Pooks' Book Tag
When Pooks lays down the gauntlet, you have to cowboy up, literally. She challenged me to a meme.
1 ) One book that changed your life: Long story short, I have the attention span of a flea in a kennel. In 2002, a coworker asked me what books have I read lately as I was trying to convince her that I was a serious screenwriter. I had to admit that I hadn’t, because of my attention deficit disorder. I loved books, but I had a magazine-type of attention span, the time.
Ooh, chocolate milk, I love chocolate milk, but I hate that damn Nestle‘s Quik Bunny. I hope Ted Nugent gets him in his sights. What’s for dinner tonight? Huh, what? Oh, yeah, where was I?
She basically hinted that my screenwriting would improve exponentially if I read more books and I could see her point. The one thing that I knew would reinvigorate my interest in reading, is a book on film. So I picked “The Coen Brothers” by Ronald Bergan. A damn good book, but an even better source of material for me, when I found out how they took two Dashiell Hammett stories and combined them into “Miller’s Crossing.”
One of the two stories, I’ll mention later. But the primary story was The Glass Key. Bergan’s book led me to Hammett and Hammett is the gateway drug, to the hardcore trip that is noir, as well as crime fiction.
2) One book that you’d read more than once: “San Francisco Noir.” The best of the Akashic Noir Series, about the best city on Earth (I’m so partial, yeah).
3 ) One book you’d want on a deserted island: The other component of “Miller’s Crossing” is “Red Harvest.” A rare book in that it gets better with every read. As Pooks pointed out though, I’d be better off with some kind of survival guide.
4) One book that made you laugh: “Sushi For Beginners.” If you look at my book collection, you will see mostly film-related books and crime-related books. I‘m not big on “chick lit” and yes, I know the genre is not written for me. I stumbled onto this book when I had nothing to read, because brought the wrong Michael Connelly book to work, as all Connelly books have too similar covers.
I didn’t want to reread the Bosch novel and “Sushi For Beginners” seemed like the most palatable (pun intended) book of the small library of “chick lit” and spy novels in the break room. A lot of Marian Keyes’ material follows the same territory as Helen Fielding’s “Bridget Jones,” but Keyes’ humor is what sets her apart from most authors, and is also what makes her one of my favorites.
5) One book that made you cry: “The Devil In The White City.” I won’t even link this book, it has that affect on me. A wonderful novel in terms of both history and insight on America standing on the brink of greatness. Yet, the things that Henry H. Holmes, America’s first acknowledged serial killer, did to women and children alike, is both tragic and revolting.
6) One book you wish you’d written: Heh-heh, (cue Brittany Murphy) I’ll never tell.
7) One book you wish had never been written: I’d pick any Neo-con-related squandering of ink and forests, but they would somehow get it twisted like a pretzel factory gone wrong. You can fill in the blank with the fascist drivel of your choice.
8) One book you’re currently reading: I’ve somehow misplaced “Twin Cities Noir,” though I will be picking up “Echo Park” and “Fear of The Dark” today.
9) One book you’ve been meaning to read: “The Moving Target.” I’m not too familiar with Ross McDonald, other than praise for him at a blog here, and a crime fiction site, there. Walter Mosely said this was a good read and that is enough of a reason, for me.
10) Tag five people: No offense to Pooks because I’ve been tagged so rarely and I tend to enjoy memes, but the last (and only) meme I participated in, got mixed reactions from those who were tagged. So with a little reluctance and going out of the box by picking six…
The Missus
The Great Kate-ie
D.D.L. Because, she loves a meme
Gian Don
Beth
And last but not least, Is That So Wrong. He’s not crazy about memes, but he loves literature.
1 ) One book that changed your life: Long story short, I have the attention span of a flea in a kennel. In 2002, a coworker asked me what books have I read lately as I was trying to convince her that I was a serious screenwriter. I had to admit that I hadn’t, because of my attention deficit disorder. I loved books, but I had a magazine-type of attention span, the time.
Ooh, chocolate milk, I love chocolate milk, but I hate that damn Nestle‘s Quik Bunny. I hope Ted Nugent gets him in his sights. What’s for dinner tonight? Huh, what? Oh, yeah, where was I?
