Moving along..

We've had a great time working on our Blog, but due to staffing shortages and a few changes in direction we're not going to be able to keep it running from September 2016. We'll archive all our best bits over on LION, and when we do have new interviews and reading news we'll be adding it on there, so for now we'd just like to say thanks for reading!

Writers on Reading: Michael Dobbs

http://www.michaeldobbs.com/

Creator of one our absolute favourite television shows 'House of Cards', Michael Dobbs is known for his fantastic political novels full of a mix high level intrigue with action, humour and edge of your seat tension. Describing himself as 'Never having a proper job' As well as being a renowned author, screenwriter and playwright, Michael has been a politician and political aide, Deputy Chairman of Saatchi &Saatchi, a BBC news reporter, newspaper columnist (including working on the Boston Globe during the Watergate scandal) and has ended up in the house of Lords. This mix of careers in the sharp ends of politics, media and business has given Michael an insight into the topics he writes about that adds realism to even the most extraordinary situation.  

What is the first book you remember reading?

Probably Treasure Island around the age of eight.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

Great: I read far more widely. All sorts of things I would never have considered.

Terrible: I have far less time to do it.

Are there any books you can read again and again?

Shakespeare's plays.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?

No. Reading a new book is like walking through a door into a new world. How can I resist?

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

Dominion by C J Sansom

Writers on Reading: Jojo Moyes

http://www.jojomoyes.com/

Jojo Moyes is an award winning romantic novelist who began her career in journalism. Although Jojo has only been a published author since 2002 she has written 12 novels, including her most recognised works 'Me Before You' (soon to be released in cinemas, it looks fantastic!) and 'The last letter from your lover'. Born in London and living in Essex, Jojo still continues to write as a journalist in addition to her work as an author, and you can find her articles in the Daily Telegraph. 

What is the first book you remember reading?

Lots of books from the Peter and Jane and Pat the dog series

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

I think I look at the underpinnings. Richard Madeley recently said it was like being able to look at a car engine instead of just admiring the bodywork, and I think that's it exactly. I am perhaps even more admiring if I think they've done something magnificent - I'm reading The Goldfinch at the moment and I keep wanting to applaud the author for her characterisation. But I also find I have little patience if I think the writer is being lazy or formulaic.

Are there any books you can read again and again?

Anything by Nora Ephron.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?

This may seem odd given the way I"m packaged, but I don't read chick-lit.

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.


Jojo's collection of short stories Paris for One and Other Stories' is released in November 2016, 'Me Before You' is released in the cinemas on June 3rd.

Writers on Reading: Chris Carter

http://www.chriscarterbooks.com/

There aren't many authors who can list jobs as varied as a Criminal Psychologist for a District attorney and a guitarist for a glam rock band on their CV, but Chris Carter has led a life as interesting as any character in one of his novels. Brazilian born but having spent a long time in America after studying Criminal Psychology and Psychology in Michigan, he has transferred this knowledge of the darker parts of the human mind to his newest career- a best-selling author of crime thrillers, with a new relocation- this time to London. Carter's books revolve around a special Detective Robert Hunter and his partner of the Los Angeles UVC (Ultra Violent Crimes unit), who specialise in hunting down serial killers- you can guarantee that the villains in each book are as nasty and hard to catch as any you've ever read, and Carter's dark style and tense pacing will draw you in to Hunters desperate search every time.  

What is the first book you remember reading?

I was born in Brazil, so the first book I remember reading is a book by a Brazilian author called João Carlos Marinho.  I think I was about ten or eleven years old.  The book was titled: O Genio do Crime, which translates to The Crime Genius.  By pure coincidence, the book was a crime thriller.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

I would love to say that being an author has no effect on me as a reader, but that wouldn’t be true.  First, and I think that happens because I spend most of my days writing, and consequently reading, my attention span when I sit down to read a book is tiny.  I can only read for about twenty minutes before my eyes are too tired and I have to put the book down.

The other thing that I find myself doing when I’m reading other author’s novels, and I must stress that I do it involuntarily, is that unfortunately I tend to over analyse the plot, almost as if I were their editor.  When I catch myself doing it, I force myself not to, but unfortunately I always catch myself too late.

Are there any books you can read again and again?

