Dry-Clean Only Books

Unknown Dutch Master - Still-Life with Books (ca. 1628, Oil on wood, 61,3 x 97,4 cm) I shop like a woman on a mission. I walk in, usually clutching the postcard or coupon that has been mailed to me. Must get navy slacks! I find the navy slacks. I sometimes don’t even try them on, just hold them up. Looks like they’ll fit! I buy them, race out the door, and I’m free! Free with navy slacks!

Except—they’re dry clean only.

I don’t even think about dry clean only. Not in my world. Not with muddy children and a husband who works for a dot-com corporation. They don’t need dry clean only clothes.

I don’t need dry clean only clothes.

The sad process is always the same. Since I never change it, the outcome never changes. I decide that the clothing manufacturer is in cahoots with a dry cleaning syndicate. I put the clothes in the washer on the gentle cycle.

And they die a horrible death.

I can’t handle “complicated” for books, either right now. It’s terrible to admit this— but I just don’t have the time, no matter how much I’d like to.

Right now I’m reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo—take II. The first time it had to be returned to the library before I was able to finish it. I decided to buy the book for my second attempt.

It’s a complicated book. There are many family members listed. I felt like I needed a family tree. The plot has different lines and elements. It’s a rich book, though—complex and unique.

I wish I had more time to devote to it!

I write machine-washable, dryer-friendly books. Go ahead and give them a try—you can pick them up, put them down, pause for a week then pick it up again…you shouldn’t be too confused.

  • I don’t write similar-sounding character names.
  • I don’t have more than six suspects. I don’t have more than two victims.
  • I frequently tag a character that’s been off-stage for a while when they come back on: Jim, Karen’s husband, sauntered up to the group…
  • There is no forensic stuff that you feel you need to go to med school to grasp.

The reason I’ve adopted the way I write is because I’m reading in spurts. I’ll start reading, then a household emergency comes up. I’ve read several mysteries that have unveiled a killer and I had to flip to the beginning to figure out who they were. Not cool. I’m writing books for busy people like me.

We need both kinds of books…the dry clean only and the machine washable. Life goes through cycles. I’ve had Bleak House periods and beach book periods. I’m having a great time with Larsson’s book, even though it’s taking me a huge amount of time to digest it.

How much time are you spending reading? Do you gravitate toward quicker reads? A little of both? Which do you tend to write and why?

And now—it’s Thursday morning! You know what that means…009 food!

This morning I’m serving up garlic cheese grits at the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. For those of you curious as to what the heck grits are, all will be explained at the Kitchen. :)

Elizabeth Spann Craig

View posts by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series (as Riley Adams) and the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin and writes the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She also has a blog, which was named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. There she posts on the writing craft, finding inspiration in everyday life, and fitting writing into a busy schedule.

31 Comments

  1. Margot KinbergOctober 8, 2009

    What a wonderful connection you’ve made between the kind of books the author writes and the kind of life the reader generally has. I think a lot of people read the way you do (and prefer dryer-friendly clothes, too!).

    When I write, I do a similar thing to what you do about re-introducing characters. I want to help the reader keep the characters straight, too, so it’s easier to follow the plot. I don’t do heavy-duty forensics, either; I don’t have the medical background to do that well, even if it were a real interest of mine.

    It’s just so interesting to think about oneself as a reader as well as a write (i.e. what kind of books do I want to read?). I think that’s very helpful to a writer…

  2. TimOctober 8, 2009

    Hi Elizabeth,

    there’s a map of Hedeby Island which makes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo easier to follow. Reg Keeland has translated it to English, or there are the originals in Swedish here and here.

  3. AnonymousOctober 8, 2009

    hmmm…I read both like you Elizabeth. I loved the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but I didn’t fret over trying to understand it. Sweet Patootie and I watch old West Wing shows and they are very complicated but still enjoyable if you just give up trying to understand american political systems. (Canuk here) I love Dickens and George and Ondaatje – they are all so different in the levels of complexity of plot and nuance. I think I write both too. We’ll see. I keep telling people that I’m not trying to write a mansion, I’m writing a cottage.

  4. JanOctober 8, 2009

    Hi didn’t mean to be anonymous – I started another blog for my murder mystery weekend business and now the damn thing won’t let me sign on with my own name! argggh. It’s Jan from Crazy Jane.

  5. Jemi FraserOctober 8, 2009

    Love it! I smiled all the way through this post!!

    I tend to read more machine-friendly books at the moment. When I was younger (pre-kids) and had more time, I did more of those dry cleaner books. Now, it’s just to hard to find the uninterrupted time :)

  6. Rayna M. IyerOctober 8, 2009

    I just love the concept of dryclean only books! There are so many of them out there, which you really need to concentrate on.
    I read mainly on the train to work, so need machine wash books.

    Having said that, I do like my dry clean only books, so normally have one of them going at all times – that is the book I pick up after the kids have gone to sleep, and read till I start feeling sleepy, at which time I switch back to my machine wash books.