She basically hinted that my screenwriting would improve exponentially if I read more books and I could see her point. The one thing that I knew would reinvigorate my interest in reading, is a book on film. So I picked “The Coen Brothers” by Ronald Bergan. A damn good book, but an even better source of material for me, when I found out how they took two Dashiell Hammett stories and combined them into “Miller’s Crossing.”
One of the two stories, I’ll mention later. But the primary story was The Glass Key. Bergan’s book led me to Hammett and Hammett is the gateway drug, to the hardcore trip that is noir, as well as crime fiction.
2) One book that you’d read more than once: “San Francisco Noir.” The best of the Akashic Noir Series, about the best city on Earth (I’m so partial, yeah).
3 ) One book you’d want on a deserted island: The other component of “Miller’s Crossing” is “Red Harvest.” A rare book in that it gets better with every read. As Pooks pointed out though, I’d be better off with some kind of survival guide.
4) One book that made you laugh: “Sushi For Beginners.” If you look at my book collection, you will see mostly film-related books and crime-related books. I‘m not big on “chick lit” and yes, I know the genre is not written for me. I stumbled onto this book when I had nothing to read, because brought the wrong Michael Connelly book to work, as all Connelly books have too similar covers.
I didn’t want to reread the Bosch novel and “Sushi For Beginners” seemed like the most palatable (pun intended) book of the small library of “chick lit” and spy novels in the break room. A lot of Marian Keyes’ material follows the same territory as Helen Fielding’s “Bridget Jones,” but Keyes’ humor is what sets her apart from most authors, and is also what makes her one of my favorites.
5) One book that made you cry: “The Devil In The White City.” I won’t even link this book, it has that affect on me. A wonderful novel in terms of both history and insight on America standing on the brink of greatness. Yet, the things that Henry H. Holmes, America’s first acknowledged serial killer, did to women and children alike, is both tragic and revolting.
6) One book you wish you’d written: Heh-heh, (cue Brittany Murphy) I’ll never tell.
7) One book you wish had never been written: I’d pick any Neo-con-related squandering of ink and forests, but they would somehow get it twisted like a pretzel factory gone wrong. You can fill in the blank with the fascist drivel of your choice.
8) One book you’re currently reading: I’ve somehow misplaced “Twin Cities Noir,” though I will be picking up “Echo Park” and “Fear of The Dark” today.
9) One book you’ve been meaning to read: “The Moving Target.” I’m not too familiar with Ross McDonald, other than praise for him at a blog here, and a crime fiction site, there. Walter Mosely said this was a good read and that is enough of a reason, for me.
10) Tag five people: No offense to Pooks because I’ve been tagged so rarely and I tend to enjoy memes, but the last (and only) meme I participated in, got mixed reactions from those who were tagged. So with a little reluctance and going out of the box by picking six…
The Missus
The Great Kate-ie
D.D.L. Because, she loves a meme
Gian Don
Beth
And last but not least, Is That So Wrong. He’s not crazy about memes, but he loves literature.
Labels: Dashiell Hammett
posted by Writeprocrastinator at 8:37 AM
7 Comments:
Cool! And I see some new titles. I've read Marian Keyes, too. I like Brit-chick stuff much more than American.
I rarely get involved in memes if I can help it, but fortunately my friends know me well enough to know which ones will snag my interest, and books are certainly top of the list (along with movies). Also, I've tagged people who didn't respond before, too.
"I've read Marian Keyes, too. I like Brit-chick stuff much more than American."
Finally, I meet someone who doesn't work with me or isn't my wife, that likes her.
"Also, I've tagged people who didn't respond before, too."
I understand their reluctance, but this is a good subject. I also appreciate a good meme, you gain insight to people that they normally won't reveal on their blogs.
Thanks again Pooks, for tagging me.
I do love memes! Memes are neato keen.
I have ADD and I think it's one reason why I always loved books. Because a book (a good one, at least) always had the power to pull me in so deep, my brain would finally relax and stop noticing every little thing that flitted by.
D.D.L,
"I do love memes! Memes are neato keen."
This one is a peach.
Pooks,
"Because a book (a good one, at least) always had the power to pull me in so deep, my brain would finally relax and stop noticing every little thing that flitted by."
Agreed. I spent most of last night and much of the morning on the four-hundred and five pages that are "Echo Park."
I love your books and meanderings. Mr. Hammett rocked.
"I love your books and meanderings. Mr. Hammett rocked."
You, Miss, are obviously a woman of taste and I salute you!
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