Dear Everyone,
I enjoy the website known as Goodreads. Through it, I’ve discovered many books I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. The site also allows me to tell others what I’m reading.
At the moment, I’m re-reading “Measure for Measure” by William Shakespeare. You can download this for your Kindle for $0.99 or you can read it online through MIT. The title of the play seems to be a reference to a passage in Scripture, the Gospel according to St. Matthew 7:2,
“For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
This passage raises all sorts of interesting questions, as does the play. But what I’m interested in is in the way Shakespeare presents the contrast between a person’s reputation (good or bad) and the person’s character. Who are the villains and who are the heroes and heroines of the play? What sort of message does Shakespeare communicate about how we judge our neighbours and ourselves?
I don’t promise to have answers to these questions but if you’d like to join the conversation you can do so on Twitter. I’ve recently finished Act II of the play and I welcome comments and discussion.
When I was writing “Gabriel’s Inferno” I was thinking about the contrast between the way a person is perceived and that person’s interior life. (Think about the Professor as he appears in Chapter 1 versus how he is presented in Chapter 2) Did his reaction to the telephone call change your perception of him?
I was also interested in the reactions readers would have to his behaviour in those two chapters, in contrast with the reactions of the other characters. Did Julia’s response surprise you?
If you’re interested in human behaviour, watch people and read literature. Both activities are tremendous well springs of information and insights into humanity.
I should mention that if you haven’t had a chance to read “Gabriel’s Inferno” and would like to, or would like a friend to read it, you can enter multiple giveaways during my book blog web tour.
Skyla11377 is offering a copy here.
Hanging with Bells! is offering a copy here.
Reading with Bakin_ Goddess is offering a copy here.
Books ‘n Kisses is offering a copy here.
There will be giveaways each day of the tour. I’ll be announcing them on Twitter and Facebook.
Many thanks to each of the blogs for reviewing my book and to KLB events for organizing the blog tour.
All the best and thanks for reading,
SR.
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {