Inspired Friday (1)

Hey everyone!

I've decided to do a new thing with my posts (although this will sometimes be interrupted by book reviews). It has to do with quotes, because I don't know about the rest of you, but quotes totally inspire me. They affect what I write on any given day by shaping the subject and even the tone of my writing.

So for these posts, I'm going to have a quote that inspires me in some way and write about it. Maybe it'll be related to writing, maybe it'll be related to what's going on with me at the moment, but it'll always be related to an aspect in my life.

Here is this week's:

I've never let my school interfere with my education. - Mark Twain

I am a college student, and for those of you who are students, you know that right now is crunch time. I have 3 weeks left before finals. So all of the biggest projects are piling up on each other. And because of that, I've completely immersed myself into work. I haven't read a book in a week. I haven't even really talked to people all that much.

And what purpose does that serve me?

I'm going crazy. Seriously. I can't sleep because my neck is too tense from the stress, and I'm pretty sure I've gained about five pounds from stress eating. Sometimes, some of us (me, especially) need to remember that school isn't everything. There are some things you learn that just can't be taught other than experiencing them. Things that are so much more relevant to life than writing a strategic analysis of a company's marketing campaign.

This has a direct effect on my writing, too. What makes writing rich is the feeling that it's real-life -- it's those moments when you're reading a book and completely lose yourself into the world and characters because they're so relatable.

I'm not saying school is important, it's just that experiencing life and learning real-life things shouldn't be sacrificed for school.

Anybody else find themselves having this problem? Anybody else have other reactions to Twain's quote? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

April's Book Choice

The votes are in! Thanks to everyone who voted, and for those that didn't, I hope you can join us next time.

Leading by three votes, the book you chose to read for April is...

Wither by Lauren DeStefano!

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

I hope to see you all at our book club so we can have some awesome discussions about this book!

And don't forget to enter our Meg Cabot Book Giveaway. It ends tomorrow!

Abandon Review

CHECK OUT our Meg Cabot Book Giveaway!

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Hardcover: 320 pages

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Review:

I am a huge fan of Meg Cabot, because whenever I pick up a book she's written, I know that it's going to be fun, hilarious, and entertaining. Her stories sweep me up, taking me into some sort of fiction-vortex, releasing me only after I've read through to the end. So it was a little surprising to realize that Abandon isn't this sort of fun, easy-reading type of story at all. In fact, it's dark, serious, and has very little laugh-out-loud humor at all.

But I liked it.

Given the subject matter, it only makes sense that this story isn't hilariously funny, and I think Meg does an excellent job in switching gears. What I appreciated most about the story is the set-up. For some, this book may drag a little, because of the care Meg puts into its development. (In my opinion, this just shows the trust she puts into her fans to stick with it until the end.) I really felt connected to Pierce and her situation. And though there wasn't a payoff large enough to make up for all the set-up at the beginning, the ending was enough to make me want the sequel, because I do think that Meg has an epic payoff for us at the end of the series and I can't wait to get it.

I also love how all the details at the beginning come together at the end -- I wasn't able to fully predict the ending of this one, which was very exciting. Also, this is a book that can lead to a lot of discussion about mythology and death, which I think is very cool. It would be a great addition to a book club or even a classroom, with the right lesson plan.

What can I say? Meg has once again got me hooked on yet another one of her series. (Not that I'm complaining!)

My rating: 4

**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A special thanks goes to Ann Larson, Meg Cabot's assistant, for making sure I got on the publisher's list of ARC requests. And another thanks to Scholastic for sending me an ARC of this book. I greatly enjoyed it.

The Lit Express Book Club: Vote for April's Book!

April kind of snuck up on us, didn't it? Well, it's that time of month, so we'd like you to vote for next month's book again! You'll have one week to vote, and I'll announce April's book on April 5. I know that's a little late, but I want to give everyone a chance to have their say in what we read next month. So, without further ado, here are the summaries for this month's options (all are taken from Goodreads):

Clarity by Kim Harrington

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

The Liar Society by Lisa Roecker

Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

P.S. Be sure to join us for our Live Book Chat about Across the Universe on Thursday, March 31 at 5 PM (Pacific time)

Labels

Watching this video really makes me think about how we view ourselves, especially in this age of social networking. What do you put in your "About Me" section of all your accounts? You only have a certain amount of characters -- even if you have an unlimited space, who will want to read a long description? So we all fall back on adjectives we think accurately describe who we are: outgoing, curious, determined, optimistic, etc. But do these really cover all the bases? Is an outgoing person really outgoing ALL the time? And there must be a limit on curiosity; I mean, I consider myself a curious person, but if someone starts telling me about dust particles or something, I'm asleep before they even start.

