Navelgazing Writer

Great (Outdated) Information Even for a Non-Editor

Revisado: 08-02-23

I read this thinking it was explaining to writers what an editor does, but is actually telling people who might want to be editors what editors do. I continued listening, thinking, "I've thought about being an editor!" but half-way through revised that to, "No way in heck would I be an editor!!"

I did continue reading to the end because I found hearing what editors do fascinating. I had no idea so much was involved... and the minute details were explained. I loved that aspect. The nuances amazed me.

It is outdated, having been published in 2018, but was great to hear the history of editing. Kindle and Amazon were barely mentioned, Audible, not even a whisper. An update would be welcome.

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Better Thank I Expected

Revisado: 07-30-23

As an established writer, I was surprised to learn techniques I had not heard before. I have bookmarked this to use as I edit my WIP when the time comes.

I was really surprised because so many advice books for writers hold the same information. Not this one!

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Name-Dropping Galore

Revisado: 01-05-23

Dave Grohl was a fantastic narrator. I'd love to hear him narrate other books; he was that good.

I felt the book was a Look-Who-I-Know extravaganza and it got boring after the first 20 musical stars he got to hang out with, even if they were one of his (many) "favorite" idols.

Not sure if it was hyperbole or his real sense of the importance of tiny moments in time, but he had so many special experiences that "changed my life" it was hard to keep up with what exactly the catalysts were and which were just swerves on the highway. It was tiring to hear about every "life-changing" event/moment in his life and it left me not recognizing any one event as superior to the others. His storytelling during these eventful stories was great, there were just too many of them. If he had chosen two or maybe three pivotal moments in his life, it would have not only been easier to swallow, but easier to understand and follow.

Dave Grohl is definitely a great storyteller. Give him a firepit and a beer and you have the perfect setting for his wonderful oratory skills.

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Never Thought I Would Like This... and LOVED IT!

Revisado: 10-04-21

I wanted to give the book a chance and was drawn in very quickly.

I never knew wars could be described with such poetry and that Tolstoy was such a deep philosopher asking brilliant questions that have millions of answers. I am very squeamish when it comes to blood and gore and never read or watch war movies or books. That is why I hesitated and thought, "I will just try." I am so glad I did.

The peace in the book, filled with color and emotion and, again, poetry. I remain in awe of the wonder of this book. I am 60-years old now, too. I am not sure how much earlier I would have had the patience to sit through 50 hours of listening to Russian life and war (something I knew zero about before reading this and have now researched).

I could never have read it from a book... the Russian and German names and the smattering of French spoken at times (and not always translated) would have been too challenging for me to get through. However, hearing it, it was wonderful to not have to figure out the difficult words and names.

If you always wondered, "Should I?" From this skeptic, I say, "Yes, TRY!"

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Essays the World Needs to Read

Revisado: 08-05-21

Just writing this, my breath quickens. The essays/stories in here, told perfectly, were from the late 1800's and early 1900's, yet resonate as if they were written last week. How black lives have not changed except within the retelling of stories by white people is stunning. What I love most about the book is its lack of 100 years of an editing of prejudice, its lack of introspective history behind it like we have now in race discussions. It's like when you look at oil paintings or statues and wonder, "Did they really look like that? Or is it an artist's rendering." This book is a snapshot, the reality without any manipulation of commentary or a century of hate and anger... or justification... overlaid to make the colors of paint any different. The stories are raw, not marinated by time or opinions. It is in this clarity, my reality about the races is forever changed. I will always be grateful for that change. This book should be mandatory reading in school, but in this sad day and age, we who KNOW, must require the reading in our own homes to our families, especially, tp the children.

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Loved This SO Much.!

Revisado: 06-22-21

_Murder Your Darlings_ is one of the newest additions to the Writing Life. Filled with fantastic information and quotes from dozens of writers throughout history, I've never read anything so comprehensive... and I have read a LOT of writing books; it is my favorite tactic towards procrastination of my own writing.

This addressed the other writers' foibles and even evils, but embraced the great information they imparted. As many have said, great art has been created from the most abhorrent people who ever lived.

That Clark was able to recount so many incredible writers and their most profound thoughts and advice is a tribute to his book collection and power of retention. He said he still had 100 books to go through and I really hope he will do a _Murder Your Darlings 2_.

If you are an aspiring writer or a writer of bestsellers, I believe all of us can find great information in this book.

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

Best Book for Spiritual Skeptic I've Read

Revisado: 04-28-21

I loved this book! I've been looking for a book that would hit the points I kept asking about spirituality and this one answered every one of them. I highly recommend this as a first book when you are trying to share what spirituality (not religion) is about.

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Facing Death in the Time of COVID19

Revisado: 02-26-21

I've had a really hard time with all this COVID stuff. I'm super high-risk who would surely die if I got it. A friend recommended this book and it really has helped me calm down and be ready for death if it does come to visit.

I needed this book very badly.

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esto le resultó útil a 8 personas

A View of Early AIDS Rarely Seen

Revisado: 12-11-20

I read this as research for something I am writing and it pulled me in fast, keeping me enthralled with both the social and scientific aspects of the birth of the AIDS movement in the US. I was there for some of it and my experiences are spot on for the beginning parts of the book, but it blossomed demonstrating the intense anger at the lack of concern everyone but the gay community had for their lives. Reading how ACT UP and the other groups were born was fantastic history for me to learn about.

What is interesting are the parallels between COVID-19 and the AIDS pandemics, how if it isn't white healthy men being eviscerated, no one seems to give a whit about them/us.

I will read this book again after I read other books from that time. It really has added to my knowledge about that very painful time.

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Exquisitely Painful

Revisado: 11-24-20

I had no idea of the topic when I began the book, but was quickly pulled in and mesmerized, then horrified, by the girls' stories... the children's stories. The writing is beautiful, lyrical and shares the minute details of the lives on and off the river.
I loved the book. So very much.

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