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Since we're starting off a new year, I thought I might open up the floor to book suggestions. I'm really looking for a new series to read, though any book is welcome. Typically, I would pick a fiction book over a non-fiction but I will always make an exception for something interesting.
Is there a book that has really captured your attention? Something that you just couldn't put down? Maybe an old favorite you wish people read more often...Let me know and maybe I'll check it out.
K
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
New Year, New Lists
Okay, I am starting this year with a brand new reading list. I will start with all the books I am currently reading and then add ones I actually intend to read. Not like last year where I listed things for the fun of it.
The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook (11/14/10) - Started 11/15/10
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
I just need to clear these out of the queue and then I can start adding new and exciting books.
The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook (11/14/10) - Started 11/15/10
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
I just need to clear these out of the queue and then I can start adding new and exciting books.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Like Me by Chely Wright
I just started reading Chely Wright's Autobiography, Like Me. My sister passed it on to me, after she had read through it, with a very high recommendation. Having put off reading other suggestions from my sister, like Chaz Bono's Bio, I felt I should attempt this one. So far it's been a very quick read but quite compelling as well.
Chely Wright was one of my favorite Country Music artist's back in the day. I used to sing along to "Single White Female" and her rendition of "Jezebel" to the top of my lungs while driving to and from classes or work. When I took my sister to see her country music fav, Terri Clark, Chely Wright was one of the opening acts. She put on a show with so much heart, I couldn't help but be impressed. Granted we were at the local Army Base for their summer concert series for the troops, so all the artists were giving their very best. In her book, Wright talks about how important it is for her to go and perform for the military personnel in combat locations as well as at those back at home.
Her discussion of the Country Music Industry is eye-opening and, so far, I feel like she adheres to the school of thought that if you can't say something nice about someone it's best to not say anything at all. She talks about the bad behaviors of some music executives and artists at promotional parties but she never names names or goes into specific detail. She does, however, talk very warmly about her friendship with Vince Gill and Amy Grant as well as other country music stars. Chely talks about her relationship with Brad Paisley and her own regrets in regards to her behavior towards him. The respect she still has for Paisley is very obvious and it is very reassuring to know that the persona most of these stars present to the public isn't that far off from who they really are. I will just say right now that SheDaisy and Rascal Flatts gained a lot of respect from me after reading a few chapters in Chely Wright's book.
She also talks very openly about her journey to become a Country Music Star and her internal struggle with being a Lesbian in a very conservative atmosphere. She talks about knowing she was different from a very young age and how that conflicted with the message she was getting at church and from the small town community in which she grew up. There are times when I want to weep for the things this woman has had to endure. The title of the book really covers a lot of ground. Like me, for those that are like her and struggling with different identities in a complex world. Like me, for those that have felt they weren't good enough and just needed someone to bolster their self-confidence.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who may be or ever has struggled with coming out. I would also recommend this book to anyone dealing with their own issues about a relative coming out. And last, but not least, any Chely Wright or Country Music fan who would like an insider view.
Chely Wright was one of my favorite Country Music artist's back in the day. I used to sing along to "Single White Female" and her rendition of "Jezebel" to the top of my lungs while driving to and from classes or work. When I took my sister to see her country music fav, Terri Clark, Chely Wright was one of the opening acts. She put on a show with so much heart, I couldn't help but be impressed. Granted we were at the local Army Base for their summer concert series for the troops, so all the artists were giving their very best. In her book, Wright talks about how important it is for her to go and perform for the military personnel in combat locations as well as at those back at home.
Her discussion of the Country Music Industry is eye-opening and, so far, I feel like she adheres to the school of thought that if you can't say something nice about someone it's best to not say anything at all. She talks about the bad behaviors of some music executives and artists at promotional parties but she never names names or goes into specific detail. She does, however, talk very warmly about her friendship with Vince Gill and Amy Grant as well as other country music stars. Chely talks about her relationship with Brad Paisley and her own regrets in regards to her behavior towards him. The respect she still has for Paisley is very obvious and it is very reassuring to know that the persona most of these stars present to the public isn't that far off from who they really are. I will just say right now that SheDaisy and Rascal Flatts gained a lot of respect from me after reading a few chapters in Chely Wright's book.
