Last week, I rediscovered my love for works of fiction.
Over the past few years, my reading has consisted mainly of non-fiction – in particular, biographies, memoirs, and books on entrepreneurship and personal development.
All of which are wonderful, and they definitely have their place. But I was missing the magic of fiction – the make-believe world that a great novel can create.
And of course, writers of fiction must themselves read fiction. As much of it as they can handle. This I definitely intend to do.
Here’s what I’ve just been reading.
The Unfortunate Englishman, by John Lawton. This is, quite simply, a captivating book. It is a spy novel, set in the Cold War era. The action takes place mainly in East Germany, West Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. It is a very well researched and authoritative work. The author takes his time to get the factual details right, but without losing the magic of the story. A truly evocative book. I lived the story in the vivid descriptions of the people and places, in the choice and tenor of language, and in the pace of action throughout.
A lovely reminder of the wonders of fiction.
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