So what's the deal? And has it started creeping into our writing?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been disappointed in a lot of YA books recently. A lot of characters have no depth. It's like the author decides: this character is going to be optimistic, so he'll never have a negative thought throughout the entirety of the novel.

No nuances, no shades of grey. Everything they are is contained within one word.

I don't know about you, but that kind of thing really bores me.

So let's keep an eye out for this sort of thing. Let's give life to our characters and make them act like real people. More than that, let's stop boxing ourselves in with labels we've created. It's okay to be the person who is outgoing sometimes and shy other times. It's okay to be a walking contradiction. In fact, let's face it: life (and books!) is way more fun that way.

The Goddess Test Review

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Paperback: 297 pages

Source: ARC (Thanks NetGalley!)

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Review:

I have read so many good reviews of this book, and I tried really hard to like it. Really, I did. And it's not bad, it's just not as great as I thought it was going to be.

First of all, I really liked the premise behind this story. Like I've said before, I'm loving the new mythology twists everyone is coming out with. However, in this case, I think the author was far too ambitious. Dealing with Greek mythology is huge. It has a built-in set of expectations that I don't think this particular novel lived up to.

The thing I found most problematic was that there was very little development going on in this novel. Everyone instantly became friends or enemies, or enemies and then friends. I didn't understand it. Kate may feel like James is a good friend, but I don't feel the same way, because the relationship isn't explained. I don't know enough about him to make a decision for myself. Due to this, the characters were fairly weak; even Kate's character is weak. It's a first person novel, yet I don't know her at all. We don't get enough of her thoughts, just her decisions and actions. No inner conflict. Very little doubts or insecurities.

I also wanted a little more of an attitude on Kate. She just lets people boss her around! Why does she have to wear what Ella tells her? Especially when Kate's supposed to assume the role as queen. These conflicts didn't add anything to the novel, because they seemed trivial and easy to fix. Kate needs to show a little backbone if she's going to be Queen of the Underworld. She also needed a few more flaws. She was way too good and proper for me. I've been over characters like those since elementary school.

However, there were parts of this novel where I got excited and just had to read more. So that shows that the story isn't all that bad -- I was definitely interested. I cared about the outcome of the novel (even though it was painfully obvious to me what was going to happen), and I wanted to know more about the characters. I just wasn't given enough.

My Rating: 2

I'd like to thank Harlequin Teen via NetGalley for approving my request for an ARC of this novel.

Until later,

Trickster's Girl Review

Author: Hilari Bell

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Pub Date: 3 Jan 2011

Hardcover: 288 pages

Source: ARC (Thanks NetGalley!)

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die.

The night Kelsa buries her father, a boy appears. He claims magic is responsible for the health of Earth, but human damage disrupts its flow. The planet is dying.

Kelsa has the powers to reverse the damage, but first she must accept that magic exists and see beyond her own pain in order to heal the planet.

Review:

I am loving all these mythological-based books now coming out and this one is no different. I love how Bell ties together all the different mythologies to incorporate it into the story she's made. It really works. The novel did have a few problems for me that I will go into later, but first let's talk about the good stuff.

Awesome thing #1: Subtlety. This is a futuristic world, but Bell doesn't make it so futuristic that I can't recognize it. Everything is similar but slightly off, which is exactly how I think the future will be. For example, there are hover vehicles, but regular vehicles still exist. People have "com pods" which I envision as some sort of really fancy iPhone. And some high school teachers seem to teach through computers, but it was still recognizably school. Some may argue that due to the rapid pace of technological advancements, it should have been more otherworldly, which I completely get; however, I really liked how I could recognize the old world in the new. Very well done.

Awesome thing #2: Native American mythology. I feel like this subject doesn't get written about a lot and it is SO interesting. Instead, many focus on Greek and Irish mythology (probably because that's what we mostly hear about in school). I liked the different flavor this mythology brought to the story, and I liked how it tied together with other mythologies. It especially works for the subject matter (healing the "leys," which are, essentially, a part of nature).

