Still Alive

Currently Reading: Gone Tomorrow (Jack Reacher #13) and A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That: A Novel

Reader,

Sorry I missed my Friday book talk.  I am still riding the waves of back to school season.  Next year I hope to be better prepared with some backlogged book talks so this doesn't happen again. 

This is a really short post, but I wanted to let you all know I am still alive, and regularly scheduled blogging will resume this week or next.

Until next time,
Rose 

Book Talk Friday: Soulless

Currently Reading: Commencement (Vintage Contemporaries)

Reader,

Soulless
by Gail Carriger

Miss Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster, set on the shelf without as much as a chance at marriage.  Her mother claims that Alexia's skin is too dark, her nose too large, and her intelligence too sharp to be the marrying type.  Little does her mother know that Alexia is also Soulless.

Why I started the book: It was first recommended to me by a swell guy in North Carolina before it had come out.  He had heard about it and was anxiously awaiting it's debut.  Later Soulless started causing quite the ruckus throughout the literary blogging community.  After suggesting it to the library as a book they should acquire I was finally able to read it.

Why I finished the book: Oh man, this book has a little of everything.  It's a speculative, historical, steampunk, paranormal, romance, and mystery novel.  The protagonist is a strong feminist female in a time when standing up for one's rights was not easy to do.  It's a fun read and I loved every moment of it. 

Writer's Take:  I must agree with Agent Kristin over at Pub Rants when she claims that Soulless is a key example of great opening pages.  The best part is that the energy doesn't peter out.  The reader doesn't feel that the opening pages, the grabber, was amazing but the rest of the novel didn't live up to it.

Who I'd Recommend it to: Starzy, Phule, Valkyrie, Scorpius, Momica, lovers of paranormal romance, historical romance, and those who ever wondered if the world would have evolved differently with the interference of paranormal beings.

Until next time,
Rose 

Book Talk Friday: The Magicians

Currently Reading: Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate)

Reader,

The Magicians: A Novel
by Lev Grossman

Quentin Coldwater has always been an overachiever at school.  He's worked hard all his life to ultimately attain the "perfect life."  Perfect according to who?  Quentin has always imagined there was something more.  Most children read about Fillory (Grossman's Narnia) as a child, but Quentin was obsessed with it.  He always knew he was destined for something less mundane than suburbian perfection.  


Why I started the book: Rachelle Gardner mentioned in a post a few months ago that the book caught her eye, and after reading the synopsis, it caught my eye too.
 
Why I finished the book:  Although there were a few things that drew me away from the book, I would have to say the thing that kept me reading was the need to know if Quentin could ever find happiness where he was. 

Writer's Take:  From this I think one can learn a lot about pacing.  Not necessarily good pacing, as I didn't much like it, but some people might.  In my humble opinion Grossman spends far too much time in the first section, or far too little in the second, third, and fourth.  The first doesn't feel long or drawn out, per say, but the first half of the book is Book I and the rest has Books II through IV.  This can leave the reader feeling unbalanced.

In spite of it's flaws, the novel is actually a well thought out exploration of pessimism, happiness, and leaves the reader to interpret the last line.  Is the glass half full, or half empty?  Endings like this can be unsettling, but Grossman does the ending well.  It's not cheesy, or corny, but does send a chill down your spine and leaves you wondering.


Who I'd Recommend this too:  Phule, Rok, Valkyrie, those who enjoy studies of emotion, psychology, those who enjoy character driven Urban Fantasy, and pessimists.
 
Until next time,
Rose 

Back to College Season

Currently Reading: Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate) YAY!

Reader,

Unfortunately, there may be some blog silence for my regular weekly post for a few weeks.  You see, I live in an area that has two different state schools from different states within fifteen to twenty minutes from each other.  They both start in two weeks, and I am in the midst of Back to College (BTC) retail H E double hockey sticks.   Not that I mind, 40 hour weeks is definitely nice on the checking account, and BTC leads to a full, active day of work, but it doesn't leave time for much else in life besides eating, sleeping, and relaxing.  

However, on my days off I will put together the book review for the week, since I'm not planning to stop reading, I just probably won't have time to comment much on the life of a writer at the moment (except to comment about the college students at work, which I'm not sure anyone finds interesting). 

Until next time,
Rose 

Book Talk Friday- The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Currently Reading: The Magicians: A Novel

Reader,

Thanks to everyone clicking on my google adverts.  It takes only seconds and it helps pay for coffee which makes this writer happy.  

