay, thanks! :)

Will you accept The Thirteenth Tale ?

Lahni wrote: "Will you accept The Thirteenth Tale ?"

Yes, good book, too ;o).

Being just 3 weeks away from finishing up a writing course, I read a number of writing books recently! If anyone is looking for recommendations, I would strongly recommend Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott - great writing tips but also very funny and spiritual. Also, if anyone wants to read a really practical how-to type writing book (that is well done and well written) I suggest Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark - he has another book out, too, The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English, that I haven't read but seems like it would work. It's been a while but I remember Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg being great. Also, I haven't read much Donald Murray but he's supposed to be terrific.

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Riona wrote: "Will you accept Eats, Shoots & Leaves, which deals with grammar? Or does the book have to be about writing stories, etc?"

Grammar books work."

Yay! Thanks

Stephen King has his book On Writing That should work, right?

Elizabeth (NC) wrote: "Stephen King has his book On Writing That should work, right?"

That definitely works. Fabulous book.

I've had it on my shelf forever (my physical shelf at home--not just on Goodreads). I've read most of his fiction; maybe this will be enough to get me to read this one.

Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women should work, right?!

BJ Rose wrote: "Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women should work, right?!"

Yes, that would work.

how about Agatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days by Jared Cade

Just wanted to verify that Front Row at the White House by Helen Thomas is appropriate here. Thanks!

Would My Reading Life by Pat Conroy work?

Robin wrote: "how about Agatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days by Jared Cade"

Yes, that works.

Katie wrote: "Just wanted to verify that Front Row at the White House by Helen Thomas is appropriate here. Thanks!"

Yep, that will work.

Patricia wrote: "Would My Reading Life by Pat Conroy work?"

It sounds as if he talks quite a bit about how reading has influenced his writing so, yes, this will work.

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Would My Reading Life by Pat Conroy work?"

It sounds as if he talks quite a bit about how reading has influenced his writing so, yes, this will work."

Thanks.

What about books that contain literary criticism of certain works? Like Jane Austen: A Companion or Lectures on Literature

Manday wrote: "What about books that contain literary criticism of certain works? Like Jane Austen: A Companion or Lectures on Literature"

Yes, literary criticism works.

Would Schulz and Peanuts work? Shulz was a cartoonist, so I'm not sure if that would be considered an author in regards to this task.

Thanks!

Erin wrote: "Would Schulz and Peanuts work? Shulz was a cartoonist, so I'm not sure if that would be considered an author in regards to this task."

I hadn't thought of cartoonists before you asked but, yes, I'd consider them authors as well as illustrators. Interesting looking book. Hope you enjoy it!

Katy wrote: "Being just 3 weeks away from finishing up a writing course, I read a number of writing books recently! If anyone is looking for recommendations, I would strongly recommend [book:Bird by Bird: Some..."

All excellent suggestions. Thanks, Katy!

Would How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines work for this task?

Erin wrote: "Would How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines work for this task?"

It appears to be as much about how literature is written as how to read it, so, yes, this works.

Would you consider the book series, Jaine Austen mysteries, by Laura Levine for this task? The book I'm wanting to read is The PMS Murder and the main character, Jaine, is a writer of ads and jingles.

Froggette wrote: "Would you consider the book series, Jaine Austen mysteries, by Laura Levine for this task? The book I'm wanting to read is The PMS Murder and the main character, Jaine, is a writer of ads and jingles."

Jaine is described as a freelance writer so, yes, these books will work.

Will Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded by John Scalzi work? Scalzi is an author. This book contains some more memorable posts to his blog site "Whatever" and his responses to them.