No, I don’t think so.  There’s been a couple of books that I’ve read more than once – twice to be more precise – and though the second time was just as good as the first, I know I wouldn’t read them a third time.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?

I’m not a big fan of science fiction or westerns.

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

Right now I’m reading “The Whisperer” by Donato Carrisi.  It was actually a present from a reader fan.

Writers on Reading: John Connolly

http://www.johnconnollybooks.com

Another enormously talented Irish writer, John Connolly had his first book published sixteen years ago, and the ex-police man looking for justice Charlie Parker has been his companion since then in thirteen more novels, with a fourteenth 'A Time of Torment' due later this year. 

The Charlie Parker novels haven't been the only literature taking up John's time though, non-fiction and stand alone novels such as the dark fantasy 'Book of Lost Things', together with short story collections and novellas show a fantastic diversity in his writing.

Newport Libraries will be reading from some of John's work in it's 'Bettws Reads' project which starts in February 2016, and John has answered our questions to coincide with this project.

What is the first book you remember reading?

The first book I can remember reading was a Secret Seven novel by Enid Blyton, at the dining room table in our home.  I tackled the longer words phonetically, as prior to that I'd only been reading about Tom, Nora and Spot the Dog, with the result that for years I thought the word cupboard - a word not really used in Ireland - was pronounced "cup-board".  My mother thought she was living with Little Lord Fauntleroy.  It was only many years later that a younger reader pointed out that the first book I read was a mystery, which had never really struck me before.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

I tend to read fewer mystery novels than I did when I wasn't a writer, although I'm not quite sure why.  Maybe it's like a magician going to magic shows: you're paying more attention to how the trick is done than enjoying the show itself.  I'm also aware, as a reader, that I don't want my time wasted.  Time is precious.  Books are still relatively inexpensive - or free to borrow if you join a library - but there's nothing worse as a reader than having your time wasted.  I'm still very bad at putting aside books that I'm not enjoying, because I tend to blame myself and not the book.  For that reason, a book that's giving me little pleasure takes longer to read than a book I'm enjoying.  With that in mind, I try, as a writer, not to write books that waste the reader's time.

Are there any books you can read again and again?

I don't re-read very often, in part because I feel there's so much material out there that I haven't yet read.  I am re-reading The Pickwick Papers at the moment, though, because I have a vague memory of enjoying it a lot the first time I read it.  Off the top of my head, I can name most of the books I've read more than once: Wuthering Heights, The Good Soldier, The Great Gatsby, Last of the Mohicans, The Unfortunate Fursey...  I've also probably read most of P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster tales more than once.  They're my comfort reads.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?

No.  I got really annoyed earlier this year when a rather bumptious Irish writer told the New York Times that he didn't read crime, thrillers or spy novels.  If he hadn't read John le Carré, then that's his loss, I suppose, but underpinning his statement was, I think, an assumption that some genres are inferior to others, and all genre fiction is inferior to literary fiction - which ignores the fact that genre is embedded in the DNA of ALL fiction.  There are no inferior genres.  There is only good and bad writing.

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

We have a bookshelf in the bedroom which is filled with next-to-be-read books, some of which have been there for many years.  Aside from The Pickwick Papers, I have Dominic Sandbrook's The Great British Dream Factory, Stuart Maconie's The Pie at Night, and a history of gothic cinema lined up to read next.  One of the great joys for a reader is knowing that you're set fair for reading material for a few weeks, at least...


'Dominion', one of John's young adult series written with Jennifer Ridyard is due in May 2016, The latest Charlie Parker novel 'A Time of Torment' is due in June 2016. 

Writers on Reading: Michael Brooks

http://www.michaelbrooks.org/

We haven't had many non-fiction authors on the blog so far, but if we're going to start somewhere we couldn't be happier than starting with the amazing Michael Brooks.

As well as being an author of 4 Scientific and 1 non-fiction books, Michael is also a broadcaster and journalist, having written for an astounding number of magazines, newspapers and journals (including The New Scientist who also employ him as a consultant). When you read an author with a PhD in Quantum Physics you may worry that his writing will be way over your head, but Michael's style is friendly and informative, having being described as 'appealingly child-like' by one reviewer, he is an expert at bringing esoteric and strange scientific discoveries to the public in an entertaining and engaging way. 

