What Are You Reading?

I thought it might be fun to start a regular feature here on FifthLung, a post that will appear on the 1st of every month. I encourage you to join in. The idea is, every month I’ll tell you what I’m currently reading and hopefully you all will post what you are reading too with a short review or comment.

I’ve got two first string books right now. I have been reading a lot about World War II to assist me in writing my novel but as I just finished the first draft I’m taking a break before starting the second draft. As part of that break, I’m reading some books unrelated to World War II.

First, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. The life and times of Ignatius J. Reilly. This book is disturbing because of how much Ignatius J. Reilly reminds me of myself and he is definitely not someone you want reminding you of yourself. Funny book, won the Pulitzer Prize, and interesting backstory. The author killed himself at age 31 and his mother peddled his manuscript and got it into the hands of Walker Percy, who championed the book. I picked it up because someone said it was their all-time favorite book. I don’t think it’s THAT good. What I do like about it is that the story is told in a clever, unique voice — not the standard “American contemporary fiction” voice that seems all too common.

Second, The Routes of Man by Ted Conover. Ted Conover is my favorite Denver author. At least he grew up in Denver. I think he lives in New York City now. I love his methods and his ideas. His writing is not spectacular but it gets the job done. What I admire most about him is his immersive technique. For his books about illegal aliens and hobos, he traveled with the hobos and illegal aliens. For his book about being a prison guard, he got a job for a year as a prison guard at Sing Sing. And for this book, he traveled the roads of the world. Very interesting so far.