Awesome thing #3: It's a small thing, but I really liked how the evolution of the curse words was explained. I could totally see this happening in real life. Related to Awesome thing #1, it was similar enough that I recognized it, but just evolved enough to make it seem strange. Very cool.

Now for the problems.

Problem #1: Conflict. Using her "human magic" (as it's called) seemed to be really easy for Kelsa. And the incantations come rather easily to her. I know that the book says it takes her a little while to come up with the words, but I want to see the struggle. Especially since she's supposed to be conflicted about the existence of magic -- she is in denial, but then she just sits down and reaches out to the earth to heal it? Seems like a huge jump between mind frames. Conflict problems arose throughout the entire novel, I think. It was the biggest problem for me. I thought that things were fairly easy on Kelsa (until the end, of course), which I wasn't very happy with.

Problem #2: Development. Sometime between the beginning and middle of the novel, Kelsa got to become rather comfortable with Raven and his quirks. She would say things like "typical" when he did something, when I didn't find it typical at all. I really wished that there was more description of him and of the relationship they built so I could connect to him as well as Kelsa. This may have been a conscious choice on the part of the author since Raven is a spirit (or whatever you want to call him -- not human, anyway), and is therefore unrelatable. So I'm just going to list this as a personal preference.

However, I did think it was a good, fast read. I would recommend giving it a try.

My rating: 3

Until later!

The Votes Are In! March's book is...

Thanks to everyone who voted, you guys are awesome! Without further ado, the book you have chosen to be this month's read is (by an overwhelming majority, I may add):

Across the Universe by Beth Revis!

Thanks for everyone for participating. I'm looking forward to awesome discussions with you all over at The Lit Express's Book Club!

PS Any suggestions for April? Go ahead and send us an e-mail, comment, or post on our Goodreads site. This is your book club too and we'd love to hear your input!

Until Later,

Break Time!

Hey there everybody! I don't know about you, but this week has been extremely busy for me: midterms, homework, writing, reading, etc. It's definitely not all bad, but it makes a girl want a break. I saw this through Twitter and thought I'd share. It's a fun, quick video for those of you who are procrastinating on work (I know I am!). Even for those of you not procrastinating (lucky ducks!), it's still fun. Enjoy!

Pictured Left: Not my real desk, but it could be!

Until later!

The Lit Express Book Club: Vote for March's book!

Hey everybody! As you may (or may not) know, The Lit Express hosts a book club over at Goodreads. If you'd like to join, just click here and add us to your groups! If you're already part of the club, awesome! Keep checking to see when the live chat will be for our current book, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

The time is coming to choose a new book, and since we promised you'd be able to vote on the next book we read, I'd thought I'd post the poll now. You all have 6 days to vote. Results will be posted on the morning of Tuesday, March 1. Below are the titles and summaries (taken from Goodreads) of the books we've chosen. Vote for whichever one interests you the most! I'm looking forward to see what you pick!

Choice #1: Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.

Choice #2: Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly

A summer to remember…

Angie always thought high school romances were just silly infatuations that come and go. She certainly never thought she would fall in love over one short summer. But when she meets Jack, their connection is beyond any childish crush. Suddenly, Angie and Jack are filling their summer with stolen moments and romantic nights. But as fall grows closer, they must figure out if their love is forever, or just a summer they’ll never forget.

Choice #3: When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

Reminiscent of the movie Say Anything, a debut novel for all those searching for The One!

Sara and Tobey couldn't be more different. She is focused on getting into her first-choice college; he wants to win Battle of the Bands. Sara's other goal is to find true love, so when Dave, a popular jock, asks her out, she's thrilled. But then there's Tobey. His amazing blue eyes and quirky wit always creep into her thoughts. It just so happens that one of Tobey's goals is also to make Sara fall in love with him. Told in alternating points of view, Sara and Tobey's real connection will have everyone rooting for them from the minute they meet!

Choice #4: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Until later!

One Hundred Candles Review

Author: Mara Purnhagen
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub Date: February 22, 2011
Paperback: 240 pages
Source: ARC (Thanks NetGalley!)

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences.