What is the first book you remember reading?
 A Shoot! football annual. Does that count? You’ve got to start somewhere.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader? 
I can’t read without analysing - sometimes the writer achieves something so extraordinary with a sentence or paragraph that I pause and try to work out what made it so special. That means I sometimes lose the flow a bit. I also think I might have an enhanced appreciation of just how much effort goes into creating what seems to be effortless prose.

Are there any books you can read again and again? 
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong and Bruce Chatwin’s On The Black Hill. Love in a Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez? I’ve done that a few times. Though I’ve never finished his 100 Years of Solitude and I’ve started it three times now!

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?
I don’t know that it’s a choice, but I rarely read science fiction or fantasy. I think it’s because I find tales from the here and now (or the past, at least) far more compelling, in terms of getting insight into what it means to be human (and that’s what reading is all about in the end, isn’t it?) Friends tell me I’m missing out, though, so I’m planning to delve into some Ursula K Le Guin very soon, and I’ve just taken Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale out of my local library. Maybe I’ll convert...

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?
At the top of the pile is My Mother Was An Upright Piano, a book of flash fiction stories by Tania Hershman. But there is a pile; I’ve just finished Joseph Boyden’s The Orenda and The Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth, for example, and they’re both about to be re-read at the next opportunity. 100 Years of Solitude is there too, but I don’t fancy its chances much...

Writers on Reading: Laura Lippman

http://lauralippman.net/

Laura Lippman is a bestselling American author of detective fiction, with her determined private eye Tess Monaghan her most well known creation. Originally a reporter, when Laura turned her hand to fiction writing she made quite an impression, having received far too many awards to list and has become a well known author the world over.

What's the first book I remember reading? 
My sister found an old reading primer, the "Dick and Jane" books, but I started with Dick and Jane's younger sister, Sally. To this day, I can see her in my mind's eye, saying "Oh! Oh! Oh!" Those were the first words I ever read on my own.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader? 
It makes me super aware of whether a book is working. If it's good, I lose myself. But if anything is off, it's like listening to off-key singing.

Are there any books you can read again? 
So many! I believe in re-reading as a vital activity, quite different from reading. It's what I do instead of taking tranquilizers. It soothes and comforts me to return to favorite books, whether it's Lolita or Betsy-Tacy Go Over the Big Hill.

Are there any genres you wouldn't choose to read? 
No. I have some genres I read more intensely, but I think it's silly to rule out books according to genre. It's like saying you won't talk to people who wear yellow shirts. Good books are good books and all genres have good books.

What is the current book on your nightstand? 
I'm not allowed to tell you! I'm reading for the National Book Award in the United States, so I have to be taciturn about my reading list right now.

Laura's most recent book Hush Hush was released earlier this year.

Writers on Reading: Jasper Fforde

http://www.jasperfforde.com/

Jasper Fforde is one of the UK's quirkiest writers, from the surreal world of Thursday Next (A Literary Detective in a world where characters have a habit of not staying where they are put) to the sharp political satire of the dystopian 'Shades of Grey' Jasper's unique style, playfulness and boundless imagination have won him legions of fans on both sides of the Atlantic, and we were very pleased indeed that he took the time to answer our questions:

What is the first book you remember reading?

Something from Ladybird Books Key Words Reading scheme. Peter and Jane and Pat the Dog (A Pun I didn't get for many years). The jewel in the crown of these were 10a and 10b: 'Adventure on the Island' and 'Adventure in the Castle'. The iconic illustrations by Harry Wingfield still stir, even now, and I was disappointed to miss an auction of his works a few years back.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

A double-edged sword, really. Since I am familiar with the nefarious tricks we writers use in order to lead a reader through a story, I can see more easily those tricks played back on me when I read. But the upside is this: When I CAN'T see the tricks, the ploys, the narrative devices and I am beautifully wrong footed, the book I'm reading somehow shines with greater lustre..

Are there any books you can read again and again?

I'm very partial to 'Three Men in a Boat' by Jerome K Jerome, which always makes me laugh, especially the incident with the cheese.  I return to 'West With The Night' by Beryl Markham twice-decadely, and always have a spare paperback to give away. Similarly, I never go on a long road trip without Bill Bryson's:  'AShort History of Nearly Everything'.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?

