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Breaking It Down: Reviewing Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People who Love Books and Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose

I don’t know about anyone else but I didn’t have very good creative writing classes in my school career. I did competitive writing in grade school in a competition called Power of the Pen, which is a regional thing in America. I didn’t have anything available to me in high school and the classes I took in college were tedious. This hasn’t squashed my passion for creative writing but it has dampened my confidence in being able to execute my ideas on a technical level. I was browsing around the bookstore when Prose’s book caught my eye. Normally, I don’t gravitate towards non-fiction but I was certainly interested in this. I am happy to say that it was the right choice to take home.

Francine Prose, a prolific author with a fitting name, takes a realistic and informative look at the art of fiction writing. Like most authors, she learned from reading other famed authors and studying their techniques. Starting with a chapter just focusing on words and building up to the full story, Prose teaches you how she and other authors craft their stories in ways that are succinct and impactful while still being unique. She also reflects on her time as a teacher and how she found her way in the literary world. With an honest and friendly voice, Prose provides a helpful and detailed way to improve your writing and reading skills.

The first thing I enjoyed about this book is that it doesn’t feel like its too technical or condescending. I’ve taken literary theory classes and those made my head ache. Prose, however, provides an honest look at how to better improve writing and reading skills. As fun as fiction is, it is still a pain to master and Prose understands that completely. This book is a great learning tool for writers and readers alike. It dissects famous short stories in a way that shows why they are so effective. This has already taught me more than I have learned in actual classes.

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Mostly Void; Partially Stars: Reviewing Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor

For a little while, I have enjoyed the world of podcasts. I mostly enjoy listening to them when I go to bed. This particular podcast, Welcome to Night Vale, which started back in 2012 has opened up a world of weirdness, eloquence, and profoundness. Though it is not for everyone, the podcast has gained a huge fan based thanks to its story lines, voice talent, and truly bizarre atmosphere. Recently, the creators of Welcome to Night Vale have been taking on the literary world in order to expand upon the strange world that they have created.

Night Vale is like any other town, if you don’t count the glow cloud with mind control powers, five-headed dragons, and an mysterious government organization that are all normal parts of daily life in this sleepy desert town. Cecil Baldwin, the local radio host, helps to keep the town informed about the new batches of aliens or ghosts that crop up on occasion. Jackie Fierro, the owner of the local pawnshop who has never aged past nineteen, receives an odd message from a man in a tan jacket that just reads KING CITY. Meanwhile, Diane Crayton, whose son is a moody fifteen-year-old shape shifter, has been seeing her son’s father wherever she goes. Jackie’s search for King City and Diane’s investigation into her son’s estranged father brings them together in ways that will change their lives forever as questions they didn’t ask are answered as well.

Anyone who is already a fan of the podcast is sure to enjoy this novel adaptation. Fink and Cranor keep true to the creepy and profound world that they have created. With Cecil’s familiar monologues that pop up between chapters, Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel delves deep into the lives of familiar and unfamiliar residents of the town. Unafraid to embrace the strange, this novel is a perfect addition to the podcast that many have come to know, fear, and love.

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On Confidence, Perseverance, and Acceptance

I’m going to start this out with a confession. As of today, I am now a licensed driver. While I am relieved to have finally gotten past that obstacle, I am still a little reluctant to admit that I didn’t get my license until I was twenty-one. The reason for this delay was that damned monster known as anxiety. Sitting behind the wheel of a car sent me into panic attacks and I bust out into tears on more than one occasion in order to avoid driving. Anxiety, in general, has had a deep impact on my life since I was in high school. Looking back on it now, there were a lot of things I wish I had known then. What is important, however, is that I can finally keep moving forward into my twenties with a new sense of confidence.

I decided I will share some of my favorite (literary) quotes about learning to keep moving forward and accepting yourself even when you don’t feel you are at your best.

“I wasn’t born to be soft and quiet. I was born to make the world shatter and shake at my fingertips.” – Unknown

“She was never quite ready. But she was brave. And the universe listens to brave.” – Rebecca Ray

“Still, like air, I rise.” – Dr. Maya Angelou

“The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason you held on for so long.” – Unknown

“The courage it took to get out of bed each morning to face the same things over and over was enormous.” – Charles Bukowski

“Time heals nothing unless you move along with it.” – Rachel Wokhin

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keep leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” – Jane Austen

“Nobody important? Blimey, do you know that in nine hundred years of time and space I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important before?” – The Eleventh Doctor

“I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable. I am an original.” – Aaron Burr from Hamilton: An American Musical

 

 

 

 

 

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The Hamilton Book Tag/Challenge

I decided to try something new because I fell down a black hole of these tags/challenges or whatever you want to call them. I found this one and was immediately inspired because this is probably my all-time favorite musical. I can’t take credit for this so I will tag the blog I discovered it on. Check her out. She’s pretty cool. @thebookishlounge

1. The Room Where It Happens: A book world you would put yourself in.

I’m going to have to be obvious and say Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. I already have enough wands. I think I’ll be prepared.