Review:

I thought this story was interesting and creative, and I really enjoyed it. Charlotte certainly has a different life, and I liked seeing just how much her life revolved around the supernatural due to her parents’ job. The pacing of the book was perfect – it didn’t drag at all, and I was pulled in at all the right moments. I also enjoyed how Purnhagen pulls together the supernatural and the realistic. Adding the extra elements of protective crystals, candles, and ceremonies really made it stand out for me. Although this seems like stuff that would seem to be in all supernatural stories, I have found it in very few.

It’s also a great stand-alone book, even though it was the second in the series. I was able to catch on quickly as to what was going on and wasn’t confused as to who the characters were. However, I think that if I had read the first book, I’d have had a stronger connection with the characters, which would have been nice.

As I said, I really enjoyed the story, but the writing was a little too simplistic for me. The characters are very black-and-white and predictable. The main character says everything that’s going on in her mind in a very simple, direct manner. I think it’s a classic example of the writer “telling” rather than “showing.” Instead of showing that the main character was worried or sad by having her do something or act a certain way, she directly stated, “I am worried.” It makes the story less interesting to read, and definitely made me feel distanced from the characters, because I wasn’t interacting with them as much.
I thought the climax and ending was wonderfully done. By the time I got to the high point of the novel, I couldn’t put it down – I had to finish.

I would rate this at 3.5 stars, but it has a cool cover, so I’m bumping it up.

My rating:

Until later,

When Lightning Strikes Review

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Reading Level: Young Adult

Paperback: 272 pages

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads):

Jess Mastriani has never been what you'd call a typical Midwestern teenager—her extracurricular activities, instead of cheerleading or 4-H, include fist-fights with the football team and month-long stints in detention. A part of Jess would like to be the prom queen her mother has always envisioned her being, but another part is secretly counting the days until she's saved up enough money to buy her own Harley.

Then something happens that guarantees Jess will be one of the in-crowd...at least until her newfound talent ends up getting her dead.

Review:

Meg Cabot is one of my all-time favorite authors. For real, though. Her books are always laugh-out loud funny and creative. Whenever I find myself in a bad mood, I know that I can just pick up one of her books and feel better in a few minutes. I like her Mediator series a little better than this one, but it's still really good!

I loved this book. It's a great mix of humor, danger, and a touch of romance. Jess is hilarious and an extremely strong female character, and Rob is HOT!!! This is my third time reading this book, and I find myself still laughing at the jokes and falling love with the characters. Meg's witty, fun writing style makes this book a fast and enjoyable read.

Besides making the characters fun, the premise of this story is really interesting. A girl gets struck by lightning and now can locate missing people. Meg takes it a step further and puts a little realism into it -- the government finds out and wants her to work for them. But she just wants to be an ordinary girl! The stakes are incredibly high, which I love. Meg certainly doesn't make it easy for her characters! I'm definitely looking forward to rereading the next books in the series.

Warning: If you start reading this book, make sure you have time to finish it, because you're not going to want to put it down!

My rating:

Until later,

Exploring the World (Wide Web) (2)

In honor of Rane's amazingly brave and cool decision to post weekly installments of her novel online, I thought I'd bring a website to your attention that follows in this spirit:

Anyone heard of it? Honestly, despite it's name, it's a place for both readers and writers.

I admit, I was hopelessly addicted to Writing.com during middle school and high school. First of all, it's free (of course, you can upgrade to have more privileges within the site such as more posting space, access to more features, etc.). Second of all, there's just so much to do!

What are some things you can do? Well, you can post your writing, get it reviewed, review others' writing, find people to collaborate on writing projects with, enter contests, network with people who have similar interests, read tips on publishing, writing, editing, etc., and maybe even find publishers, editors, and literary agents.

Like I said, there's SO MUCH to do!

If you've been wanting to get your writing out there, or you just want to see what's been posted (there's some pretty good stories and series posted on there), or if you want to help some writers out and give them feedback on their stuff, check it out! It's fun and it's really helpful.

Until later,

Writing Tips: What to Do When You're Stuck

It happens to all of us. One minute, we're smoothly typing/writing away. The words flow out so easily, so perfectly.

And then your brain comes to a sudden, seemingly permanent halt.

The words don't flow anymore. In fact, there aren't any words. You find yourself completely frustrated. You don't know what you want to happen in that scene. And would that character really say something like that? Doubts and questions fill your brain, replacing the words that had been there just a short time ago. And it gets worse: you don't know how to overcome those doubts. You don't know the answers to the questions you keep asking yourself.

