Have you ever looked back over an ongoing project and realized that, as you go on, you get less and less precise?
I have.
Now, don't get me wrong I love precision. I demand precision from my students (and myself, when it comes to academia). But, sometimes I start out very precise and then relax as I realize that the parameters of my precision were possibly a bit too tall of an order to fill, even for me.
Blah, blah, blah, you're saying. Get to the point already, you say.
Okay.
My blog is less precise. Instead of exact dates, I'm giving estimates in terms of hours, days, etc. Why? Because I'd like my reading to be recreational this summer, and when I try to keep track of dates and other such specifics it starts to feel a bit too much like a chore.
I hope you are all cool with that, because that's just the way it is.
The second point of this post is to give you all an update on what's coming up in the next several posts. The books I've read that I haven't yet posted about on here:
24. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Stieg Larrson.
25. Save the Cat! Blake Snyder.
26. Zen in the Art of Writing, Ray Bradbury.
27. Confessions of a Freelance Pen Monkey, Chuck Wendig.
Plus, you know, I'm hoping to reach the 30 mark before the month is over so that I can start the Bloglovin' Summer Readathon with a bang!
Monday, June 24, 2013
Book Twenty-Three: FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT
First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones, 2011. This is the first book of the Charley Davidson series, which I intend to catch up on before the summer ends.
TTR: a day and a half.
Comments:
I love Darynda Jones' book for many reasons, among which are the fact that I've met Darynda and chatted with her at a couple of writer's events (we were even on the same panel for new writers at the Jack Williamson Lectureship in 2012). It love to support local authors, in part because it is probably karma of some sort. One day soon I'll be a published author looking for local support *crosses fingers*. But also because--YEAH--people from around here are awesome. They're my people. They should definitely succeed.
The setting is AWESOME. As a New Mexico girl, I am always happy to see New Mexico in books, movies, television, etc.
I also just love supernatural detective stories, and Darynda is great at writing them.
TTR: a day and a half.
Comments:
I love Darynda Jones' book for many reasons, among which are the fact that I've met Darynda and chatted with her at a couple of writer's events (we were even on the same panel for new writers at the Jack Williamson Lectureship in 2012). It love to support local authors, in part because it is probably karma of some sort. One day soon I'll be a published author looking for local support *crosses fingers*. But also because--YEAH--people from around here are awesome. They're my people. They should definitely succeed.
The setting is AWESOME. As a New Mexico girl, I am always happy to see New Mexico in books, movies, television, etc.
I also just love supernatural detective stories, and Darynda is great at writing them.
Book Twenty-Two: OUTLINING YOUR NOVEL: MAP YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS
Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success, by K.M. Weiland, 2011.
TTR: A day and a half.
Comments:
If you're a writer, this is most definitely worth a read. It helped me jumpstart my mystery novel (which I've been struggling with and rethinking for at least the past four years). I am now almost halfway through a fresh draft (and I only had three-thousand words when I read this at the beginning of June) and am looking forward to having a polished draft by the end of the year.
Yep.
TTR: A day and a half.
Comments:
If you're a writer, this is most definitely worth a read. It helped me jumpstart my mystery novel (which I've been struggling with and rethinking for at least the past four years). I am now almost halfway through a fresh draft (and I only had three-thousand words when I read this at the beginning of June) and am looking forward to having a polished draft by the end of the year.
Yep.
Book Twenty-One: KITTY GOES TO WASHINGTON
Kitty Goes to Washington, by Carrie Vaughn, 2007. Book Two of the Kitty Norville series.
(See, I'm not all excuses! Told you I'd read this sometime near the beginning of the summer).
TTR: Uh, a day and a half? Something like that.
Comments:
I read the first Kitty book after listening to Carrie Vaughn speak at the Jack Williamson Lectureship in Portales, NM. She talked about the roots of Urban Fantasy and mentioned the Bronte sisters, which was awesome because I LOVE ME SOME VICTORIAN LITERATURE. And anyone who can reference it on a whim is worth talking to, or reading as the case may be.
I liked this book better than the first Kitty book. I like that the series takes place in different locations, and I like that Kitty is much more self-confident in this book.
Consensus? I'll keep reading the series. I like the premise.
(See, I'm not all excuses! Told you I'd read this sometime near the beginning of the summer).
TTR: Uh, a day and a half? Something like that.
Comments:
I read the first Kitty book after listening to Carrie Vaughn speak at the Jack Williamson Lectureship in Portales, NM. She talked about the roots of Urban Fantasy and mentioned the Bronte sisters, which was awesome because I LOVE ME SOME VICTORIAN LITERATURE. And anyone who can reference it on a whim is worth talking to, or reading as the case may be.
I liked this book better than the first Kitty book. I like that the series takes place in different locations, and I like that Kitty is much more self-confident in this book.
Consensus? I'll keep reading the series. I like the premise.
Book Twenty: FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by Hunter S. Thompson, 1971.
TTR: I started reading this one sleepless night during finals week, and finished it after about a week of off and on reading (once again, I cite burnout for the slow reading time).
Comments:
What to say about Fear and Loathing? What to say? What to say? Ah, yes...
AHHHHHHHHHHHH. *Twitch* *Twitch*
This book was interesting and painful and, perhaps because I read it during some very severe bouts of insomnia, surreal. I felt an odd connection with the drug saturated pair.
What is it about? Eh, the American Dream, the pursuit of...difference, distance.
TTR: I started reading this one sleepless night during finals week, and finished it after about a week of off and on reading (once again, I cite burnout for the slow reading time).
