Rethinking the Blog
So, the blog posts I like to write are the ones that don't have anything to do with news. They're the posts about random thoughts, the poetry or poll posts, the posts in which I answer FAQs or talk about writing and life. They are NOT the posts in which I say, guys, here's what's happening to my books in the world. And recently I've felt overwhelmed by news in my own posts.... and that's why I've decided to make a link on the left for news, and put all news there. If anything spectacular happens, of course I'll mention it in a blog post (I'll let you know if I win the Nobel Prize in physics, make the Olympic figure skating team, or sprout an extra head, all of which are equally likely), but from now on, any news will be recorded behind my News link, and not here. Make sense? We'll see how it works.This leaves me free to talk about the three most recent books I've read and loved!
So, I'm really terrible at writing book reviews, and I also happen to find it torturous, so instead I'm just going to blather.
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (YA fantasy)
Crown Duel takes place in a medieval fantasy world of relative gender equality! *flops* It's a damn good read and it did the thing I love fantasy novels to do most, which is to help me rethink, and get re-excited about, the book I'm writing. My copy of Crown Duel is now packed with post-it flags and notes to myself about things to think about regarding Bitterblue -- things like how castles and governments work, how to convey emotion, and how to write a beautiful sentence.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork (YA realism)
At the beginning of this book, I wanted one thing for Marcelo, but by the end, what I wanted for him had changed completely -- because Marcelo grew SO MUCH. What a beautiful coming of age story this is, and how I came to love Marcelo. I also felt like he was teaching me how to process my own stuff in my own life; this book was therapeutic for me ^_^. And beautifully written, and gentle, and the title and the cover are also perfect. One of my favorite 2009 books so far, if not my favorite.
Black Stars in a White Night Sky by JonArno Lawson (poetry)
Some of these poems are silly, some are just plain beautiful, and all of them play games with language. Why don't I just share a couple to give you an idea?
Bigger and Better
I'm going to do something bigger and better,
bigger and better
and bolder, but first,
I'm going to do something
smaller and worse.
Are You Worried?
Are you worried you're not
like everyone else?
Your worries will only worsen
when you find
that the path to conformity
is different for each person.
What are you reading these days?
Comments
I'm currently reading three books (I know.. I'm nuts!): Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink (YA Paranormal), Anastasia's Secret by Suzanne Dunlap (YA Historical Fiction), and On the JEllicoe Road (YA realistic fiction). I'm loving the audio of On the Jellicoe Road. Makes me want to take my long trek to work more than usual.
I'm reading Unwind currently (Neal Shustermen)- dark, futuristic, I'm hoping it's going to end well btu fear it's goin gin a direction I may not like...
Fire ;D
Catching Fire - Couldn't put it down
For recent, interesting, shall we say, reads:
Into the Forest - A strange, sometimes disturbing book that at some moments I loved and at others I hated. It left me convinced that I could survive the apocalypse more efficiently - not that I want to find out!
The Forest of Hands and Teeth - This book got great reviews but I never felt attached to any of the characters and I was never convinced that they were attached to each other. It was, interesting, in its own way. It is written well written and I'll look for more from the author but if you're going to read it, don't look at the reviews first.
I think separating your 'thought' blog and your news is a great idea Kristin. It'll probably end up being less stressful too, since you won't have to worry about 'did I mention that this is happening? or 'have I bored folks with business?' etc.
My favorite right now is a March 2010 book (oh, to be in publishing now) called Before I Fall. Weeks later, I'm still mulling and thinking and processing.
I like separating out the news since my favorite blog posts of yours are the non-newsy ones.
Next on my list is to figure out a way to come to the Books of Wonder signing without appearing stalker-ish. It's going to be a madhouse, I'm sure, between you and Suzanne Collins...albeit a fun, enthusiastic madhouse...
See some of you guys soon!
Amy
I am currently reading ArchEnemy by Frank Beddor. It is the third and final installment of The Looking Glass Wars series, which is one of my all time favorite series.
Just finished reading everything Catherine Gilbert Murdock has written except the newest one. All of them were good, but I particularly enjoyed Princess Ben, and highly recommend it.
Now, I'm reading The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Foster. It is funny and sweet and pokes fun at legalism and small thinking. I like it so far. It sounds like I will have to read Marcelo in the Real World soon. From your description, I gather it would do for my book what Crown Duel did for yours.
I love when my favorite authors recommend books. I'm rarely disappointed. Thanks!
I just ordered a copy of Black Stars in a White Night Sky based on your review and those two examples. Thanks so much for posting that! I have already read (and LOVED) Marcello in the Real World. What an amazing book.
Now I've flipped to nonfiction and am laughing hysterically as I speed-read "Don't Try This at Home," which is a series of essays by incredibly famous chefs about their biggest culinary catastrophes. Amazing stuff. Also on the library shelf: "The Little Book," some dog training books, a couple YA titles (Carter Finally Gets It, The Secret Life of Prince Charming) and a lot of books about Gutenberg.
At the moment I'm reading Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's about a slave during the American Revolution, and it's one of my school's "One Book, One School" this year (we actually have three books for that, I think, cause they couldn't decide). I had considered reading it, but I put it off for other, less serious reads (Lament: The Faeirie Queen's Deception), but my history teacher suggested reading it. He thought I was lying when I said I would try it, but he was wrong. :)
I'm currently reading Andromeda Klein by Frank Portman, which is good so far just because Andromeda is such a strange girl.