This is the worst place to be for a writer. It is the writer's quicksand; the tar pit of the writing world. You don't know what to do with the story you're writing, or its characters. You don't know where to go. And the more you keep struggling with it, the deeper you fall.

So what should you do at a time like this? What helps? I admit, I've been here multiple times. It's this place that scares off many aspiring writers (it certainly scared me off my first attempt at a novel). After reading many online articles, books, interviews, etc., I have come to find a few techniques that work best for me, and they may work for you too.

First and foremost, STOP WRITING. Seriously, take a break and let yourself recharge. Oftentimes, a break is exactly what you need at a time like this. Go for a walk, watch that TV show you've been dying to watch, do some push ups, whatever. Just walk away from your computer and do something. Personally, I also stay away from books at a time like this. Reading published books just makes me depressed when I'm stuck on my own.

The second thing is a little longer to explain. In a book called Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande (read this if you haven't, I have found it very helpful), Brande talks about what writers do when they're thinking. Usually, she says, writers have a hobby. It's not just any hobby, this hobby is repetitive and silent. Examples are things such as whittling wood, knitting, and the like. The point is that it's a fairly mindless activity that involves very little words. While you're doing something like this, your brain can work out what's been frustrating you.

When I first read that, I thought it was complete bogus. Really, doing something like that will help me with my writing? It so didn't seem likely. I certainly didn't have a hobby that fit into those categories. I thought so, at least, until one day after taking a walk I decided to work out what had been frustrating me. And what did I do? I grabbed my latest cross-stitch project and thought about my story as I pulled the needle in and out of the fabric. So, if you have a hobby like this, use it! It not only helps to calm you down and lower your frustration level, but it also gives you time to think.

Thirdly, if all else fails, find somebody and talk it out with them. I usually don't like to talk out my story with other people, because it somehow loses its magic. It's not just mine anymore, but someone else's too. However, even though I dislike it, I do have a couple of people I go to when things just aren't working out. An outsider's perspective can work wonders.

Those are some of my tips -- what about yours? What works for you when you get stuck on a story? I'd love to know!

Until later,

Blast from the Past (2): Anne of Green Gables

Author: L. M. Montgomery

Publisher: L. C. Page & Co.

Original Publication Date: June 1908

Pages: 429 (Hardcover)

Summary (taken from Goodreads):

When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be, either. --Emilie Coulter (review of an abridged version)

Okay, it's kind of unfair to choose this, because it's such a hit.

It's been consistently selling since

the book came out. But, I just had to do a post on this book. Truth be told, I was obsessed with this entire series. I read the books, watched the movies (the ones with Megan Follows, who is a gorgeous, perfect Anne Shirley -- shown on the right), and even made up online book clubs just so I could talk about it. People consider it a children's book nowadays, but when it was written, it was supposed to be for all ages (rightfully so!).

So what makes this book so timeless? What makes it transcend age levels?

1) Strong characterization

2) Beautiful setting

3) Problems EVERYONE can relate to

The characters in this book are real. They're people. It's not only what you see on the surface, but they all have layers, wants, needs, fears. Montgomery gave them personality. At the same time, she made them familiar. I saw my friends and my family in these characters. What's more, I could relate to them.

As for setting -- I suggest all writers read at least a chapter of any of Montgomery's books. She brings places to life. The only way I can think to show this is through a quote:

They had driven over the crest of a hill. Below them was a pond, looking almost like a river so long and winding was it. A bridge spanned it midway and from there to its lower end, where an amber-hued belt of sand-hills shut it in from the dark blue gulf beyond, the water was a glory of many shifting hues--the most spiritual shadings of crocus and rose and ethereal green, with other elusive tintings for which no name has ever been found. Above the bridge the pond ran up into fringing groves of fir and maple and lay all darkly translucent in their wavering shadows. Here and there a wild plum leaned out from the bank like a white-clad girl tip-toeing to her own reflection. From the marsh at the head of the pond came the clear, mournfully-sweet chorus of the frogs. There was a little gray house peering around a white apple orchard on a slope beyond and, although it was not yet quite dark, a light was shining from one of its windows. (Chapter 2)

That one is straight description. A lot of the time, the setting is weaved in through action.