Not really - if the writing is good, I'm up for it. Mind you, the more recent crime thrillers I have a hard time with - the violence has become so extreme, and one has to ask oneself: Are murders and worse committed against children and women really appropriate subjects for entertainment?

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

I confess I am an aviation nut, and my most recent discovery is a battered copy of Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot Adolf Galland's 1953 autobiography, 'The First and the Last'. The book traces his exploits assisting General Franco with the 'Condor Legion' in 1938 to flying the first operational jet fighter in 1945. Not a rollicking read, but the opposing view in any conflict is always of interest.

The Summer Reading Challenge

We have a guest blogger this month, and it's the fantastic Beth Reekles. Beth has been volunteering in Ringland library to help promote the summer reading challenge, and we asked her to write a post about her experience:

The Summer Reading Challenge is what it says on the tin: it’s a reading challenge for the summer. It’s aimed at children up to 12, and encourages them to read six books from their local library over the summer. For every two books the kids read, they earn two stickers to stick in their booklet, a true or false game, and a medal and certificate when they complete the challenge.

I spent my summer volunteering at Ringland Library, signing up children, handing out stickers, helping them pick out books, and so on. It’s been a lot of fun, and a really rewarding experience. Some of the kids are more interested in getting their free hour on the computers than looking at any of the books, but a lot of the children who have signed up at the library with me are ones who aren’t usually bothered about books.

One girl, Wendy, said she never really thought reading was fun – but she signed up for the challenge, devoured six books, and once she got her gold medal and last two stickers, she was finding more books to check out of the library.

And Wendy isn’t the only one: several of the children who signed up (if only for the stickers, and the medal) have discovered that reading isn’t the bore they find it is in school: it’s fun. It’s an adventure between pages and whole worlds they haven’t imagined yet.

The Summer Reading Challenge is a national program across the UK, but here in the Newport Gwent libraries, we’ve had a great success. Just over 1300 children signed up this summer, with many of them finishing the challenge.

Anything that gets kids reading more is a success, in my opinion, and the Summer Reading Challenge here in Newport was an undeniable success. 

Beth.

Writers on Reading: Beth Reekles

http://bethreekles.co.uk
http://authorbethreekles.tumblr.com/

She's given our Blog a facelift, written about her experience volunteering to help out with the Summer Reading Challenge and even given us an exclusive interview- it's safe to say that we are all quite enamoured of the amazing Beth Reekles here at HQ.

Beth Started writing at just fifteen years old, and published her stories online, the internet wasn't big enough to hold her writing in though, and she has exploded into print with three books (The Kissing Booth, Rolling Dice and Out of Tune) as well as a short story (Cwtch me if you can) and a swathe of awards nominations.

Listen to our exclusive interview above, and you can find all the books she talks about below if you're interested in giving them a read:

The Cat Mummy by Jacqueline Wilson.
The Harry Potter series by J K Rowling,
Books by Sarah Dessen.
Books by Louise Rennison.
Books by John Green.
The Baby by Lisa Drakeford

Writers on Reading: Ken Follett

http://ken-follett.com/en/

Ken Follett is a big author that writes BIG books. 'Pillars of the Earth' has been voted one of The Times 60 greatest books of all time managing to come second, only beaten by To Kill a Mockingbird, and stormed the bestseller lists and awards ceremonies across the world, not bad for a novel about building a Cathedral.

Ken's fiction career didn't start with architecture though, his first novels way back in late 70's were pure thrillers, a genre he has returned to again and again through his long and celebrated career. 'Whiteout', 'Lie Down with Lions' and 'The Fall of Giants' are some of his most well known works, and he's had many of his books converted into film and TV series. With enough awards under his belt to last a lifetime, Ken's success is contagious- his 2008 sequel 'a World Without End' even made it into board game format, and the GAME won more awards than most authors will see in a lifetime.

What is the first book you remember reading?
Noddy Goes to Toytown, by Enid Blyton. I think this was the book that motivated me to learn to read.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?
Not much. Occasionally I think: “I wish I could do that!” More rarely, I think: “I could have written that scene better.” But it doesn’t get in the way of my pleasure.

