Ode to Reading

One of my favorite authors died on Sunday, Dick Francis. Francis was a steeplechase racer in England, who after retirement wrote mystery novels. I was first turned onto his novels when I did a semester of law school in London, England. A college friend of mine was visiting London with her family and she was a big fan of his books. Turns out, he was going to be in London signing his latest book, but she was going to miss it. So she asked if I would pick up her signed book and bring it home with me (definitely cheaper than shipping). I did so, but being a mystery book lover, naturally I read it first.

I was hooked. The first novel I read, The Edge, involved a transcontinental train ride of racing horses across Canada. All of his novels involved something to do with racing, plus usually one other subject, like painting, trains, photography, art, wine, banking. That's what made his novels so enjoyable, he thoroughly researched the second subject of his novels so that I always learned something new.

I read The Edge while I was about half-way through the school semester. I spent the remaining couple of months scouring used book stores in London picking up a bunch more paperback Dick Francis novels. There were quite a few. Once I got home, I began to buy his books each year as they came out. I always looked forward to the next novel, since it combined two of my favorite topics, horses and mysteries.

I understand that the majority of the novels were actually co-written (or at least co-researched) with Francis' wife. When she died in 2000 the novels stopped for several years. I heard that he was no longer writing. However, in 2006, the novels started again when Francis' son, Felix joined in. The books were a bit different, but still good. Unfortunately, Francis' health continued to deteriorate, so there was only a couple more books, and it is entirely likely that Felix wrote the majority of the text, following the "Francis' formula." I anticipate that Felix may continue to write more books, hoping for his father's following (like Frank Herbert's son has done with Dune - with mixed results, imo).

Francis is one of the few authors that I will buy books. These days, I tend to just borrow books from the library. Its cheaper and takes up less space. I've thought of getting a Kindle, but while that solves the space problem (I already have four very full book cases), libraries are still cheaper than Kindle books at $10 a pop. Plus, I know that if I buy a book, I have something tangible, whereas I'm still wary of losing downloaded information with a computer glitch (which is why I still prefer to buy CDs over MP3s and print my photos, even if I also keep back up copies on disc). If I do break down to buy a Kindle (or similar), it will likely be because its smaller and easier to carry than a book.

But for authors that I really love, I'll buy the books. These days, that includes PD James and Martha Grimes (also discovered during my time in London), Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich and Laurell K. Hamilton. I've also been a fan of Lillian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who" series, but reviews of her last book in 2007 suggest that she's not writing them anymore (she is 97 afterall). I used to buy John Grisham, but his last several fiction books weren't all that great, so I've just been renting them from the library.

I had a few science fiction/fantasy authors I followed religiously as well, but they too are waning: David Eddings (died), Melanie Rawn (ill with cancer), Anne McCaffery (now taken over by son Todd). Katheryn Kurtz and Harry Turtledove are still writing, but I've not read many of their recent books. To be honest, I think the science fiction/fantasy genre is starting to get really played out, a lot of recycling of the same old plot lines and ideas. To be sure, Kurtz and Turtledove's recent books (or at least the summaries of them) sound very much like rewrites of their older books, just with some new names, which is why I haven't sought them out recently.

All of my favorite authors are aging and frankly, there's not really much new out there that's of interest to me, at least in fiction. I've actually started reading more non-fiction books lately, though, as I said above, mostly library rentals. My co-workers have started an in-office library, so I'll try out some of the books there, see if anything or any one interests me like before.

Its just as well I have less books to read because I have less time in which to read them. Most of my reading time is on the train home from work (riding to work, I read the newspaper). Once I'm home, I don't have too much free time, between fixing meals, cleaning up, spending time with the kids. The hour or two I have after putting the kids to bed, I tend to catch up on shows I've recorded on the DVR. I don't even read during commercials these days, I fast forward through them. Usually the only time I spend an entire evening reading a book is when the library due date is quickly approaching, or I'm on vacation.

I do want to keep reading and I hope that my kids pick up the reading bug like I did. I had hoped to give my old Nancy Drew books to my girls when they are old enough, but unfortunately, my collection (1-55) somehow disappeared through my various moves in California and never made it to Pennsylvania. I guess we'll just have to track down copies of the books, either used or at libraries. I do still have my old Piers Anthony books, plus the Harry Potter books, which I hope they will like. My love of books means I am never board. Once the girls learn to read, I'm hoping it will be the same for them.