And as for the problems, that one is easy. Anne is a regular girl. She wants to be more beautiful; she wishes her hair weren't red; she has a temper; she's stubborn. So she tries beauty remedies (I'll just let you guess how that plays out) and she blows up at people when they tease her. It all amounts to some awkward, embarrassing moments sometimes. But really, who hasn't been there? Being embarrassed and doing stupid things is a huge part of growing up. Also, it isn't only Anne who goes through embarrassing moments. You see other characters mess up as well.

So, if you somehow haven't read this series yet, at least read the first book. You will laugh out loud, cry, and be amused and frustrated (in a good way). I promise you, this book is WORTH IT.

Until later,

Beautiful Creatures Review

Authors: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 14 2010)

Reading Level: Young Adult

Pages: 592 pages

Summary (taken from Goodreads):

There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Review:

Honestly, I probably would have loved this book more without the romance factor. I’m getting rather tired of teen books that have the love-at-first-sight-I-can’t-live-without-you relationships going on. It’s very unrealistic and melodramatic. And it tends to make the main character whiney and mopey, because that’s what happens to a person when their “soul-mate” doesn’t want to be with them, apparently.

The characters were also seriously underdeveloped. For a book of this length, I have a higher standard for development but this one just didn’t come through. Ethan’s friends were ridiculous, as were most of the students (and parents and teachers) that were introduced. Most of the story worked off of stereotypes and clichés. That counts for the characters and the southern setting. The only part that I found unique was the magic. These authors write about witches rather than vampires, werewolves, fallen angels, or whatever. I greatly appreciated this and it was set up very nicely. I’m not going to say anymore, because figuring out exactly how the magic works for Lena’s family is a major part of the story. I will say that wanting to learn more about Lena, her family, and their magic is what got me through the book.

As for the story in general: I thought it was okay. There were parts that dragged, but there were also parts where I couldn’t put the book down. (The pacing could have been much better.) I did enjoy the flashbacks to the past and the history that was tied in with the Wate and Duchannes family. I thought this could have been done better, but was relatively satisfied with it.

Conclusion: It’s an okay book. A lot of people love it, but I thought that if it were condensed and then the characters were rounded out a little, it would have been much better. It has potential; it just doesn’t live up to it. But, if you’re in the mood for a semi-intriguing story about witches and star-crossed lovers, then this is the book for you.

Cover: 4/5

Plot: 3/5

Characters: 2/5

Writing: 3/5

Ending: 3/5

Overall: 3/5

Exploring the World (Wide Web)

There are limitless resources for writers and readers out there -- especially on the internet. Going through it all can be a daunting task, and maybe there are websites that you would love but know nothing about! This monthly feature highlights websites that I know about and would like to share with all of you.

This month's website: Poets.org

Have any of you heard of it? I admit, I knew nothing about it until I came across an article about it. If you have heard of it, did you know that they have a special section just for teens? Seriously, check it out!

They have Poetry 101, writing help (in the form of exercises, reading assignments, peer critiques, and even info. on how to get published!), discussion forums, online resources, and popular poems for teens. You can also create a personalized notebook, which is basically just a scrapbook of audio clips, poems, and poets you like. You can also keep track of poetry events that are coming up. There are probably tons of other features, but I just joined this site myself (I'm not a poet, but I love reading poetry), so I'm still exploring. From what I've seen so far, it's pretty awesome.

So, if you're a poet or just a lover of poetry, I highly recommend this website to you. And if you do check it out/know about it, let me know what you think.

Until later,

Writing Tips: Show Me a Story

“Show, don’t tell.”

This is practically lesson one with writing. Seriously, whenever I go into a new writing class, this comes up. So why is it that I’ve been reading many published books that directly describe a character’s personality, tell me how they feel, and describe exactly what’s going on instead of let me figure it out for myself? I don’t have the answer to that. Maybe the writers are afraid their point won’t come across. Maybe it’s something else. Whatever it is, I think the rule should be stated yet again: “Show, don’t tell.”

Following this rule generally makes your writing better, because it makes for a more interesting read. Instead of being told what to think, readers are given clues and can make up their minds for themselves. They are able to participate in the story and make it their own. They create it along with you, the writer. So don’t tell me that John is a nice guy. Show me how nice he is. Don’t tell me he’s angry. Have him punch a wall. And don’t worry about me not getting your point. One professor taught me a valuable lesson when facing this problem: Trust your reader. Your reader is a pretty smart person. S/he will pick up on clues fairly quickly. Sometimes, s/he will catch things you didn’t even notice you put in. And if you’re worried about it, have a friend read it and ask them what they’re getting from what you wrote. That’s the best way to tell.