Are there any books you can read again and again?
Absolutely. All of Jane Austen, the best of P.G. Wodehouse, “The Day of the Jackal”, the first six James Bond novels.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?
I can’t bear elves. I’ve never finished a Tolkien.

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?
“Triumphs of Experience” by George E. Vaillant. This is nonfiction, based on a lifelong study of a group of Harvard undergraduates that began in 1939. It tells what they were like when young and how their lives turned out. It was recommended by a friend, like so many of the best reads.


Ken's most recent book 'Edge of Eternity' is available now.

Do you read more than one book at a time?

This month's ‘Writers on Reading’ author is Joanna Trollope, who has written a number of well received contemporary novels; but also prize winning romantic fiction under the pseudonym Caroline Harvey.  Among her interesting responses to our questions one answer in particular has piqued our interest- it seems Joanna reads an awful lot of books at once!

Some people seem to have the ability to read several books at the same time, without losing track of what to others would seem like a complicated set of characters, events and plotlines. Others must stick rigorously to one volume at a time. The Muser is wondering which type of reader you are and debates which of these styles is the most effective at reducing the book-pile all bibliophiles manage to create around them!

One Book At A Time - Musings From The Bookface

I often play Jenga in my spare time, not so much because I enjoy the game as for the practice it gives me. The delicate touch required to gently extract one rectangular object from beneath another perched precariously in a perilously tall tower is I think a necessary skill for any real lover of books, as without it we would be unable to navigate the vast piles of books that form our dreaded (and beloved) 'To-Read’ list.

My pile is actually relatively small at the moment, a fiction novel given to me last Christmas, a study on Ceasar’s campaign in Gaul, several volumes of crime fiction, 2 folio prize nominees, the last book in a series I got into a few years ago, a couple of biographies, and a handful of books on Indian mythology. Actually ignore my initial statement, my pile is massive, how on earth am I going to read all these books before Christmas and the inevitable deluge of new releases?

Reading the answers that Joanna Trollope gave this month I think I have a solution- the answer is to read them all at the same time! Joanna lists a pile of books more than equal to my own, and adds that she is halfway through most of them. Now this is an utterly alien concept to me- how can you start one book before you finish another? How would I keep the characters, plots, and places straight in my head?  How does Detective Inspector Frost not end up solving Ceasar’s murder, or Elizabeth Bennett avoid coming face to face with the fearsome Ghatotkacha? There was a good discussion on this over at the Guardian a while back, which shows a definite split between those who can, and can’t, read more than one book at once.

When I was much younger I read in this way, scattering myself across countless titles and yet somehow not getting them muddled, perhaps my shortened attention span was able to retain who and what was happening better than my older self can.  My current method, one book at a time, slowly working my way through the pile in no particular order, bears little relation to how I read as a child, so perhaps it’s time I spread myself out a bit and got a few on the go at once, Book Riot even released this helpful ‘How to’ video on book polygamy. You never know, maybe I’ll get that pile down faster than I thought.

What sort of reader are you, do you spread your attention across many delights at once? Or are you focused on one until you have devoured it completely, ready for the next literary meal? 

- The Muser

Writers on Reading: Joanna Trollope

http://www.joannatrollope.com/ 

You could say Joanna Trollope was born to be a writer, after all she is a distant relative of the Victorian author Anthony Trollope; but Joanna's style and prose are very much her own creation, born of a love of the written word. Author of 30 books including one non-fiction title, Joanna is the undisputed queen of the 'family novel'. 

As a highly acclaimed author with an insight into the nuances of family relationships, she was a natural choice to write a new version of the classic Sense and Sensibility as part of The Austen Project .  In 1996 she was awarded an OBE for her services to literature, but why settle for our short biography when you can read about this popular author in her own words on her website.

What is the first book you remember reading?

One of the first books I remember reading for myself was my grandmother's copy of France'sHodgson Burnett's " A Little Princess", which had wonderful coloured illustrations lightly applied to separate grey pages, with protective translucent pages on top of them, in turn...

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

I don't think being a writer makes you inevitably less tolerant or more critical, but you certainly notice how well something has been printed and produced, and in terms of content, speaking personally anyway, you are immediately struck by the "voice" ( or its absence ) in any author one hasn't read before. I suppose, too, that I can't help but be aware of how well or badly something has been edited - I don't think there is any writing on this planet that doesn't benefit from being edited!