She also talks very openly about her journey to become a Country Music Star and her internal struggle with being a Lesbian in a very conservative atmosphere. She talks about knowing she was different from a very young age and how that conflicted with the message she was getting at church and from the small town community in which she grew up. There are times when I want to weep for the things this woman has had to endure. The title of the book really covers a lot of ground. Like me, for those that are like her and struggling with different identities in a complex world. Like me, for those that have felt they weren't good enough and just needed someone to bolster their self-confidence.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who may be or ever has struggled with coming out. I would also recommend this book to anyone dealing with their own issues about a relative coming out. And last, but not least, any Chely Wright or Country Music fan who would like an insider view.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Mary Poppins by Dr. P.L. Travers
I recently picked up a copy of the original Mary Poppins by Dr. P.L Travers (Illustrations by Mary Shepard) at Book Thing in Baltimore, MD. It's a favorite movie of my sister's, has been since she was little, and I figured I would check out the book that inspired it. So far, the movie is pretty faithful to the original story. However, in addition to Jane and Michael there are a set of twins that never made it into the film. (They are babies in a pram for most of the book, so I understand why they were left out entirely.) Also, as of yet, they do not mention the Mom being a Suffragette, though Mary Poppins plays on Mrs. Banks' desire to be modern and fashionable. The chalk adventure is only with Mary Poppins and Bert, a.k.a. the Matchman, on her day off. Bert usually takes Mary out for Tea on her days off, but on this particular day he had not made enough money to do so.
It is, however, at his suggestion that he and Mary pop into the chalk picture and they do end the day by riding Carousel Horses across the country side. Mary Poppins still slides up the banister when the children first meet her. She still has a very large Carpet Bag that's bigger on the inside. And she still spoons out different flavored medicine from the same bottle, though the babies get plain Milk out of it. Some of the lines in the movie are directly out of the dialogue in the book as well.
So far, I am only a few chapters in, but the style is very simple. Each chapter is like its own little short story and would make for excellent bedtime reading with a little one.
It is, however, at his suggestion that he and Mary pop into the chalk picture and they do end the day by riding Carousel Horses across the country side. Mary Poppins still slides up the banister when the children first meet her. She still has a very large Carpet Bag that's bigger on the inside. And she still spoons out different flavored medicine from the same bottle, though the babies get plain Milk out of it. Some of the lines in the movie are directly out of the dialogue in the book as well.
So far, I am only a few chapters in, but the style is very simple. Each chapter is like its own little short story and would make for excellent bedtime reading with a little one.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December Reading List 2010
The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook (11/14/10) - Started 11/15/10
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
National Novel Writing Month - November 30, 2010
Another NaNoWriMo is coming to a close and I have, yet again, failed to complete the 50,000 word goal set by the contest. I haven't really lost anything, just the bragging rights, and I got a few great ideas to develop into something. Of course, who knows when that will be.
Clearly the problem with me writing is the lack of discipline. Though, I do work two jobs which makes dedicating time to write a little difficult. I don't want to stay up late to meet word deadlines only to feel exhausted at my paying jobs the next day. Yet somehow, J.K. Rowling was able to do that and raise her kids so I should really stop finding excuses.
Hope everyone out there had a better turn-out than I did!
Clearly the problem with me writing is the lack of discipline. Though, I do work two jobs which makes dedicating time to write a little difficult. I don't want to stay up late to meet word deadlines only to feel exhausted at my paying jobs the next day. Yet somehow, J.K. Rowling was able to do that and raise her kids so I should really stop finding excuses.
Hope everyone out there had a better turn-out than I did!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Writer's Tale by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook
Also, please see the following quote I discovered in Russell T. Davies book, The Writer's Tale, on Page 42 of the paperback edition:
"That's the thing about writing. It's all doubt. Doubts about plot, story, character, etc, let in every other doubt, the real doubts, about yourself, your very self."
I could not identify with this more than I do right now. Sitting down and trying to push through National Novel Writing Month but running into the walls of my own self doubt. I get caught up in whether or not this is a good story, are the characters interesting, can I possibly do this at all. I think I've even resigned myself, more than once, to the idea that maybe I am not a writer at all. Of course, it is this self doubt that is keeping me from continuing. In this part of Davies' book, he is talking about embracing everything in order to write. How the mundane things about his day to day existence make their way into his writing. That there is this soup of creativity in his head with ingredients from science fiction as well as reminders to call mom on her birthday. It's your life experiences that make you who you are and help to make your characters richer and more believable.
What I am liking most about this part of the book is that we see the sheer panic he's feeling as he approaches his deadlines. It's nice to know that famous writers go through the same highs and lows that the yet unpublished wannabes authors experience in the same process. It definitely gives one the feeling that anyone with a desire to sit down and create could do what Davies' is doing. It's just sticking with it and pushing through those self doubts. Feeling one's fears and doing it anway.
"That's the thing about writing. It's all doubt. Doubts about plot, story, character, etc, let in every other doubt, the real doubts, about yourself, your very self."
I could not identify with this more than I do right now. Sitting down and trying to push through National Novel Writing Month but running into the walls of my own self doubt. I get caught up in whether or not this is a good story, are the characters interesting, can I possibly do this at all. I think I've even resigned myself, more than once, to the idea that maybe I am not a writer at all. Of course, it is this self doubt that is keeping me from continuing. In this part of Davies' book, he is talking about embracing everything in order to write. How the mundane things about his day to day existence make their way into his writing. That there is this soup of creativity in his head with ingredients from science fiction as well as reminders to call mom on her birthday. It's your life experiences that make you who you are and help to make your characters richer and more believable.