Next up is Crown Duel. I'll probably be reading it on the plane to Colorado.
- The Immortals series by one of my favorite authors Tamora Pierce
And reading for the first time:
- The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, an interesting mystery
I love both and I highly recommend The Immortals series and everything else by Tamora Pierce.
Someone recommended the Outlander series to me about 3 weeks ago and I've been faithfully reading through them (although most are 700 pages +). I love Jaime and Clare too Weezie_f! My goal is to be finished with all of the Outlander books before October 1st - because that's the day I buy Fire!
Currently I'm rereading the Harry Potter Series because I was denied it as a child, so I'm making up for lost time (I'm halfway through book 5 now) and I started reading The Art of War today. I'll be done with it and have the book report for World Civilizations written by tomorrow.
I recently lent a book called Cap'n Hook by J.V. Hart to a friend and I loved it and she likes it. It's a wonderful story of James' childhood, I recommend it to fans of young peoples literature.
but. the book i wanted to share [worthy of sacrificing my lurker anonymity] is the evolution of calpurnia tate i read it for my children's lit class (we were given current books to review) and this one was pure delight. i wish i had half the wit of the 11-year old narrator who, in 1899, would rather be a scientist than a debutante. hysterical social commentary coupled with childish naivete ensues.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Deep Wizardry (again) by Diane Duane
The Naming
Peeled by Joan Bauer (she is way awesome about coming of age stories)
Maisie Dobbs--some sort of philosophical mystery book...
I'm listening to:
Beka Cooper: Bloodhound!!!!! BY TAMORA PIERCE!!! OMG....
anyways, besides all of my "fan screams for tamora pierce", I'm reading a bunch of fantasy, which is surprising... My fire-bellied toad is getting restless and I'm gonna go to sleep soon..why? because I'm tired. :)
~Andrea
When I first read the Twilight Saga I read each book which are over 700 pages in less than a day. I literally layed on my bed all day reading. ^_^
My copy of Fire has just arrived.
My personal life no longer exists for the next few days.
Homework?
What homework?
"I didn't do my essay on Hamlet because I was reading the best book ever" is a valid excuse, right?
So. Excited. EEEEEEE!
I just finished Catching Fire, which was wonderful. I am sad to have to wait a year for installment number three!
I also ordered Fire, and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.
RobinPS, yeah I love PC Cast's solo books but couldn't get into the House of Night series. I blame her daughter. lol
I recently picked up an anthology entitled "Steampunk" edited by Ann and Jeff Vandermeer. I've yet to really read it, but that won't take long.
weezie_f - I'm currently on Drums of Autumn - but I'm a fast fast reader. I teach and have a 2 year old so I don't get as much time as I used to - but I sure do get to read aloud a lot to him. He picks some terrific books at the library so it all works out!
I can't wait to check out everyone's suggestions - I read some great books because of you Kristin and all the great people here.
Very nice reviews, i hope this book are in ours library's soon. Kisses from Chile. Rebeca Barrios.
Right now I am very happy about the reissues of the Betsy-Tacy high school books. You should definitely read them, Kristin, because so many BT fans love your book!
http://tinyurl.com/yevwh4t
Sue down South
I'm still waiting on Crown Duel from the library.
Also lined up is The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson.
Thanks for the suggestions and hope you're feeling better :)
'Fire' meer hours ago, and already I'm thirsty for more.
Even though I hate the waiting, I know that if a book makes me feel this way, I have found something truly special. Thankyou Kristin!
I would love to read Marcelo, and already had that on my list. I will have to bump it up.
Gonna have to agree w/A Grey on The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I just felt disconnected somehow the whole time. I am not sure what it was. The emotions maybe? I just didnt believe some of what they were feeling (or not feeling, for that matter). But it is still a decent book. Nothing to get excited over even if you like zombies, which I do.
I am currently reading Intertwined by Gena Showalter. It's YA, but she typically writes adult paranormal/romancey books. I've read some of her paranormal romance just for a quick, steamy read and to get a break from the YA. Sometimes ya gotta have a little smaction, ya know? :) haha
But, recent reads that I enjoyed included: The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey (I have the 2nd installment, Sacred Scars, next up in my TBR stack), and most recently finished Catching Fire by the FABULOUS Suzanne Collins and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Loved those last two. I will definitley be checking out more of Maggie's books in the near future.
I'm super excited for Fire!! I just got a big ole gift card for a local bookstore for my bday and I CANT wait to use it!! Plus, over the past few weeks I've accumulated several other new ones (to the point I had to get a new bookshelf). And I am excited that I just got a library membership for the new library by my house! So much reading to be done, so little time!
I recently read The Wolf Hunt by Gillian Bradshaw, and as I've come to expect from her (she's a scholar) the historicity is wonderful. She stays true to the way people of the era actually thought while still respecting their intelligence (as they completely deserve, the medievals were no idiots) and making them completely likeable. The Wolf Hunt has a little fantasy woven in, unlike most of her historical fiction I believe, but I can't say too much about it without giving away spoilers, although some of them are pretty easy to figure out anyway. If you read it, be very very careful to stay away from blurbs or amazon reviews -- for some reason, more so than with any other book I've seen, reviewers felt the need to summarize the entire plot, all the way up to the climax. But anyway. Good book, yes...