Readin' up a Storm

Thanks to having 3 or 4 day weekends every week (a girl could get used to that…), I was able to read an insane amount this month. I actually still have 2 books going right now, but I didn't want to rush to finish them and tack onto this post. I'd like to give them thorough reviews, and something tells me this is enough to post right now.


Making Waves by Cassandra King. A re-read. I've been drawn to books that are told from the viewpoints of multiple characters, to study how the "same" story can be told by different voices. I've tried to do this in my own fiction, and worry that it doesn't play out right. Making Waves was a great study because each character was vastly different, which meant not only was each voice unique, but also they had their own spin to put on the story.

How to be Popular by Meg Cabot. A young adult novel, clearly. I wanted a quick read, and I kind of expected it to be a bit fluffy, like the Princess Diaries books got over time. Instead, this book was really enjoyable, if not predictable (but aren't most contemporary YA?). There were actually lessons that I learned right along with Steph. It almost made me wish I could go back and give high school another whirl. Almost.

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman. Read on the nook. The emotion was a little lacking in this book, which made me have to stare at the cover just now to remember what it was actually about. (It's an abduction novel, you'd think that would stick with me and haunt me as much as the others did…) The kidnapper is finally being put to death, and the story is told in flashbacks to Eliza's abduction as a teen. There is the initial suspense when she actually encounters the guy (in flashback) and you as a reader know what's going to happen, but overall it was pretty passive. I was always aware I was reading; I never felt like I had been abducted along with her (which can be both good and bad, I suppose…). I'm still torn on flashbacks: we learn in writing workshops to avoid them like the plague, but sometimes they can be well-done. In this case, they were definitely necessary, but I didn't like them much. I can't really think of a way the experience could have been seamlessly entered into the book otherwise.

The Book of One Hundred Truths by Julie Schumacher. A young adult novel. It was easy to slip into Thea's world, but again, this book was a little lacking in emotion. It was a quick read, and so I got swept away by it. The build up was intriguing, but the resolution was a let-down. The ending could have been so much bigger, but it left me deflated.

If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney. A young adult book. Cooney was one of my favorite authors as a kid, because her books were dark and suspenseful. This one definitely delivered. It was told from multiple points of view, which was necessary, but the way it was done made me aware I was reading. I wish each character had gotten a chapter dedicated to them, instead of smaller sections where you had to read and figure out who was who. As a result, the two sisters (Smithy and Madison) kind of run together in my mind. Jack was definitely the stand-out, but I understand how this story needed multiple viewpoints. The premise itself was really interesting and believable. The best part of the book was the suspenseful build up, while the resolution was "Well, yeah, what else could have happened?"

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens. Read on the nook. Another abduction novel. It's told like we're either Annie's therapist, or in the room during the session. I loved this set up for the novel. This way, Annie went over what happened leading up to the abduction, the kidnapping itself, being held against her will for a year, and her difficulties trying to assimilate back to real life. Nothing is linear - some sessions deal with her adjusting, some focus on her trying to figure out why she was kidnapped and who the man was. We're right along with her as new developments come up in her case, and the resolution is the case's closing. Very well-written and suspenseful. It sucked me in, and I found myself thinking about it whenever I wasn't reading it. I'm still thinking about it, really. Definitely one I'll re-read each year.

The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks. This is the story of a school bus crash in a small town. It's also told from multiple points of view, including the bus driver, the father of a dead child, one of the injured children, and an ambulance-chasing lawyer. Obviously this meant each character had an entirely different spin to put on the story. I really enjoyed this book because it was an interesting concept and was well-written, but my favorite part was the emotional factor. There wasn't really one. I know I complained about that in a few books above, but here, it was imperative. How easy would it be to get swept up in the tragedy of losing so many school-aged children? The book could have been a big sob-fest, forcing sentimental mush on the reader. While the tragedy isn't glossed over, Banks gently turns our focus to how the town is coping.

Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick. Read on the nook. A young adult novel. I'd heard a lot about Strasnick's books, so I bought both of them and decided to read this one (her second) first. I'm glad I did, otherwise I would have been left with a low opinion of the author. The book has potential to be interesting, but it's not. It's not even typical high school drama - Alex, the new girl, allows herself to be emotionally manipulated by twins Fred and Adina. I'd buy that if it were her character, but Alex has no problem standing up to the popular kids in school. Each time she forgave the twins, I'd groan and dread turning another page, because she'd just get used by them again. This is the only book I can remember where I didn't like any of the characters. It ended with no real resolution.

Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick. Read on the nook. A young adult novel. This was Strasnick's first book, and it was much better than her second effort. Holly is sleeping with Paul, a guy in her high school who already has a girlfriend. She really likes Paul, even though they have to keep their relationship secret. Then she gets to know his girlfriend, and they become close. Well, of course everything has to blow up in Holly's face, including her relationship with her childhood best friend Nils. It's very engaging and well-written, and the ending is realistic, not wrapped up in a nice, hard-to-swallow package.

The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger. Read on the nook. A young adult book. This novel was easy to read and get sucked into. All of the characters were realistic, and made me think of my own high school friends and classmates. The ending was, of course, a little sappy and predictable, but the majority of the story is strong enough to stand up despite the wimpy resolution.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. The premise of this book reminded me a lot of Summer Sisters - two girls become friends as preteens, and stay in each others' lives for decades. The similarities end there. I thought the book might be fluffy, but it's not. There's no glossing over important moments, or lives apart, like there is in Summer Sisters. We live life alongside Tully and Kate, but it's never too much information. We just don't miss out on years of their lives. The ending, while fairly predictable, is still well-written and touching without being sentimental.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. A young adult book. Maybe younger than young adult. The story was slow starting, but eventually picked up. It's worth trucking through to the end, but it was hard to not just discard it, even at the halfway point. It didn't seem very realistic, but at the end it's a nice feel-good, environmentally-friendly, stand-up-for-what-you-believe book for kids.

Alice in Charge by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. I've always loved the Alice series! Now Alice is a senior in high school, and she's tackling serious issues. Well, I guess she always has, but it used to seem more fun. In this book, I could really feel the stress of college visits and applications, not to mention the racist group terrorizing her high school. It was still well done for me to feel all of that, but I kind of miss Alice worrying about french-kissing Patrick the summer before 8th grade.... ahh well, you can't go back! (Except it's a book, so... you can.)

Born to Rock by Gordon Korman. A young adult book. Very funny, in a dry way. A kid loses his scholarship to Harvard, but finds out that his father is the frontman of the biggest American punk band. He meets his father and goes on tour with the band, and learns about himself and family. Feel good book, but with humor. Warning: it will make you want to go on tour with a band.

Maybe just half a drink more

I don't like Christmas music. I don't think I've enjoyed Christmas music, with the massively huge exception of Trans Siberian Orchestra, since Hanson's album of seasonal delights was released in 7th grade.

I try to like Christmas music, since radio stations and stores start playing it the day after Halloween. I even try to download trendy albums, like Hey, It's Christmas! to help me become a normal person. But it still doesn't work. Because of songs like this:

Baby It's Cold Outside by Tinsley
I actually liked that song after seeing Elf. So I thought this track would be a contemporary spin on a classic song.

No. NO NO NO! I was dead wrong. It is the creepiest thing I have ever heard! I've never actually listened to and thought about the lyrics before, but the strange techno feel to this version forced me to, and as a result, this song actually gave me scared-outta-my-mind goosebumps. I can't help but shudder when the robotic man's voice whispers in my ear.

Maybe I've been reading too much abduction fiction lately (like this, this, and this), but all I can picture when I listen to this song (oh, and I still listen. I'm a fan of being creeped out) is an older man luring a girl to stay at his house and drink the roofie drink he's prepared for her, even though she's certain her family is worried. The same family that will soon have to find the most recent picture of her, make posters, take out ads, and appear on TV newscasts begging to have their daughter safely returned to them.

Listen to it. If it doesn't creep you out, put on headphones and try again.

Personal Stylist

I go back and forth on "fashion." I work in an office - shouldn't I wear slacks and button-down shirts? But then again, I work in a relaxed office and I don't have to deal with customers, so shouldn't I milk wearing jeans and a t-shirt (with no words or pictures - I am slightly mature except on casual Fridays) as long as I can? Wouldn't most people kill to wear whatever they want to work? And I already have that stuff in my closet, whereas a business-y wardrobe would be expensive and, let's face it, uncomfortable.

Aha - but I wear skirts! Skirts are dressy-ish and grown up, right? As soon as the weather is warm enough, that's all you can find me in! Wearing skirts so much makes it harder and harder to put on pants - aka leg prisons. So this fall, I decided to invest in some tights.

