Patti Abbott is on a book tour promoting Concrete Angel (highly recommended!). But today she appears here on my blog answering questions about books. I met Patti and Phil at a Bouchercon in Indianapolis and later–with Jeff and Jackie Meyerson–we all went to see a play in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. Patti and Phil are two of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. Patti’s been hosting Friday’s Forgotten Books for years at http://pattinase.blogspot.com/ and provides great insights into movies and TV shows. I’m sure you’ll find her comments below scintillating!
What books are currently on your nightstand
All of our books are packed so I’m reading on the Kindle. On my Kindle are THIS DARK ROAD TO MERCY, Wiley Cash, BAD FEMINIST, Roxanne Gay, HANGOVER SQUARE, Patrick Hamilton, WADING INTO WAR, Scott Parker, THE DEVIL SHE KNOWS, Bill Loefelm, THE MAGIC OF SHIRLEY JACKSON.
Who is your favorite novelist of all time?
I have read only one novelist who wrote six novels that were each perfect to me: Jane Austen.
What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?
I have thought long and hard about this and I think the only thing that would surprise you is how many books I have bought and not read. I am talking in the hundreds. Always the lure of the new book I don’t have pulls me away from the ones I do.
Who is your favorite fictional hero?
Frankie Addams from THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING. She reminds me so much of the child I was: filled with longing, loneliness, romance, hysteria, hyperbole.
What novel do you return to?
Goodbye Columbus. It reminds me of being young. Of the mistakes you make, of the ardor you harbor.
Patti’s next Book Event is JUNE 18th-New York, Mysterious Bookshop, a conversation with Bryon Quertermous (MURDER BOY)
58 Warren St, New York, NY 10007 7:00 PM
I hope she sells a million.
Bob, I feel the same way!
Great responses! And I know what you mean about unread books. I had to let do many go in recent culls, but I had to accept the fact that if I hadn’t read a book in the 5, 10, 15, or (gulp!) 20 years since I acquired it, chances are I wouldn’t be getting to it.
Well, rather books than heroin I suppose.
Deb, I find that I lose interest in certain writers over time. Many of those books end up at SUNY at Buffalo where hopefully some researches will delight in the early paperbacks of Nelson DeMille.
Yes Deb, but there is always that chance that you will! Either you’ll walk past the shelf and the book will call out to you – in which case a neurological exam might be in order – or you could read a review that will make you want to read it. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it. It helps explain all the books I’ve picked up in the last few years that I haven’t read yet.
Speaking of which, that is not the case here. I’m reading Patti’s book as we speak (well, not this second, but as soon as I finish here) and it is really good.
Thanks to all my friends, who in many ways understand me better than the ones in my real life. And thanks to George for hosting me. I will be happy to sell enough books to make Jason Pinter happy he took me on.
Patti, you’re a Special Writer and I’m delighted to share your book thoughts with the Internet! I’ve sent you my BY THE BOOK answers and a spooky photo.
It’s an exciting time (I assume) for Patti, being on a book tour. As Bob says, I hope she sells a million.
As to books bought but unread, there are hundreds here, too. Either I’ll read them someday or I won’t, but they’re here and every once in a while I take on down and read it, and am glad it was there for me to do so. For a long time I bought books much faster then I could read them, so of course they piled up. That’s less so now, but there is still an imbalance. I like the old saying “A book is a gift you can open again and again”.
Rick, I’ve been slowly weeding my collection to prepare for another contribution of books to SUNY at Buffalo in August. My goal is 30 boxes of books.
George, I’m looking forward to reading Patti’s novel. I very much enjoyed her interview: Patti says less and yet says so much more. It was refreshing to know that Jane Austen is her favourite novelist.
Prashant, Patti is just full of surprises!
Cannot help but want to support someone who is reading multiple books at the same time and cannot resist the lure of adding books to her bookshelf. I sense a kindred spirit here.
Carl, you would really like Patti if you met her. A kindred spirit, indeed!