What I am liking most about this part of the book is that we see the sheer panic he's feeling as he approaches his deadlines. It's nice to know that famous writers go through the same highs and lows that the yet unpublished wannabes authors experience in the same process. It definitely gives one the feeling that anyone with a desire to sit down and create could do what Davies' is doing. It's just sticking with it and pushing through those self doubts. Feeling one's fears and doing it anway.
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Writer's Tale by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook
I am currently reading The Writer's Tale by Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook. I just received it yesterday in the mail and, after struggling through an eight-hour shift at my part-time job, I was able to dive in last night. It was much larger than I expected and the format was not accurately described in the Amazon description. I assumed it was going to be a memoir about the last full season and subsequent TV specials; written in prose and telling a story from start to finish. It's actually an epistolary novel that covers the entire final season. I'm already about sixty pages into the book and loving it. Have you ever wished you could read the e-mails exchanges of this writer or that artist? Somehow get inside their head and understand the genius that lives there?
Started with the intent of writing an article about the writing process that takes place for a hit television show, I can understand how it quickly became the textbook size tome that it is. It appears to be an unedited dialogue between Head Writer for Doctor Who, Russel T. Davies, and Benjamin Cook. Written through e-mails Davies is explaining his writing process as he is crafting Series 4, David Tennant's last full season, of Doctor Who for the BBC. Davies is also constructing series 2 of Torchwood and The Adventures of Sarah-Jane (Both Spin-offs of Doctor Who) at the same time, so there is a bit of a bleed-through on his thoughts and ideas.
What has struck me the most, at the very beginning of this book, is the honesty with which Davies writes. His e-mails to Benjamin Cook are full of a self-doubt one would not expect from a successful television show writer. (Davies has created several shows in addition to resurrecting Doctor Who.) He talks about his procrastination problems and looming deadlines for the shows. Mistakes he's made in his life have served as inspiration for his art. And we even see him repeating story formulas from the previous seasons as a means to get over writer's block. Knowing how the fourth season turned out, I am anxious to see how he came to those decisions from his original ideas. (For those Doctor Who Fans out there: apparently Donna's character was not intended to return for an entire season, merely a one off story or role in the finale.) I'll keep you posted on the developments or interesting quotes I may come across.
Started with the intent of writing an article about the writing process that takes place for a hit television show, I can understand how it quickly became the textbook size tome that it is. It appears to be an unedited dialogue between Head Writer for Doctor Who, Russel T. Davies, and Benjamin Cook. Written through e-mails Davies is explaining his writing process as he is crafting Series 4, David Tennant's last full season, of Doctor Who for the BBC. Davies is also constructing series 2 of Torchwood and The Adventures of Sarah-Jane (Both Spin-offs of Doctor Who) at the same time, so there is a bit of a bleed-through on his thoughts and ideas.
What has struck me the most, at the very beginning of this book, is the honesty with which Davies writes. His e-mails to Benjamin Cook are full of a self-doubt one would not expect from a successful television show writer. (Davies has created several shows in addition to resurrecting Doctor Who.) He talks about his procrastination problems and looming deadlines for the shows. Mistakes he's made in his life have served as inspiration for his art. And we even see him repeating story formulas from the previous seasons as a means to get over writer's block. Knowing how the fourth season turned out, I am anxious to see how he came to those decisions from his original ideas. (For those Doctor Who Fans out there: apparently Donna's character was not intended to return for an entire season, merely a one off story or role in the finale.) I'll keep you posted on the developments or interesting quotes I may come across.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
National Novel Writing Month - November 2, 2010
We are only on the second day of NaNo and I am already behind. My total word count for yesterday: 326. The saddest part is when I went to verify the word count on the official NaNo site. They keep track of writing streaks and failure streaks, so I am already showing a failure streak of 1 day and I'll need to write 1710 words a day for the rest of the 29 days to make up for not meeting my 1666 word count for the first day.
On one hand, it's a very handy calculator that helps me adjust my goals. On the other it's kind of depressing to see how far behind I've already gotten. The problem is that I already hate where my characters are and I don't want to start all over again, though that is probably the best course of action. Let me know if you have any helpful hints.
On one hand, it's a very handy calculator that helps me adjust my goals. On the other it's kind of depressing to see how far behind I've already gotten. The problem is that I already hate where my characters are and I don't want to start all over again, though that is probably the best course of action. Let me know if you have any helpful hints.
Monday, November 1, 2010
November Reading List 2010
Changeless by Gail Carriger (10/16/10) - Started 10/24/10
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (6/01/10) -Started
The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (05/01/10) - Started
The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (07/01/10)
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (08/01/10) - Started 10/25/10
Lamb by Christopher Moore (11/01/10)
Harry Potter Series Re-Read (9/01/10)
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