A Classic Writer

If you search for a writer today that can encompass political critiques of society, feminism, and romance, you might be torn in every direction when you step into the bookstore. You may know of an eminent political theory writer, a great romance novelist, or the perfect section to go to if you need a quasi-vacation, but finding all of this within one writer or novel is a rarity. In high school, I was astonished by an author who wrote about all of these things and more within one single novel.

Kate Chopin writes about women’s societal struggles, inequality, romance, and presents beautiful visions of the sea, combining so many aspects of writing into wonderful novels and short stories – and did I mention she was wrote more than a hundred years ago? She is a writer who can not only write in numerous forms all at once, but also stands the test of time. The issues she writes about and stories she tells remain relevant in society today. Can you tell she happens to be one of my favorite authors?

Of the books and novels I read throughout high school and college, her novel The Awakening sticks out to me. Though she wrote in the late 1800s, the issues and themes of her writing were significant to me. The prose of her realistic fiction truly brought characters and situations to life. It is a profound talent when a writer can still be relevant and engaging after a century has passed since they put pen to paper. Though I have read The Awakening in classes, I want to buy it for myself, and when I travel to the bookstore, I won’t be torn in every which direction – I’ll just go straight to the classics.

Sarah Dessen: My Favorite Author

Like many other people in this class, I've enjoyed reading since I was very young. As I have grown up, the style of books and the authors that I enjoy reading have changed significantly. Lately, I can't get enough of Sarah Dessen. Her style of writing is easy to read, yet it is so meaningul. Her books consist of romance, as well as issues with family, and just growing up in general. I can find something to relate myself to in any one of her books, as I imagine most of her other readers do as well. I think that is something that makes a writer/author truly great: No matter what they are writing about, they find some way to connect to the reader personally. Although the books can be long (some are 400 pages), I find myself reading them cover to cover in one sitting. I can't put them down. After reading The Truth About Forever, I actually went out and purchased six more books that she has written. Among my favorites are: Just Listen, This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, Someone Like You and That Summer. I know the books are not the most 'culturally diverse' or 'mature' books to read, but I ENJOY myself when I'm reading them and they always want to make me read more.

Obsession

I think it was around the time of middle school when I picked up my first James Patterson book. I was on vacation with my family in North Carolina, and it wasn't my book, but I had already finished the two books I brought down for the week. So I picked up The Beach House not really expecting that I would like it. But I did. I loved it. And I'm pretty sure I got sunburn that day from reading it on the beach.
Patterson writes thrillers, if you don't know him. At the time, I aspired to be a CSI, like the popular TV shows. I was so caught up in his gripping stories of murder and mystery and the way he left me hanging on at the end of every single chapter. I had always enjoyed reading, in school and on my own, but Patterson turned that into an obsession. And I really was obsessed. It was the first time I had an author that I would eagerly await the release of his next book, and I would even reread some of my favorites in the mean time. To me, the term 'pager-turner' was an understatement. I could sit down on a Sunday morning with a four or five hundred page book and have it done by dinnertime, easy. But then I would be sad because after all the time I spent waiting for that book, it was already over. I would go back to the library or book store and just look for his name, for books of his that I hadn't already read. When I say obsession, I'm not joking.
Even now, I still love Patterson even though my plans have changed (I don't think seeing dead bodies and all that is really my thing...), but I'm pretty sure his writing is what made me change my mind and pursue my own writing instead. But, of course, I still find the time to pick up his books and get my murder/thriller/little bit of romance fix every now and then.

Night in a night

Growing up I was never a fan of the books that I was required to read in my English classes. Although they may have been considered classics, most did not spark my interest. That all changed after my seventh grade teacher assigned us to read Elie Wiesel’s, Night. I was hooked the minute I read the back cover to learn it was Wiesel’s personal account of the Holocaust. My great-grandmother was a Holocaust survivor, so the topic hit home immediately.

Usually the way we read books in my English classes was by covering a few chapters every night, taking notes, and then reflecting… I finished Night in one night. Wiesel’s use of imagery was so vivid, the words nearly jumped off the page at me. His stories came to life as I became engulfed by his tragic experiences. I appreciated his honest account about the naked truth of the concentration camps.

