Michael.Eric.Snyder's picture
Michael.Eric.Snyder January 17, 2013 - 10:29pm

Lit Reactor seems pretty cool so far. I'm excited to be here! Lots to dig into and... lots to learn. Practice needed!

Hmm. What could I say about me?

I'm a fan of all kinds of fiction, from genre thrillers like Gone Girl to the more "literary" stuff that sometimes ends up on the top ten lists. Love it that Gone Girl made it onto many different lists this year! A favorite blog is Largehearted Boy. Every year, he aggregates all the year-end lists for books and movies. It's a great place to visit if you're ever stuck for something to read. 

In addition to thrillers, I read the classics, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, some horror.... and then some really really terrible books, like David Vann's Dirt, which I recently finished for the Amazon Vine program. A truly revolting book that I haven't yet gotten out of my system. :-(

I've also developed quite a love for short stories. I get weekly doses via The New Yorker, but I also read anthologies and collections. I know I'm not alone in this opinion: Alice Munro is the greatest living short story writer, and were I ever to meet her I would probably dissolve into a pool of hysterical fan-boy tears of joy.

My favorite poet is Louise Glück. No one else comes close, although I very much enjoy the work of Philip Levine as well.

I read far less non-fiction than I should. Unusual, I know, for the typical male bookworm. But, the typical male bookworm doesn't feel inclined to write fiction, either. I'd venture to guess that lots of the male writers here read lots of fiction. :-) 

There will never be enough time in my life to read all of the books in which I find great interest. That is a very sad thing. Practically tragic.

Press 1 if you agree. :)

 

Sound's picture
Sound from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt January 17, 2013 - 10:32pm

Hi Michael! Welcome. It's a very cool site, and I'm sure you'll get a ton of benefits from being here. 

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch January 17, 2013 - 11:15pm

Hi Michael! As far as I'm concerned, there's barely any time in a lifetime to do most things I find of great interest. Welcome, I'm sure you'll do fine here.

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life January 18, 2013 - 12:37am

Welcome to LitReactor. 

Can you explain why you used this emoticon:

:-)

in your third-to-last paragraph, and this one:

:)

in the final paragraph? It's quite a puzzle you've given us here. Why the two emoticons that while on the surface seem so close in meaning, and yet different enough to be freighted with hidden significance? Why? Why, I demand to know--I must know!

Michael.Eric.Snyder's picture
Michael.Eric.Snyder January 18, 2013 - 1:50am

Everything hinges on the emoticon at the end of paragraph four.

That's all I'm allowed to say.

dufrescm's picture
dufrescm from Wisconsin is reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep January 18, 2013 - 11:33am

Alice Munro *is* fabulous!  "The Love of Good Woman" is one of my all-time favorite short stories :D

fport's picture
fport from Canada is reading The World Until Yesterday - Jared Diamond January 18, 2013 - 11:42pm

Fraught with clandestine purpose. I recognize the code. He's from the old school. =]

WendellB's picture
WendellB from New Orleans. Now, Southern Califronia is reading Meditation for Multi-Taskers January 24, 2013 - 2:48pm

Hi folks. I came across this site and decided to join becasue I'm obsessed with all things lit. Hmmm. that could go lots of places. I'm hoping to find lots of amazing writers, realizations, feedback on material, and generally take part in a good community. Have a great day everyone.