- authorjacobpavila
Lost in the library: what to read next?
Updated: Oct 23, 2019

I was asked by author Jeff Edwards recently what book I'd read that I would most like to have written myself. I was stumped in the same way a question like "what's your favourite song?" can throw you. I think I eventually trotted out something like 'Sophie's Choice' by William Styron because I remember it having a huge impact on me as a young man. Later I realised such questions are a lot easier if you break it down by genre. Because I struggle with black and white responses (remember I was an English teacher) I'm going to cheat and list my five favourite books by genre.
Action Adventure
HMS Ulysses by Alistair Maclean. His first and greatest novel where the destroyer is as much a character as her crew on the merciless Russian convoys when German U-boats had the upper hand.
The Eye of the Tiger by Wilbur Smith. I know Smith has written much better novels; but the sheer exuberance of this pure escapist fantasy made me think I could write too.
Running Blind by Desmond Bagely
Post Apocalyptic
The Road by Cormac MCCarthy. A perfect fusion of form and function which strips back the genre to its simplest expression. You don't need to to know why the world has gone to hell to understand which makes it singularly powerful.
"The Stand" by Steven King
Compelling and complete. King's capacity to put you inside his characters
Sci fi
Helliconia Trilogy by Brian W Aldiss
Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
Alistair Renolyds
Fantasy
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The Ch
The Ho
Literary
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski
Alternate History
SSGB
Fatherland
“Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.”
Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With the Wix, building your online community has never been easier.
Create Relevant Content
You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away.
Stun Your Readers
“Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.”
Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way.
Get Inspired
To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!