Target has an awesome selection of colorful tights and leggings for $5 a pop. I stocked up, but after getting a run in a fun pair of argyle tights (which were not a mere $5), I knew I needed help to make these tights last more than 3 minutes. There's nothing more frustrating than working so hard to carefully stretch tights over your toes and shimmy into them, getting them untwisted and ungirdle-y, and then spotting a run that goes wild before you can attack it with nail polish.

[[Thankfully, Target's tights seem thicker than most, with a bit more spandex. They're also the only ones I've ever found where the heights listed on the package are legit - they're actually long enough for me. Most marked "Tall" claim they fit 5'11" and up, but the crotch stays between my knees no matter how much I tug. Plus, you have to love the bright colors. I've always hated the ideas of sleek pantyhose that seem to say "Ooh, look at my sexy, shiny, smooth, fake-tan legs!" Instead, my tights scream "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LOOK AWAY BECAUSE I AM SO BRIGHT, I AM BURNING YOUR RETINAS!" which is the statement I would prefer to make.]]

I searched for ways to keep tights from running, hoping I could prevent them before they started. One site recommended putting them in the freezer before your first wear. I did that for a day or two or three or until I remembered to get them out. I also spray them with hairspray after pulling them on. So far, so good! No runs in this brand. (I still carry around clear nail polish, just in case.)

The tip that sticks with me, however, was so powerful that I took a screenshot


I adopted Michael as my personal stylist, and may or may not have
internal conversations with him as I get dressed, or purchase clothing online.

I think he is also the author of this wisdom:

And now when I talk to him, that is who I picture. I am on the other end of that phone.



It is a phone, right? Or a box of cereal.

Still wanna be a rock star.

It's no secret that I love pens and notebooks. I'm sure most writers do, even if they exclusively use computers. There's just something inspiring about a cool blank book and a nice pen to mark up the pages.

It's also no secret that I kind of still want to be a rock star - a dream I should have given up years ago, when I was a preteen who could only teach herself "Louie, Louie" on the guitar (which meant I could also play "Wild Thing" by changing the tempo). I was too scared to ask my parents for a drum set (the only instrument I figured I could be good at, since I can't carry a tune), and I had hated piano lessons as a kid. Alas, drums were noisy, and we were a quiet house. There's also the fear of failure, but I digress.

Enter:

Rock out while I write! The best of both worlds.

I think it goes nicely with my rockin' notebook.


I don't exactly understand what it means by saying I should collect "everyone,"
since the pens aren't named...

But that will be solved quickly, since I name everything I own.


And while I think my pen is pretty cool... THIS is, hands down,
the coolest thing I have EVER seen.

Take a look, it's in a book

The other night, I went to an event at the library called "Good Books to Give to Others and Yourself," presented by the "rock star" of the library world, Nancy Pearl (how cute is the octopus logo on her site?).

(I didn't have my camera, but this action figure of her is pretty accurate.)
Her visit was written up in the paper as a chance to learn about great books that aren't best sellers. The library staff had all-day training from her to help patrons find books that aren't well known, but would be well loved by them.

The event was actually more like talking to your friend about good books. If your friend dominates the conversation.

We were given a list of twenty-two books and a ticket for a door prize, and then we sat and listened to Nancy Pearl summarize these books, and then we won books. Well, some of us won books. I won books. Three lovely hardbacks… about sports. Well, I hope my dad likes them!

I took notes on some of the books that sound interesting, and put stars next to the ones I definitely want to read. There are eight I have to get, and seven more that I might check out. I thought that I might make it a goal for next year to read twelve books from this list, instead of just daring myself to read 100 in a year or something. Because each book on this list is very different from the others, and many are different from what I usually read. I thought it'd be a nice challenge to have "required reading" for next year.

Nancy said something that stuck with me. Well, she said a lot. But she talked about how she was a "promiscuous reader" - she reads anything and everything, without caring about genre, title, author, length… I smiled when I heard that, thinking I was too. But I'm not. I don't read sci-fi or fantasy because I'm just not into it. I can only read nonfiction if it's about serial killers or creatively written to the point it can hold my attention. I have a very small window of what I like to read, and though I read a lot, it's all typically within that genre.

So in addition to my "required reading" goal, I'm going to try and read more widely. I read to learn, to an extent, but mostly I read because it's fun. Who cares if this book is set on another planet, or this one features wizards? It doesn't have to be real, it just has to amuse me.

I highly recommend going to see Nancy Pearl if you ever get the chance. She's interesting and well-spoken, and, though I might be a biased library event nerd, anyone who tears up when talking about the library is all good in my book.