Books on hold

So, Nanowrimo starts today, which means i should probably make note of the things that I have read (at least partway) in case I don't get much reading done this month....
Due to distractions (read... world of warcraft and network tv), I haven't been doing as much reading as normal. (plus some medicine that made me sleepy all of October pretty much)

I'm still only about halfway through the new Nick Hornby - SLAM, which is about a teenage London boy who's girlfriend turns up pregnant. It's classic male confessional, and also has a nice skateboarding undercurrent. Although I am increasingly removed from the teenage fanclub, I do remember what it's like to talk to the posters on the wall when no one else will listen, and get back lines from favorite books in response.

The spouse and I were reading the new Douglas Coupland - the Gum Thief - out loud to each other. We got about halfway and then have been questing together in the Outlands of WoW instead. But I do want to get back to this bizarre story of a youngish girl and middle agish man and their communication through a notebook. And of course there is always the story within a story - GLOVE POND!

I have been reading.skimming.studying writing books like crazy --
101 best scenes ever written: a romp through literature for writers and readers by Barnaby Conrad
Growing great characters from the ground up: a thorough primer for writers of fiction and nonfiction
Hooked: write fiction that grabs readers at page one and never lets them go by Les Edgerton
The scene book: a primer for the fiction writer by Sandra Scofield
Writing the popular novel: a comprehensive guide to crafting fiction that sells by Loren Estleman
Writing tools: 50 essential strategies for every writer by Roy Clark
All to get ideas for November and refresh my brain on techniques and strategies for writing fiction (and quickly!)

I also re-read most of Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier for book group last Sunday. What a masterpiece. I love that book. Frieda found the perfect place for the new ending, at the end of the third-to-last chapter, where the book could be a happily ever after instead of a tragedy. What I love most about discussion books is that they are forever enriched by the things that my friends add to them through our conversations. And reading a war book, any war book, during a war just makes the experience and your own relationship to it that much more significant.

I also listened to most of the audiobook "I am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak - very different from my normal choices - but also not - a young Australian man, I think he is 19, works as a cab driver and stops a bank robbery, then starts receiving playing cards and cryptic messages in the mail. When he doesn't follow through on them, he gets threatening phone calls and visits. His friends don't understand. Great memorable characters though, especially the people he must visit as part of his duties. I hope to get back to this one someday.