What I read in...July

“If I had a nickel for every person who ever told me he/she wanted to become a writer but “didn't have time to read,” I could buy myself a pretty good steak dinner. ... If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that. Reading is the creative center of a writer's life.”

After I read this quote in Stephen King’s memoir On Writing, I’ve made an effort to read more. Last year, I read 13 books, which was pretty good for me. But as I write this, I’m up to 29 (including plays and graphic novels - I say they count!).

For the last couple of months, I’ve been posting about the books I’ve read on Goodreads and my social media, but I thought I’d start sharing them here instead.

Now, July began a little differently...with comic books!

For my birthday I finally got my hands on Spider-Man: Life Story written by Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by Mark Bagley. Turns out, all the good things I'd heard were true. It's a fun and touching tribute to the history of my favourite fictional character and I was choked up by the end!

After this, I decided to read some comics that have been on my shelf for a while, starting with the American Psycho-esque Snotgirl, Vol. 1: Green Hair Don't Care (co-created and illustrated by Leslie Hung) and the fantastic, fantastical time-travel graphic novel Seconds by the multi-talented Bryan Lee O'Malley, the creator of one of my favourite series ever, Scott Pilgrim the Complete Series. I'll read anything by this man and I can't wait to read the rest of Snotgirl.

Then, I went on a Harley Quinn hype and read the bonkers Harley Quinn, Vol. 1: Die Laughing by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, and phased back to prose with Harley's fascinating origin story Harley Quinn: Mad Love by creator Paul Dini and Pat Cadigan. By the way, I couldn't have read either without Kindle Unlimited. There's so much quality stuff on there, I'd say it's worth the free trial at least. Anyway, bth equally wacky and interesting takes on the character - I'd really recommend!

By this point in the month, I'd read about enough sociopathic women that I had an idea for one of my own and decided to revisit Gone Girl, the book and the film adaptation both written by Gillian Flynn, for inspiration. It's one of my favourite stories by one of my favourite authors who's far too good at tapping into the dark side of humanity.

Speaking of which, after marvelling at Gone Girl for the millionth time, I ticked off the rest of her bibliography with the creepy, twisty but darkly comic short story, The Grownup and (I'm going to use that word again, sorry) Dark Places which certainly goes there.

I'll probably start August by re-reading Sharp Objects but then, who knows? Come back next month and find out!

Josh Stoddard is the author of Smalltown Boy, an LGBTQ+ romance set in 1980’s Manchester. It was recently shortlisted for Penguin’s WriteNow programme. He is currently seeking representation.

Follow Josh on Goodreads