Comments:
What to say about Fear and Loathing? What to say? What to say? Ah, yes...
AHHHHHHHHHHHH. *Twitch* *Twitch*
This book was interesting and painful and, perhaps because I read it during some very severe bouts of insomnia, surreal. I felt an odd connection with the drug saturated pair.
What is it about? Eh, the American Dream, the pursuit of...difference, distance.
Book Nineteen: MOCKING JAY
Mocking Jay, by Suzanne Collins, 2010.
TTR: A day or two.
Comments:
I liked this book, but I also had less than happy feelings about this book. Blerg. It was frustrating (and, as a writer, completely understandable). Katniss is (again, understandably) a very unlikeable character in this book. She's being churned, once more, through the system. She's being asked to make decisions that go against everything she ever knew or thought she believed. She makes decisions that (SPOILERS) I do not think she should make: namely, to reinstate the Hunger Games one last time. BAD KATNISS. Although, I'm also not sure if this "yes" vote on her part is just her plan to assassinate President Coin or what.
Sorry for the garbled response. Garbed feelings equals garbled review...
TTR: A day or two.
Comments:
I liked this book, but I also had less than happy feelings about this book. Blerg. It was frustrating (and, as a writer, completely understandable). Katniss is (again, understandably) a very unlikeable character in this book. She's being churned, once more, through the system. She's being asked to make decisions that go against everything she ever knew or thought she believed. She makes decisions that (SPOILERS) I do not think she should make: namely, to reinstate the Hunger Games one last time. BAD KATNISS. Although, I'm also not sure if this "yes" vote on her part is just her plan to assassinate President Coin or what.
Sorry for the garbled response. Garbed feelings equals garbled review...
Book Eighteen: CATCHING FIRE
Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins, 2009.
TTR:
A few days. I read this during finals week, and although it was great I was pretty burnt out.
Comments:
For some strange reason, this series reminds me greatly of Cormac McCarthy's The Road which (SPOILERS!) is about as pervasively hopeless in terms of world view.
In terms of the series as a whole, I think this was one of my favorite books. Although it feels somewhat abrupt and disorganized at the end, the characters in this book are much more relate-able than the characters in the first. Which is partly because Katniss is forced to move out of the narrow world-view she inhabits in the first book to see the humanity in people she would normally write off as sell outs or evil.
I liked it. *Shrug*
TTR:
A few days. I read this during finals week, and although it was great I was pretty burnt out.
Comments:
For some strange reason, this series reminds me greatly of Cormac McCarthy's The Road which (SPOILERS!) is about as pervasively hopeless in terms of world view.
In terms of the series as a whole, I think this was one of my favorite books. Although it feels somewhat abrupt and disorganized at the end, the characters in this book are much more relate-able than the characters in the first. Which is partly because Katniss is forced to move out of the narrow world-view she inhabits in the first book to see the humanity in people she would normally write off as sell outs or evil.
I liked it. *Shrug*
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Book Seventeen: HARK! A VAGRANT!
Hark! A Vagrant! by Kate Beaton, 2011.
(you can find samples of Beaton's work at her website).
TTR: a day or two.
Comments:
I'm not sure if I should count this book, mostly because it's a collection of comments. But I did read it cover to cover. So there.
Beaton is a genius when it comes to the satire of pop culture, past and present (and by past, I mean 19th Century Romantic Period and onward). I LOVE her comics about the Victorian and Romantic authors. But, I also LOVE her Sexy Batman comics (which you can find here).
Verdict: awesomeness, pure and simple.
(you can find samples of Beaton's work at her website).
TTR: a day or two.
Comments:
I'm not sure if I should count this book, mostly because it's a collection of comments. But I did read it cover to cover. So there.
Beaton is a genius when it comes to the satire of pop culture, past and present (and by past, I mean 19th Century Romantic Period and onward). I LOVE her comics about the Victorian and Romantic authors. But, I also LOVE her Sexy Batman comics (which you can find here).
Verdict: awesomeness, pure and simple.
Book Sixteen: THE CATS OF COPENHAGEN
The Cats of Copenhagen, James Joyce, Ithy Press 2012.
TTR: 10 minutes (more or less)
Comments:
Just when you think Joyce can't confuse you any more, he reaches out beyond the grave and, with a smug, "ha ha ha," tosses a children's book into the world. Or at least that's what it seemed like when, late last year, I stumbled across this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/09/james-joyce-childrens-story-cats-copenhagen.
Honestly, I bought it out of sheer curiosity. What sort of children's book would Joyce write? I also bought it because the illustrations are amazing.
I didn't pull a typical analysis of this book, mostly because I was finishing my thesis. So, my impressions may come from some misunderstanding. It was entertaining, but I felt like there was some theoretical winking going on (you know, like theoretical inside jokes), and I didn't really understand who/what the cats were supposed to be.
But I will reread it eventually and let you know.
TTR: 10 minutes (more or less)
Comments:
Just when you think Joyce can't confuse you any more, he reaches out beyond the grave and, with a smug, "ha ha ha," tosses a children's book into the world. Or at least that's what it seemed like when, late last year, I stumbled across this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/09/james-joyce-childrens-story-cats-copenhagen.
Honestly, I bought it out of sheer curiosity. What sort of children's book would Joyce write? I also bought it because the illustrations are amazing.
I didn't pull a typical analysis of this book, mostly because I was finishing my thesis. So, my impressions may come from some misunderstanding. It was entertaining, but I felt like there was some theoretical winking going on (you know, like theoretical inside jokes), and I didn't really understand who/what the cats were supposed to be.
But I will reread it eventually and let you know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)