Today is the first ever book talk Friday!  Feel free to leave me feedback so I can continue to improve the blog.

The adoration of Jenna Fox
by Mary E. Pearson

Jenna Fox has no memory of the past year.  Jenna Fox has no memory of her past life. She is told her name is Jenna Fox, and she was in an accident a year ago.  Her memories will come with time, she is told.  So why is she a walking encyclopedia of facts not relating to her?

Why I started the book: I had been hearing bits and pieces about the book on and off for a while.  What really caught my attention was this book trailer.  After hearing the last line, I had to read it.

Why I finished the book: The exploration of identity and humanity throughout the novel blew me away.  What makes someone human?  How much can you take away before you aren't human anymore?

Writer's Take: One thing that caught my eye about this book is how little the original mystery matters to the overall story.  At the beginning of the book, the reader should notice that something is most definitely wrong.  An assumption would be that the suspense of solving the mystery would be the heart of the book.  Instead the main mystery is solved at the halfway point, leaving the second half of the book for the emotional consequences of the revelation.  This is a different take on the traditional Mystery/Suspense thriller in which the solution is the last quarter or less of the book.

Who I'd suggest it to: Those of any age who are struggling to figure out who they are in life.  Also those who like philosophy and/or ethical dilemmas would enjoy this book.

Remember, if this book interests you, you can buy it from Amazon to help support the reviewer. 

Until next time,
Rose 

Announcement: New Blog Feature!

Reader,

New Feature! 

Starting Friday I will be adding another feature to the blog- book reviews!  These reviews will be comprised of five parts: why I started reading the book, why I finished the book, what I took out of the book as a writer, a brief introduction to character and plot, and who I'd recommend it to (both specifically and generally). 

Readers familiar with the web comic, Unshelved, will recognize I've adapted their Friday review format.  When I first read their reviews I loved the way that they focused on the reasons they started to read the book, and the reasons they finished it.  As a writer those things are important to take note of.  I also wanted to take a look at specific things a writer might find interesting/useful in the book.

Quick notes on Advertizing:

Amazon: With the addition of the new book reviews feature, I'm hoping some readers will be interested enough in the book to want to buy it.  If a book I review catches your eye and you are thinking of buying it- why not buy it from the link I provide?  I get a small referral fee for an item you were planning on buying anyways.  The same goes for any other Amazon link.  Please note, purchase must be made from link provided for me to earn the referral fee.

Google Ads: If you enjoy the blog, and want to help support it in a quick, easy way, click the small Google advert on the right sidebar.  It takes just a few seconds, and I get a small portion of the advertising fee from Google.

EntreCard: Readers who visit the page regularly might have noticed the addition of a new item to the sidebar- EntreCard.  EntreCard is a free community/service to help advertise your blog/webpage.  It's hard to explain briefly, but basically it allows users to advertise on blogs within the community, and support other community members.  Feel free to check out the advertisement if it catches your eye. 

EntreCard Users:  When dropping your card, why not take an extra second to click the Google ad directly above?  In support of the community I always click one Google Advert with each Drop.


Until next time,
Rose 

Imagination

Currently Reading: The Magicians: A Novel

Reader,
 
Not too many years ago my mom died.  It was not altogether unexpected, however that does not mean that it hurt any less.  I was finishing up my first year of college, and had three (it turned out to be four) more years to go.

Why am I telling you this?  Before her death I let my imagination play.  Whenever there was nothing to do, I would let my mind wander, and it helped me think up lots of crazy little stories.  After her death memories kept popping into my mind.  Happy memories, sad memories, memories filled with regret, whenever I had nothing to do or think about, I would be reduced to tears.

Being reduced to tears every time I let my mind wander wasn't going to work.  I needed to grieve, true, but I also needed to stay in school.  My attendance dropped, and that semester I received two F's.  I tried to keep my mind occupied, to keep it off the painful memories, and although my attendance was shoddy I was averaging C's and B's.  To give you a perspective- my last year in College I was on the President's Honor Roll both semesters.

Now I find my imagination is less active during down time.  Most writes seem to agree on the blessing of everyday tasks, those things that allow your mind to wander where it will while your body does all the work.  My mind, however, had been trained for four years how not to wander.  Now I worry I may not be able to get it to wander again like it once did.

Do you enjoy the blessing of everyday tasks?
Any suggestions on restarting the ball rolling for me?

Until next time,
Rose