2. The Schulyer Sisters: Underrated Female Characters

Tally Youngblood from The Uglies by Scott Westerfield

3. My Shot: A character that goes after what they want and doesn’t let anyone stop them

Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

4. Stay Alive: A character you wish was still alive

Spoiler Alert: Hedwig, Harry Potter’s beloved owl. RIP

5. Burn: The most heartbreaking end to a relationship you’ve read

Spoiler: Hazel and Augustus from The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

6. You’ll Be Back: The sassiest villain

Iago from Othello by William Shakespeare

7. The Reynolds Pamphlet: A book with a twist you didn’t see coming

This may sound silly but when I first read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, I had no idea what was going to happen to Lenny at the end.

8. Non-Stop: A series you marathoned

The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

9. Satisfied: Favorite book with multiple POVs

Its a tie between The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, The Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin, and Dracula by Bram Stoker

10. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: A book series you feel will be remembered throughout history

Obviously, Harry Potter. I predict it will become required reading in schools in the future.

11. Helpless: A relationship you were pulling for from the very start

Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

12. The Ten Duel Commandments: Favorite fight scene

Percy Jackson and co. vs Gaea

13. Say No to This: Guilty pleasure read

The Divergent series by Veronica Roth

14. What Comes Next?: A series you wish had more books

The Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs

15. Right Hand Man: Favorite BroTP

Again, I’m going to have to be obvious and say Holmes and Watson.

16. What’d I Miss?: A book/series I was late too read

Any Stephen King book, really

And that’s the end of the tag. I hope you enjoyed it and want to participate in it with me. Feel free to send me tags because they’re a great way to kill time while I try to catch up on my reading. Again, I will leave a link to the blog I found this from. thebookishlounge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Houston, I Have Many Problems: Reviewing The Martian by Andy Weir

Andy Weir basically lived a Cinderella story for writers. His self-published book was noticed by Hollywood and turned into Oscar-nominated movie by the legendary director, Ridley Scott. His debut novel started out as curiosity that snowballed into a best-selling book. It stands on its own for its simple premise and new take on a survival story. I also may have mentioned the movie in my article about movie adaptations and, in case I didn’t mention it, I definitely recommend the movie as well.

It began with a freak dust storm on the surface of Mars. Mark Watney was lost in the dust and his crew had no choice but to leave him behind, thinking he was dead. When Watney awakes and is still very alive, he must do whatever he can to survive on the infamous red planet until the people of Earth realizes that he is still alive. With his engineering expertise, botany knowledge, and a quick sense of humor, Watney records his epic struggle to stay alive as the only human on Mars.

I’ve never been a science fanatic so I was a little wary when I first started reading this novel but I soon realized that this math and science was not out of my reach. Weir uses Watney’s sarcastic and knowledgable voice to explain how he utilizes his resources to endure the surface of Mars in a way that anyone can understand. It’s a funny and exhilarating narrative that takes the classic survival story to the next level. Though it is not necessarily a science fiction novel, The Martian is still a suspenseful journey nonetheless that will have you turning the pages to desperately find out Watney’s fate.

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Just a Little Strange: Reviewing Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

As the years have passed, I have found myself staying away from YA literature. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but it’s easy to get lost in the endless series. I’ve been reading more standalone books lately but I still have my exceptions. I will be reviewing one of my particularly favorite exceptions. Note: there is a movie adaptation that came out in 2016 but I knew from the trailer that it had been changed too much to my liking.

Jacob Portman was just your average sixteen-year-old boy who loved listening to his grandpa’s stories. When tragedy strikes, Jacob knows he must journey to Wales in order to find the truth behind his grandfather’s life. While he searches through the former sight of the mysterious school he learned about, Jacob realizes that these peculiar children were more than just that. Soon, he uncovers the deadly reality behind his childhood stories as he delves into the world of the peculiars.

Riggs’ book is particularly unique in the way he tells his stories. He collected strange vintage photographs and wrote the story around those. They appear every few pages, providing interesting visuals that help add to the story. This fantastical and dark world of the Peculiars can suck you in within the first few pages. Riggs finds a perfect balance between childlike innocence and morbid curiosity in a way that both teens and adults can enjoy. It is fairly reminiscent of the X-Men and has just as much action. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a mysterious and gripping journey that spans the ages.

Note: This series is currently a trilogy and I am not sure if there will be a fourth or not.

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From Page to Screen: A List of Some of the Better Adaptations (in my opinion)

Whenever Hollywood announces a book-to-movie adaptation, bookworms everywhere tremble with fear and excitement. With such a hit or miss genre, it’s hard to be excited when you just want the details to be in order. I decided to do something different and give you all a list of some of the better and more accurate book transformations to have premiered on the small and big screens. Some of these are more mainstream while other are not but, either way, I hope you appreciate these suggestions. Also, I will only be focusing on novels and not comics or graphic novels. (Note: These will also be in no particular order.)