After finishing Night I had my mom take me to Barnes and Noble to purchase several other books by Wiesel, including Dawn, Day, and Twilight. Wiesel’s writing ignited my interest in the Holocaust, and other non-fiction works about the Holocaust. To this day I credit Wiesel as being the author who made me fall in love with books.

Well Red

Next time you visit my office at Rodale, check out the corner of my desk. That folded program resting there. It has a few water stains, and its once snow-white stock has faded to a dingy pale. Doesn’t matter. Where I go, it goes with me. Been that way since January 20, 1982.

            That was the day my writing hero, Red Smith, was eulogized at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. I cut class that day; I was a freshman at Columbia. (Note: I only recommend cutting class on special occasions. And this was such.) You see, since I was 9 or 10 years old, I read Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith’s column in The New York Times as soon as I got up in the morning. Each day his “Sports of the Times” column appeared in the Times — usually on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, if I recall correctly — I got out my cereal bowel, filled it with Corn Flakes and milk, grabbed a seat at the kitchen table, and read Red. I loved how he could tell the story of a Notre Dame football game and make it come to life on the pages of the Times as if it were being played on my kitchen table. I loved how he could expose George Steinbrenner for his bombastic leadership of my favorite team, the New York Yankees. And I loved how he could make a simple sports story read like a Mark Twain short story. Every adjective and every verb dead-on; every sentence precise and to the point. He wasted no words, and each succeeding Red Smith paragraph was as essential as its predecessor.

            He may have been “just” a sports writer, and yet he was a writer in a special class. He made it look easy, even though he once admitted of the writing craft, “All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.”

            I read Red Smith, and I knew what I wanted to be: a sports writer working side-by-side with my writing hero.

            Before I could, though, Red passed away. The only chance I would have to get close to him was to attend his memorial service at St. Pat’s. So on that January morning I put on a crummy tie and jacket, and made my way to the Cathedral. It was filled that day with New York media celebs and average Joe’s, people, like me, who read Red every chance they could. And now those chances were over. I stepped into the vast Church and an usher handed me the program for the service. On its cover was Red, with a satisfied smile on his face, and the dates of his birth and death below it. I listened to his friends and colleagues extol Red’s life and his work. And when the service was over I went back to my dorm room and tacked the program to my bulletin board.

And then I tried to become a sports writer.

And the program came with me, wherever I tried.  —  Charlie Butler, January 26, 2011

Jane Austen

It was the 10^th grade that I was first introduced to Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. I can admit now that I was not enticed by what looked to be a long and droning novel. However, after finishing the last of those crispy pages, I knew I had found my favorite book and author. I was officially in love with Jane Austen. She has written numerous novels, all of which I consider as pillars of English literature.

Austen’s numerous novels have illuminated on issues of social class, family dynamics, and most of all romance. She is an alluring author who uses simple stories of love and despair to create classic novels. She consistently narrates her stories with much precision and detail, and a faint yet comic dialogue. As a reader, she has created worlds of passion and brought them to life through her dainty writing techniques. Although her choices in topics do not vary often, she has certainly learned to turn the often average and drab English countryside into a dramatic and effervescent scene.

I have not read all of her novels yet, but my goal has always been to read all of them before I graduate college. As of now, it still remains a challenge, but just like Austen, I am passionate about her writing.

J.K. Rowling's Magic

As a seventh grader, I was highly ambitious. I always strove to get As and I beat myself up when I received anything less. So it was a shock to my parents when I was doing poorly in my English class. I had always excelled at reading and writing. It made no sense. The school told me I was "below the level of her classmates." But after some testing, it was determined that not only was I great at English, but that my I was reading at a high school level. So why the poor grades? I was bored. Reading didn't really excite me. I was good at it, and I could read faster than anyone I knew, including my mom, but it never truly pulled me in. I envied those who loved curl up in a ball in the corner and gobble up books. I never did that. Reading was never enjoyable to me, even though I was so damn good at it.