In her latest Hip Tips and Tid Bits post, Kalina Kay had a quote that completely describes the “showing” instead of “telling” aspect:

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Anton Chekhov.

And here’s another one from my favorite author of all time:

“Don’t say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.” Mark Twain

And yet another:

"Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader -- not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon." E. L. Doctorow

So what do the rest of you think? Is this a pet peeve for you as well? (I fully admit that it’s one of my pet peeves) Or do you not mind being told instead of shown? I would love to hear your thoughts. :)

Until later,

Blast from the Past: Alanna the First Adventure

BLAST FROM THE PAST

…in which we talk about YA books published prior to the 1990’s and their relevancy to today’s teens.

This post’s topic: Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (Book 1 of the Song of the Lioness Quartet)

Pages: 231

Original Publication Date: September 1983 (original cover pictured)

Summary: "From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight.

And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Disguised as a girl Thom heads to the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, in on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page.

But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies.

Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins—one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land."

—Cover flap summary of the Simon Pulse edition 2005

My thoughts:

This book was one of my favorites growing up – it has knights, magic, thieves, and everything that makes it a perfect medieval-style fantasy. I wanted to live in Tortall. I wanted to be Alanna, who was friends with both the future king and the King of Thieves. There were times when I begged my mother to let me dye my hair bronze-red, just so I could be more like the character I adored reading about. (Unfortunately, my mother’s response to such requests was, “Not a chance.”) And with the ever-growing popularity of strong female heroines, I thought that starting off this feature with Alanna: The First Adventure would be perfect, because here you go: one of the first strong female heroines I was ever introduced to.

All teens can learn a lesson from Alanna. She doesn’t let anything stop her from following her dream of becoming a knight – even the fact that she is a girl and therefore forbidden from that profession. What I love most about it is how real Tamora Pierce made it seem. Alanna doesn’t just skate by – she faces real challenges in trying to hide her identity and has to work twice as hard in order to become as strong as the males. She also has to face bullying and has to make a decision about whether to fight back and get in trouble or take the abuse. There are times when it seems just a tad too easy for her, but overall, Pierce does an excellent job in making the obstacles realistic.

If you haven’t read this book, do. It is written for the younger side of the young adult spectrum, but it really is a fast, fun read. Besides, strong female heroines NEVER go out of style.

Until later,

The Book Thief Review

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (September 11, 2007)

Paperback: 576 pages

Reading Level: Young Adult

Summary:

It’s just a small story really, about among (sic) other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Taken from the publisher’s website:

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/books.html

Review:

I have been staring at the cover of this book on my “Amazon Recommendations” for the better part of 3 years. No joke. So, finally, after much self-promising that I’d read it, I decided to sit down and take the time to do it.

It only took me two days to finish – and that’s in the midst of final exams, group presentations, and research papers (written in French, no less) due within the week. Truly, this book is fantastic. There’s a reason it has been on the New York Times Best-Seller’s list for close to 170 weeks.

I was able to completely immerse myself in the story. Liesel’s family became my family; her friends, my friends. When she woke up from her nightmares and saw her Papa sitting by her bed, I was comforted with her. And the amazing thing is that I have very little in common with this girl. I live in a place that is nowhere close to being Nazi Germany; I don’t have to steal books to be able to read them; I don’t have a Jewish man hiding in my basement. But despite all this, within the pages of The Book Thief, I lived her life along with her.

Now, this isn’t a happy book. Not by any means. It’s set in Nazi Germany; there is a lot of suffering. But it does have its glorious moments. And I think that’s what I loved about it so much, because above all, this book is about life. There are moments that make you want to huddle in bed and cry until you pass out, but then there are moments – maybe with your dad, mom, or best friend – that make everything worth it. Life has its beautiful moments and its ugly moments; that’s how it is. This message, along with Zusak’s ability to get the reader to feel as if s/he is alongside Liesel, living life along with her, is what makes this book great.

Out of the 100 or so books I’ve read this year, this one is most definitely the BEST. I highly recommend it. If possible, read it in print; there are illustrations that greatly add to the story.

PS I thought I’d note that it is narrated by the grim reaper. Yeah, as if it wasn’t cool enough.

Cover: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

My Overall Rating:

Until later,