Never have read any of his books, this was maybe a weird way to start, but this honest take on a writer’s life is one that’s been on my shelves since uni! Familiarity with his work wasn’t a prerequisite and it actually gave me a good “in” into his books and which ones I might enjoy.
It was a mix of memoir, novel genesis, and writing advice, with some interesting discussions on life, writing, and technology on the way.
It’s very idiosyncratic and opinionated, in a way that’s not always charming or appealing, but seems true to form. It’s a deliberately personal piece of writing, mixed in with some really solid and practical writing advice. I really appreciated the directness and “boiled down” nature of his writing philosophy. I actually think there’s solid & useful advice for writers here, and I found the tone encouraging, though none of it was particularly revolutionary.
Appreciated the look at addiction and the darker side of writing too.
The documentarian in me appreciated peeking behind the veil of such behemoth cultural texts.
The book made me weirdly nostalgic too.
One word: jaunty.
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