But then, I found J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter books. The magic, friendship, hardship and mystery puled me in. I was hooked. I was swept up into a world far from my own where thirteen-year-olds were important enough to save the world. A world where elves, giants, mermaids and dragons existed and where ordinary people rose above their expectations to do extraordinary things. In a world dominated by electronic media, where 3D, surround sound and even regular television can easily transport people into a different place, stories and books are struggling. But with J.K. Rowling, I didn't need 3D glasses or expensive sound and visual equipment to take me far away. I just needed her perfectly stringed together symphony of words. That's all I needed. And I think that's truly what separates a good author from a great one.

SPARKing Your Interest

Unfortunately, I don’t read any magazine consistently enough to have a favorite writer, so I am going to write about one of my favorite novelists, Nicholas Sparks. Whenever I walk into a bookstore or library, I immediately search for his books.

The thing about Sparks’ writing that keeps me interested in his work is that it is super detailed, but not to the point that it gets boring to read. The detail he provides paints clear images in my mind as I read his books, and the characters that he creates are so realistic and easy to relate to.

If I remember correctly, the first Sparks’ book I read was The Notebook. Cliché, I know. While I was not able to relate so much to the characters in the book, because a) it is not the 1940s and b) I am not 80-something years old looking back at my life, the words Sparks used made the book read like an old-fashioned movie would play—very smoothly, yet engaging.

As I read his books, I sometimes feel like all of his books are the same, but then there is some unexpected, or maybe expected, twist and I want to keep reading more.

I make it a rule to not see the movie-versions of books that I haven’t read but plan to. I read The Last Song this past summer, so then, over winter break, I reluctantly watched “The Last Song” movie. I wondered if Miley Cyrus would live up to my expectations of a Nicholas Sparks book-turned-movie and I was hoping that her acting would not ruin The Last Song book for me.

While I was not all that impressed with her acting, I think I have decided that Nicholas Sparks’ books translate well into movies. I could not relate to Veronica, aka Ronnie, aka Miley’s situation—okay, I take back my comment about Sparks creating characters that are easy to relate to. What I really mean is that Sparks creates characters that allow the reader to experience a different life or lifestyle and live vicariously through these characters formed out of words.

So when you feel the urge to read a good romance novel, check out a Nicholas Sparks book. You won’t be disappointed. Promise!

Oh, and try not to watch the movies before reading the books; Sparks' books are so rich with description that is lost in the transition from book to movie.

From Reilly to Simmons

While I no longer subscribe to Sports Illustrated and now purchase it from newsstands, there was a point in time where I read the weekly magazine from back to front. Why? Rick Reilly. Each week, I was hooked on his every word, that is, until he left SI for ESPN, and well, I just didn't have a subscription to ESPN the magazine because of my parents' money that does not, in fact, grow on trees.

Then I discovered ESPN.com. I was unable to kick my old habit. I checked back each day in the hopes of a new column (hey, it's the Internet - it's updated instantly). But in the midst of reading the "Life of Reilly," I discovered a new addiction. It came in the form of Bill Simmons.

He's the "Sports Guy." And quite frankly, sports writing needed a guy like him. Simmons brings frat boy humor to the house that Disney built. Sports needed him and we who actually care about sports needed him.

Why? Because sports shouldn't always be serious. It's a series of games and matches that aren't life or death. Those who write about them should, when appropriate, bring humor into the game. That's what Simmons does, but virtually 24/7.

So, essentially, Simmons' monthly mailbag columns are to me, a sportswriter, as cigarettes are to a chain smoker. Don't expect me to quit anytime soon.

