TK Kenyon's Manifesto

Posted by TK Kenyon Nov 16, 2006

I love books. I learned to read when I was two years old, and I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on, ever since. I admit to being rather a gourmand than a gourmet.

I’ve read thousands of books, at least one a week, sometimes several, up to ten. My Amazon bill is outrageous. Powell's gives me a VIP suite when I make the pilgrimage to Portland. My library cards (Princeton, Philadelphia, and NYC) have worn places on them. My interests include physics, most types of religion, travel, SCUBA diving, trading stocks and options, and cooking, especially chocolate.

In fiction, I read most of the short lists of literary award winners, big blockbusters, classic literature, mysteries, SF, Harry Potter, spy and political thrillers, and no-name micropress offerings.

When you read as much as I do, you can’t be too picky. You have to love them all.

It's been said that a writer is a reader moved to emulate. Well, I've emulated. My novel Rabid will be published next spring by Kunati Books. Booklist gave Rabid a starred review (Dec. 1, 2006). My short fiction has appeared in New York Stories and American Short Fiction.

The reviews that you'll find here at Recommended Reading are unique on the web. If you want mere opinions on relative merit, one can look at Publisher's Weekly. If you want thumbs-up or -down, Amazon has a place for everyone to comment and rate with stars.

Here, you'll find articles that will guide you to other books on the same topic, by the same author, or with the same timbre. It's a place to get ideas about what you should read next or next after that. Here, we bibliophiles can meet and greet, and help each other find great reads.

My first article, "Great Novels Like The Da Vinci Code," will point you to two other novels that contain a shadowy Catholic organization, a puzzle, and murders, all tied up with compelling characters. Hope you like it.

TK Kenyon