    What a delightful expression ! Dry clean only books!!!

  7. Enid WilsonOctober 8, 2009

    I’m like you, I read less complex stories most of the time. I use the brain too much at work already. So when I read, I prefer to relax.

    Steamy Darcy

  8. Terry OdellOctober 8, 2009

    I, too struggled through dragon tattoo. A book that takes 200 pages to ‘get into’ isn’t my reading preference.

    I like to call my books ‘airplane reads’ because I want the reader to be able to follow what’s happening even with all the interruptions during travel. I’d say 95% of the books I read are of that sort.

    (And I wash most of my ‘dry clean’ clothes, too, although there are some where I have to bite the bullet and take them to the cleaners. But I don’t buy many if they say dry clean only)

  9. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Margot–I also have one chapter where all the suspects are introduced and little vignettes where they mull over the victim and their connection with him…Christie did a similar thing and it really helped me to have one place in the book I could return to and find out who’s who.

    Rayna–I usually have one or two dry clean only books on the back burner to read. I just need to have a block of time–vacation, etc–to be able to read them.

    Enid–Escape is always more fun than working at it. I think it can be just as rewarding, too.

    Tim–Ah! Thank you!! I appreciate it so much. I was thinking I would have to sketch out a map of the island myself to keep up with the layout. Very helpful…thanks.

  10. Machine Washable MarvOctober 8, 2009

    “I write machine-washable, dryer-friendly books.” LOL, love this analogy. Good points, and I agree there is a time and season for everyone in the wonderful world of lit for dry clean only and machine washable books.

    Now, erm … pass me some more grits, please? Yummy!

    The Olld Silly

  11. Jane Kennedy SuttonOctober 8, 2009

    Once again, you came up with a great analogy.

    I hate it when I fall in love with a piece of clothing and then see the dry clean only tag. I put it back on the rack and walk away everytime.

    I like to think I write easy to read books that are hard to put down because that’s what I usually enjoy reading. Since that’s somewhere inbetween machine wash and dry clean only, would they have a hand wash label on them?

  12. Marybeth PoppinsOctober 8, 2009

    Love the analogy :) I’m not sure which my books are. I’d probably say you can throw them in the washer many many times before they get worn out!

  13. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Marvin–Definitely room in this world for both types! And…I would pass you some more grits, but I wiped them out this morning, myself! I’m dangerous around grits.

    Jan–I love that! “I’m writing a cottage, not a mansion.” That’s absolutely my philosophy. And what I warn book clubs of if I go speak to them. They’re usually mansion people.

    Jane–Hand washed books! Absolutely. That’s probably the best balance.

    Marybeth–Built to last! The best kind.

  14. Elspeth AntonelliOctober 8, 2009

    What a wonderful analogy, Elizabeth, which really got me thinking. In today’s busy lifestyle everyone wants books occasionally that are easily read and not too full of sturm and drang. I think I write ‘hand-wash’ books. Not sure if I’m pleased about that or not! Hmmmm.

    Elspeth

  15. Dorte HOctober 8, 2009

    First a comment on reading translated fiction: if they are from a culture you don´t know very well, the names will seem strange and similar. So in other words, Stieg Larsson´s names never confuse me, but Irish or Icelandic names may.

    Second, I agree that some crime novels are for when you have plenty of time to read, others are fine for the five-minute breaks :D
    So I also enjoy a varied diet. Recently I have read a lot of thriller & conspiracy (e.g. Stieg Larsson´s third) so I yearn for cozy crime or ´ordinary´ police procedural.

  16. JanelOctober 8, 2009

    I feel the same way. Sometimes I just want a nice, easy book – something I don’t have to think about too much. Other times I love to slow down and dig into a complicated novel. Luckily I have a huge TBR pile so I can always find something to read!

  17. Carol @ TheWritersPorchOctober 8, 2009

    This is good stuff Elizabeth!I’m a strange reader I think, that’s why my TBR shelf is overloaded. I go through reading moods. Some days I want to read place, other days it is a cozy mystery,next time it might be historical fiction or non-fiction.So I keep all kinds of books so that no matter what mood, I’ve got choices!

  18. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Jemi–I’m with you! Sigh…maybe one day…

    Terry–“Airplane reads!” Excellent. That’s exactly what I have time to read.

    Yes, I’m really ‘into’ Dragon Tattoo now, but it took me forever. I kept getting confused.

    Carol–That’s what I’m hoping I’ll be able to do someday soon! I don’t know how you find the time, Carol, with all your activities on the farm.

  19. Watery TartOctober 8, 2009

    That is just a BEAUTIFUL way of putting that! I love both kinds of books. The ones that stay with me forever are inevitably the dry clean only, but they require brain power that I don’t always have [like when my brain power is targeted at writing].