Bob Woodruff- favorite journalist

        I admire Bob Woodruff, TV journalist, co-anchor at ABC and author of the book In an Instant. I used to love watching him on television, and when I found out that he was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq I was upset but intrigued. I wanted to find out more about his life. A while after, he came out with his book. I read it and absolutely loved his story, his use of language and his way of captivating a reader. Woodruff is extremely passionate about news. He would risk his life in an instant to bring unbiased news to people all over the world. He would do anything to get a good news story and get in on the action.
        News is not his only passion. He was a lawyer before he was a journalist, and he did everything in his power to make a positive change in the world. He quit his high-paying job in a law office to move to China for a year, giving chinese students confidence to rebel against their restrictive government. When he decided to switch jobs to the field of Journalism, he worked his way from the very bottom to the top. He never gave up in his quest to get what he wanted, and even after 4 years of studying at a top-rated law school he didn't settle as a lawyer when he realized law was not something he was passionate about and not something he loved.

Mike Preston and Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun (Sports)

           If there is one website that I check as regularly as Facebook or Twitter, it is the Baltimore Sun’s sports section. As a self proclaimed Baltimore Ravens fanatic, I can find all the recent headlines in one place from my two favorite authors, Mike Preston and Jamison Hensley.

            I really like the way that Mike Preston is not afraid to take a critical view of the team despite the fact that he is writing for a Baltimore newspaper. Some of the articles that he writes are met with highly critical comments from rowdy fans, but he doesn’t stop writing them. He isn’t afraid to nitpick the offensive line’s sloppy play even if the Ravens did come away with a win that weekend. He has experience, charisma and a writing style that is entirely unique to his personality. He’s gutsy and I like that about him!

            Jamison Hensley on the other hand, likes to give more straightforward reporting of Ravens news. I appreciate his ability to separate his fan voice from his critical, sports analyst voice. I refer to his writing frequently in order to gain insight on things that I want to post on my own Ravens blog. He writes with great clarity and I find that I learn something additional about the game of football with every article of his that I read. Whether he is debunking the rumors surrounding the potential NFL Lockout  or answering questions about the free-agent market, he manages to provide information in a simple and concise manner. 

ESPN's Page 2

I truly enjoy reading articles by ESPN analysts and writers. However, the section in both ESPN the magazine and on ESPN.com that really draws my interest is "Page 2." Page 2 provides a humorous take on the sports world. Mostly satire, the authors of the columns and articles provide a new way to view sports, on the lighter side of things. In particular, DJ Gallo is by far my favorite columnist. During football season, Gallo provides readers with his weekly "tailgate" articles for NCAA football and "NFL Hangover" articles. Both include facts and figures true to the week in football, while providing humorous context throughout. It keeps me interested in each article and has me returning to the website week in and week out. Gallo also has his own website, on which he writes similar articles covering a vast variety of sports. To see some of his work, check out these links:

http://www.sportspickle.com/

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/101230_varsity_tailgate_bowls_preview&sportCat=ncf

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/110124&sportCat=nfl

Pick Picoult

Of all the books that I've read, Jodi Picoult's have got to be some of my favorites. If you haven't heard of her, then you are missing out! She has written 17 books that are all about controversial, moral and ethical issues. Whether parents should sue a doctor, who is also their friend, for misdiagnosing their daughter's medical case so they can have money for the present and future. Whether a boy who has bullied his entire life has any justification for committing a school shooting. Whether as a person born with the purpose to supply life to someone else, she has the freedom to make the decision to be her own person free from that obligation.

While the books contain controversial and thought-provoking content, the chapters are short and easy reads. Personally, I like chapters that are short because in reality, who has time to sit down and read a 50-page chapter everyday? No one. But if the chapters are only 5 pages in length, then it is possible to read a couple chapters each day. Picoult doesn't use highfalutin language; it is merely everyday diction and syntax with an edge that captivates the reader.

First-person novels grasp my attention the most. I find that I feel as if I am actually in the story when it's written in first-person even if there is little relevance or relation of the content to my life. Each chapter of Picoult's books is written from a different characters point of view which is nice because you can get inside the minds of all of the main characters while still reading a first-person book. Because the books are about controversial issues, logically the characters hold different perspectives. As a result of having multiple main characters as the narrators, Picoult allows the reader to explore the ethical and moral issues from all sides.

If you haven't already written her name down on your "Authors to Read" list, do so now! That's not a request; it's an obligation.