I’ve Never Enjoyed Reading So Much Before

I’ve always loved to read.  I used to be a member of the Double Day Science Fiction Book Club when I was a teen and I used to buy so many books; I still have a couple dozen hardcovers left to read from that time.  I really miss opening up the catalog every month or so and picking two or three books to buy.  I may still do it one day.

In the last few months I’ve really paid attention to improving my writing skills and along with that I’ve been paying a lot of attention to the books that I read.  How would I improve the book so that I would enjoy it more.  Or how would I make my book more original.

I have noticed that some authors would rather write in short burst of paragraphs while others like to take it slow.  Or I noticed how a 400 page book that occurs over the span of 1 week is written differently than one that spans a couple of days.

Other things I have noticed is how the POV affects the writing.  Although oddly enough 3rd seems to be more transparent than 1st person.  When I read a 1st person book I seem to be more aware of what I am reading.

It’s a fun experience.

My next goal is to try to see if I can recognize the major milestones within the novel.  When major conflicts occur, when the climax begins.  How suspense is built up.

I need to start looking for my next novel that I’m going to read.  Recently, I’ve read Stephen King’s, The girl who liked Tom Gordon.  It wasn’t his best work, but it shows that you don’t have to make your story so complex for it to be a good novel.  I still liked it. 

China Lake, by Meg Gardiner, was my first thriller and well written.  It had some complex character relationships, but was presented in such a simple format that it was effortless to enjoy.

Currently, I’m reading The Ruins.  I always found that anything I dislike at the beginning I always end up enjoying very much.  I really disliked the beginning, it was long and provided information that really provided nothing to the story.  I’m halfway through and I’ve had to put the book down twice already simply because it was just horrible what was happening to the characters; I needed a break.

I don’t know what to read next.  Something that will lead to my writing skills improving.  Preferably in the 3rd person, a different writing style.  I definitely enjoy real life characters in their everyday surroundings where the supernatural comes to them and not the otherway around.

If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.