    I currently do most of my reading while I walk to and from work (yes, reading and walking–we’re a rare breed, but I’m not the only one) and that reading HAS to be wash-n-wear because I have to have at least a third of my attention directed at obstacles, traffic, etc, and there are frequent stops and starts, often mid-sentence.

    I’d like to think my books are sort of in-between–maybe hand-wash, or gentle cycle…

  20. Michele EmrathOctober 8, 2009

    FANTASTIC!!! I am a dry clean only girl married to a clothes line man, with two kids 4 and under, trying to write my first novel. I completely get this post and I love your connection between life and writing. So glad to have found you! I look forward to fitting you on my shelf right beside The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (which I bought today).
    Michele
    http://southerncitymysteries.blogspot.com/

  21. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Hart–That is *awesome*! I don’t know how you do it. I’m not sure I could chew bubble gum and walk at the same time. If I *could* do it, it would have to be machine washable reading. Or maybe even disposable reading!

    Elspeth–You know, that’s a good in between book. I wonder if people would read more if they realized there are tons of books out there that aren’t tomes full of symbolism.

  22. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Dorte–Interesting! I can see how that would happen with translations, but I hadn’t thought of it. I’m mostly having trouble picturing the island (although Tim has helped me out with that with his link to a map) and the family connections…the 3 brothers, their children, who is a cousin to whom, etc. It’s getting easier as I go, of course. And the book is very interesting…meaty.

    But, you’re right–I’ll need a break and a chance to read something shorter afterwards!

  23. Michele EmrathOctober 8, 2009

    Nonono I bought it today! I am only beginning it…Along with the ten other books on my nightstand! Thanks for the welcome and for joining my sight.

    Michele
    http://southerncitymysteries.blogspot.com/

  24. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Janel–Your pile sounds like my pile!

  25. Galen Kindley--AuthorOctober 8, 2009

    Until recently, I never gave book complexity much thought. If it was an author I liked, I picked it up, curled up, and read until I was sleepy. Then, blogging, and writing, and revising came into my life, or back into my life, and the days are just not the same.

    It’s a major trial for me to finish a book. I’ve read one…cover-to-cover…in the last oh, year, probably. Fortunately, it was a book I really enjoyed, though even then, it took me longer to read than it should have. The book? Funny you should ask, Pretty is as Pretty Dies. A Keeper, that one.

    Best Regards, Galen

    Imagineering Fiction Blog

  26. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Michele–Welcome! Always great to see another NC writer out there. You must be *really* motivated to have 2 little ones, a blog, a work in progress, and dry cleaning! If you read “Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo” in a day, I’ll be ashamed of myself!

    Galen–You are being SO NICE again. I need to mention that I read YOUR excellent book, Hearts of the Morning Calm, in no time at all. It didn’t have all those complications that trip me up when I read some books. Complex, but SIMPLE, if you know what I mean: complex emotions, readable delivery. Right up my alley.

  27. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 8, 2009

    Michele–Oh, that’s my nightstand, too! And I’m going to a book club meeting tonight…as a new member. Sigh. What have I let myself in for? I can only hope they’re not going to choose something by Henry James.

  28. Elizabeth BradleyOctober 8, 2009

    You have really hit the nail on the head with this post. Such a good idea, dry clean only books! You made me smile with that analogy.

    I read at night. I lie in bed propped up by many down-filled pillows and I entertain myself for at least an hour while The Husband listens to meditational tapes. Everybody gets mad at me when I say this, but…I didn’t finish The Time Travelers Wife. It gave me a headache. Funny, The Husband, (he hardly ever reads fiction), picked it up and read the entire book and loved it!

    I’m with you, maybe because I write so much, I don’t want to be bogged down when I sit with a book.

  29. Helen GingerOctober 9, 2009

    I’m with you, don’t get me a complicated book right now. Got way too much on my plate without having to decipher a book.

    When it comes to clothes, I want ones that don’t have to be ironed. I’m tired of ironing, then ten minutes after you put it on, it’s wrinkled.

    Helen
    Straight From Hel

  30. Elizabeth Spann CraigOctober 9, 2009

    Elizabeth–I’ll admit…I only did a quick skim of the ‘Time Traveler’s Wife.’ I just couldn’t devote more time to it.

    Sometimes I pick books apart when I’m reading, which isn’t fun, either. I need to have something that’s easy entertainment right now.

  31. Scotti CohnOctober 9, 2009

    Marvelous article! The other tag I avoid when buying clothes is “Hand Wash, Dry Flat.” I do not have a single place in my house where I can lay out a garment to dry flat (where it would not be disturbed by my cats). Nor do I have a sink where I would want to try to wash and rinse a garment. That said, I don’t know what kind of book would be a “Hand Wash, Dry Flat” book — but perhaps it’s the same idea as “Dry Clean Only.” It’s a book that requires extra time, extra care, extra attention.

    I read those kind of books and I write those kind of books. Shame on me! LOL. I also enjoy reading the Wash-and-Wear type of book. I just don’t seem able to write them!

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