I think a LOT about books at the moment.

I’ve always been a book lover but I’ve never thought about them this much. This could have something to do with the fact that I am writing a series and trying to get them published… but maybe not, maybe it’s just that time of the month.

Anyway… here are some random thoughts about books:

I am currently reading the manuscript of Prophecy of the Heir by JC Lamont.

Frankly, it’s probably the best fantasy book I’ve probably ever read and is by far, without doubt, certainly, definitely, absolutely the best allegorical book I have ever had the pleasure of casting my eyes over. It’s fantastic.

All you publishers out there, and I know that literally billions of publishers read this blog (or maybe not), you should get into the bidding war for it right now. I am convinced that JC Lamont will soon be talked about as an equal of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Yes. It’s that good.

I have also recently received a copy of Higher Hope by Robert Whitlow, published by Thomas Nelson. I am looking forward to reading it, it looks exciting!

Somehow I still have If God Were Real: A Journey into a Faith That Matters and Yesterday’s Embers to read not to mention Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead! I’ve not had so many great books calling to me from my bookshelf for years.

I read an article by Lissa Warren on the Huffington Post website where she makes some comments about bloggers who write review and essentially how their reviews are too personal and not professional enough.

I have to say, that attitude is what is holding the publishing industry back. The world today is one of electronic social networks. It’s one of personal interaction through text not speech. I can, and do, follow through RSS, Facebook, Myspace or Twitter hundreds of different people and what is going on in their lives. I want to know what they have read and what they think of it – in their words.

I don’t want to read some professionally written, flowery, academic description of the book. I don’t trust people who sound like they are trained in how to write reviews. For $125 you can get a ‘professional review‘ online which, believe it or not, will most likely say that your book is great. In this day and age, that kind of thing makes me instantly distrust any professional reviewers.

Give me the story of how your great aunt Bessie bought you the Karma Sutra because she thought it was a murder mystery and then tell me what you really think of it and how it has impacted you personally. I want to hear it. But you can be sure I’m not going to be reading professional reviews of it, or of any murder mysteries, any time soon!

OK, enough about books. Thanks for reading my daily rant.

Question: what book have you read (or written) lately that you think we all should read?