Are there any books you can read again and again?

I don't often re-read books, largely because there is so much I want to read and the amount worth reading just grows and grows...but Jane Austen seems to be the great exception, probably because every time you read her novels, at different stages of your life, you seem to find something new.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?

I'm not personally much good at fantasy ( I'd rather have real life) or at violent crime and thrillers unless they have believable psychological depth to them. And I'd have to be very much persuaded to read political memoir....

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

The pile is huge - and contains, inter alia, Mary Beard on The Parthenon Marbles, most of the shortlist for the current Bailey's prize, Richard Holloway on Forgiveness, Thomas Mann's " Lotte in Weimar" and Meryl Secrest's biography of Schiaparelli . And I am part way through ALL of them...

Joanna's latest novel Balancing Act is available now to reserve or borrow from your local library.

The Lighter Side of Crime

We have another exclusive interview this month, this time with the amazing Janet Evanovich, creator of Stephanie Plum and writer of many mysteries with a bit of fun and romance thrown in. Janet's more light hearted approach to mystery writing has given our Muser something to ponder, how has our crime fiction evolved over the years, do we need grittier detectives for grittier times, or is there still a place for the simpler style of Agatha Christie, Janet Evanovich and  M C Beaton?

We've had some new Cool Reads this month too, recommendations from readers visiting our central library. Last months poll revealed more of you were in book groups than we expected, just under half of our responses were members, which just shows that reading isn't the solitary pastime people might assume.

Writers on Reading: Janet Evanovich

http://www.evanovich.com/ 

When Janet Evanovich stopped writing romance novels 20 years ago and created Stephanie Plum, I wonder if she knew how popular the fashion buyer turned bail bonds officer would be? In fact Stephanie  has become one of the most recognisable characters in mystery writing, and has survived 21 (soon to be 22) adventures chasing bounties, love and trying to stay alive at the same time. The Stephanie Plum series is not the only string to Janet's bow however, as she has several other series on the go, including Lizzie and Diesel, and Fox and O'Hare.

What is the first book you remember reading?

"Make Way for Ducklings" by author and illustrator Robert McCloskey.  It's an award winning classic that has remained a favorite in the U.S. for the last 73 years.

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

An unfortunate effect is that with publishing two-plus books a year, I don't have much time to read anything other than my own manuscripts.

Are there any books you can read again and again?

I love the late Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones series for young readers.  It's about a precocious kindergartner.  The books are both insightful and hilarious and the author's spare style is delightful.  I also love anything by Robert B. Parker or Robert Crais.

Are there any genres that you wouldn't choose to read?

I'm not a huge fan of horror stories.  They scare me and I'm too squeamish.

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

I love globe trotting chef Anthony Bourdain.  "Medium Raw" was such a good read, I picked up one of his earlier books, "No Reservations," which I can't wait to start.

Janet's new book in the Lizzie and Diesel series 'Wicked Charms' is out this month.

Two Sides of a Bloody Coin - Musings From The Bookface

Murder, there are few words in the English language that can sum up more feelings of dread and horror. To murder another is one of the worst crimes imaginable and it is no wonder that fiction writers have long been fascinated with the dastardly deed. Murder is dark, gruesome and gritty, unless of course you put the word ‘mystery’ after it; in which case it becomes small English villages, stately homes and solved before it interrupts tea. A ‘Murder Mystery’ has become shorthand for the old-fashioned, chintzy side of the crime spectrum, crime à la Agatha Christie's, M C Beaton, Arthur Conan Doyle or, Janet Evanovich for example. Where light-heartedness, romance and even the odd bit of genuine comedy (I’m looking at you Blotto) threads the drama.

But is this expectation of a less ‘realistic’ affair undermining the credibility of these author’s creations?  The exploits of Poirot and Sherlock Holmes are some of the most enduring private detectives to grace the page and  Stephanie Plum and Agatha Raisin are more than equal to their modern day roles as amateur sleuths in increasingly sticky situations. Often the lighter stories seem to focus more on these amateurs, whereas the grittier realism tends toward law enforcement officials (Hamish Macbeth, PC Peter Grant and Constable Mike Bradley being obvious exceptions that spring to mind.) Sometimes I feel authors are in danger of substituting gore for great story telling, pain for puzzles and science for cerebral aptitude. The Hollywood style sensationalism draws readers in but can the action scenes with their lust for blood distract from the satisfaction of a genuine whodunit?

