I want to offer you the second chapter of the Gardener. Take a short break, forget about your worries and have a read. I hope you enjoy it... and if not, you can always vent off your disappointment in the comments!
Saturday 14 November 2009
Gardener, Chapter 2
Life is a mystery, a truly fascinating experience. Sometimes you feel good for no apparent reason and sometimes nothing is able to put that smile back on your face. For me, one of the best anti-sadness devices has always been reading. Now when I’m writing a book myself, reading is also a way of unwinding, getting a break from a particularly stubborn plot knot and letting somebody else do the talking. Reading lets you in on other people’s lives, lets you experience the world in a different way, allows you to become somebody else. What better way to get your mind off your own problems?
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I finished reading the chapter a few minutes ago and I’m still a bit dazed. I feel a little disappointed that it finished on the most interesting part. Now, I really need to know what happens next. Yes, it is indeed a hint to put out the third chapter.
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled across this blog and read your second chapter. I know, I know, I should have started with the first. I’m going to read it in a second. Just thought I’d leave a comment saying that I liked it a lot. Also, I love the fact that you’re sharing some of your writing with everyone. I’m also an aspiring writer (no blog yet, but I’m promising myself I’ll get round to it one day) and it’s great to see other people’s work.
ReplyDeleteI read the second chapter to my family. We liked it a lot and the boys are now worried sick about Alan. I tried to assure them that everything’s going to be ok because he’s the main character, but they refuse to listen. I have to side with Alex. We need the next chapter to put our minds at ease!
ReplyDeleteI like books that not only grab my attention, but also engage my imagination. For a moment while reading this chapter, I felt that I was one of the spectators at the swimming pool.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read first chapters of Snowflake, I thought you were making a mistake not giving detailed description of your characters. But as I read more, the characters became deeper and more vivid all by themselves. Now reading the Gardener, I believe you’re doing the right thing not focusing on the physical appearance of your heroes. Each reader’s imagination draws its own portrait. My grandson, John, is of the same age as Alan and he also loves swimming. Maybe that’s why Alan is now firmly associated with John in my mind. After reading the chapter, I’ve immediately phoned my daughter and made sure my grandson’s swimming practice went all right. This chapter made me worry, you made me worry and that’s a wonderful example of good writing.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I was pottering about house during whole day. From morning I haven’t good mood even weekend eve gave me too little optimism but when I found out Chapter 2 Gardener I at once realised; weekend will be great!
ReplyDeleteAna, I liked Walker’s family, every woman dream about similar but I very frightened about professor’s son. I hope Alan didn’t drawn.
Computer and coffee go hand in hand for me, especially after I quit smoking. When I read books I typically skip parts I don’t like, e.g. huge boring descriptions of weather, surroundings and/or history of the region, yawn! Coffee’s a great help here. When I read the second chapter of the Gardener, I completely forgot about my coffee. Am I getting a new addiction?!
ReplyDeletePS: I’m off to wash cold coffee and milk scum off my cup :-D
Book lovers never go to bed alone...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the second chapter, even though I was surprised with the way it ended. To be honest, I don’t like reading with intervals. I really enjoyed Snowflake only after I read it whole. When I read chapter by chapter with long gaps in between, I forget what happened and have to re-read everything from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say, you still have my attention.
ReplyDeleteI think when a writer reads a lot of books, especially while writing, he or she can be affected by another author’s style. Can this be considered plagiarism, even if it’s completely accidental? I’m just thinking aloud, nothing personal. Chapter 2 of the Gardener was quite good. I’d like to know what happens to Alan. Have you changed the plot a little?
ReplyDelete"I am a part of all I have read." John Kieran
ReplyDeleteWe're all affected by what we read and what we see, there's nothing wrong with it, there's no plagiarism. Otherwise, everything we say as well as everything we read would be stolen, even our thoughts would mostly be thoughts of others (parents, friends, teachers, etc.)
I believe majority of famous authors actually confess to reading a lot of books. I know Stephen King reads all the time (saw it in his autobiography). Reading a lot is probably better than reading a little, cause when you read a lot there’re too many ideas and styles and the mixture of all of them can never really affect your own writing.
ReplyDeletePS: Chapter 2 is very good. Loved reading about the talisman. Wish I had a stone like that!
Ana, I’ll take you up on your advice and express my disappointment. I feel as if I was watching a good movie, then somebody came in and switched it off at the best part. Good chapter, but too short and too abrupt an ending.
ReplyDelete