Inspiring Reads

Inspiring fiction can open our eyes to new more expansive ways of writing. Remember the last time you were inspired by a good book? Maybe it compelled you to take on a challenge, to try a different style or affirmed your desire to write? The Girl with all the Gifts, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, and The Strange have all inspired me in some fashion. They have significantly helped me to grow as a writer and as a human. They have also helped me to challenge what makes an engaging book and engrossing characters.

Girl With all the Gifts

This novel tells the story from multiple points of view. Readers can sympathise with all the characters, even those who are set up as the villains, as the author is so good at channelling the story through the minds of the characters. I also just really liked how well the author crafted this and how quickly I was drawn into the world. If I could write a tenth of how well this author writes, I'd be happy forever!

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

Up until the point of reading this novel, I had never read a happy sci-fi or one that's takes a positive perspective on life. Let's face it, so much sci-fi is depressing in its element. But with this novel, the author gives the reader the tools to relax with the characters. It's definitely the kind of novel a reader will want to read while getting themselves setup for the day, having a refreshing a cup of tea or coffee in their hand. The narrative almost gives the appearance of reader growing with the main character, something which a lot of sci fi doesn't really do.

It’s a restorative piece of fiction and very character driven. It’s certainly a whole other ball game, if your characters are gripping enough to hold a plot together based upon them and their interactions. A lot of sci-fi and fantasy is prone to writing main characters that just react to the world around them, which can make their characters flatter and perpetuates the idea that the characters don’t have choices or agency. Maybe its partly this that creates some of the depressing mindscape of sci-fi for me. Its made me hunker after similar styles in my quest for good literature.

The Strange

This novel really inspired me while on holiday to get motivated. I loved the description of the vistas. It reminded me of my early style of writing. Reading this book when I did, gave me renewed confidence as well as strengthening mine and my main character’s voices.

Your Thoughts

Take a moment to think of what books have really inspired you and why. What did you learn from them and did any of them challenge you?