Which do you prefer, realism or humour? Happy endings or dark alleys? Perhaps I’m old fashioned in that I want my mystery with a little more searching for clues and a little less gratuitous gore.  We are very lucky we can have both, such as Phillip Kerr's fantastic Berlin Noir series or the unstoppable Jack Reacher , even so they fail to leave me with that uplifting feeling I get when Stephanie Plum survives another adventure with her life and dignity (mostly) intact.

- The Muser

Writers on Reading: Catherine Fisher

http://www.catherine-fisher.com

Catherine Fisher visited us recently to promote her new book on Arthur Machen and she was kind enough to be interviewed for Writers on Reading. Catherine is an acclaimed Welsh author, poet and historian.  Her children's books, include the Oracle trilogy and the Incarceron and Book of the Crow series.

Find out Catherine's favourite authors and novels and what she's reading right now. Catherine's own website can tell you  more about her and her books. Her latest work 'Machen's Gwent: A country Hardly to be Known' published by  The Three Imposters is out now.

The Labyrinth of the Great Genre Monster - Musings From The Bookface

"I only like a good detective story," says an avid reader, as they head (rather inevitably) into the Crime section. They pass by a hundreds of books that they may very well enjoy on their way there but this does not deter them, for them the Crime sign above the shelves is like the north star guiding them home. They are, unfortunately, lost in the Labyrinth of the Genre Monster.

This week I had the chance to talk to David Swattridge I asked him which genre his book fitted into, (you can hear what he had to say on the matter in the interview we recorded for the blog) and that got me thinking- what have genre fiction classifications ever done for us?

Crime, Thriller, Horror, Romance, Chick-lit, War, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Historical. Does giving a book a genre, or not giving it one, change the way it is viewed before a reader has even picked it up?  For example J D Robbs 'In Death' series, set in the near future features a range of technology and situations that would fit into any Sci-Fi book, but detective Eve Dallas and her exploits have managed to build a huge following amongst standard crime and thriller fans.   Is she a hero of the future, a Sci-Fi warrior, or simply a great detective. Cadfael manages to fit in with the likes of Poirot and Agatha Raisin (comedy or crime?) despite being set hundreds of years in the past, why should being set hundreds of years in the future be a bar to the genre of 'detective story'? Game of Thrones has become a genre-smashing best-seller since the TV series brought it into the mainstream, featuring aspects of politics, war, intrigue, crime, romance and fantasy, where should it sit on a bookshelf?

When we categorise books by genre we often do it a disservice, we scare away some readers who "would never touch a chick-lit book" despite the fact that some of what is categorised as 'chick-lit' can be as well written as any novel on the Booker prize list ('Writers on Reading' featured author Freya North for example).  Perhaps we should just accept that most books are neither one nor the other, but instead a cocktail of topics and themes.

I say set the shelves free! drive the hideous Genre Monster from our shores and lay waste to it's labyrinth, pile the books on the shelves together and let people choose freely,  leave Iain Banks next to  David Baldacci and  Edward Marston next to  George R R Martin's.  In alphabetical order obviously, let's not go crazy here!

Are you lost in the genre labyrinth, do you prefer the simplicity of choice it offers?

- The Muser

'Pale Battalions' by David Swattridge

Local author David Swattridge visited us this week to talk about his debut novel 'Pale Battalions' and to read a few excerpts from it.

After wanting to write for years David's dream of becoming a published author came true last year, though he told us that even with the book in hand he still finds it hard to believe! Sam the protagonist of the novel moves into to an inherited house and becomes embroilled in a mystery that will take him back to the Great War in search of answers.

Is it a ghost story? a Romance or a Thriller? David's book seems to defy fitting into a traditional  genre and this has inspired the Muser to think about genres of fiction in this months musings.

You can listen to David reading excerpts from his novel and our interview with him on the righthand side of our blog.