Movies:

The Harry Potter movie series (2001-2011): Arguably the most successful adaptations, Rowling’s novels helped kick off the adaptation craze. With Rowling involved in the script writing, the details and continuity are in place for an enjoyable eight-part series.

The Princess Bride (1987): This cult classic movie based off of William Goldman’s novel is a hilarious, action-packed, and romantic adventure that is so unique in its own right. The memorable quotes and iconic moments help to solidify the well-achieve notoriety this movie has acquired.

The Great Gatsby (2013): Baz Luhrmann’s take on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous novel is full of beautiful cinematography, awesome music, and verbatim scenes from the book. While there were certain parts I didn’t particularly like concerning Nick Carraway’s personal story, the movie is still enjoyable nonetheless. Leonardo DiCaprio emulates Gatsby’s charisma, charm, and dark past perfectly.

Pride and Prejudice (2005): This adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel avoids any melodrama that is typically associated with romance. The chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy is palpable and eloquent in this particular adaptation. Paired with some gorgeous cinematography, any Austen fan is guaranteed to enjoy this movie.

The Shining (1980): Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick’s famous horror movie has still held up as being one of the most terrifying psychological thrillers. While King himself has spoken about his distaste with the adaptation, it is still a hypnotizing movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003): J.R.R Tolkien’s famous series bursts to life on screen with Peter Jackson’s direction. Though the movies are certainly lengthy, fans of fantasy still gush about this movie series. Though The Hobbit adaptation does not hold up as well, the first set of movies still holds its own to this day.

The Hunger Games trilogy (2012-2015): I actually saw the first movie in a midnight premier. Suzanne Collins’ intense YA thriller about a girl who must compete in a deadly arena-style competition provided four successful movie adaptations. While the fourth movie felt unnecessary and the movies fell under controversy for white-washing, the first and second movies are still enjoyable and provide plenty of gritty action.

Casino Royale (2006): Ian Fleming’s famous fictional spy steal the screen once again in this adaptation starring Daniel Craig. Though the James Bond films have been popular for since the 1960s, this one is unique because it is based on Fleming’s first 007 novel. This movie shows a darker take on Bond as he goes up against Le Chiffre, a man who finances terrorists, played by Mad Mikkelsen (who will show up again on this list soon.)

The Martian (2016): Andy Weir’s self-published novel packed a punch in this adaptation by famed director, Ridley Scott. When astronaut Mark Watney is mistakenly stranded on Mars, he chronicles his struggles to survive on this deadly planet. Surprisingly funny and written with real science in mind, this faithful adaptation is perfect for science geeks and bookworms alike.

Television/Netflix shows:

Game of Thrones (2011-2017): Though George RR Martin’s hit series is about to finish up its run on HBO, it has still proved to be a cultural phenomenon. Based on The Song of Fire and Ice book series, this popular show does not hold back in its shocking violence, dark story lines, and compelling characters. With plenty of action, this show about the struggle to rule Westeros is endlessly entertaining and will live on with its fan base even after it ends.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017-?): This Netflix adaptation of Daniel Handler’s (aka Lemony Snicket) dark children book series was a hit with its witty and dark tone. Neil Patrick Harris as the infamous Count Olaf is hilarious as he manages to make the character as charming as he is evil. The newcomers who play the Baudelaire siblings are mature beyond their years and their talent holds true. Anyone who grew up with this book series is sure to enjoy the Netflix series as well.

Hannibal (2013-2015): Hannibal Lecter has long been a horror icon on the big screen but Bryan Fuller’s series shows Dr. Lecter before he became the killer in the glass case we know. In this short-lived series, Hannibal assists reluctant FBI investigator Will Graham as he solves the gruesome killings of the Chesapeake Ripper. This series does take some liberties from the original Thomas Harris series but it is still beautifully morbid and intense.

Sherlock (2010-?): This mini-series based off of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective has also become a pop culture phenomenon. This modernized take on Sherlock Holmes is surprisingly accurate and provides clever twists on the original. With a nice balance of humor and drama, this adaptation is a wild ride and will keep you guessing to the end.

American Gods (2017-?): You can check out my review of the original Neil Gaiman novel on my blog. This series is profound as it is darkly humorous. With Gaiman as an executive produce for the show, it maintains accuracy while building on the characters as well. Any mythology buff will love to binge watch this new and unique show about the old gods and new gods.

 

 

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The Hidden Side of Hollywood: Reviewing Postcards From the Edge by Carrie Fisher

I hopped onto the Star Wars craze a bit late. It wasn’t until the seventh movie came out that I realized I had been missing out on something. While I’m still not a die hard fan or anything like that, I found a new appreciation for the iconic movies series. Within that, I discovered that Carrie Fisher was a novelist. I sadly didn’t know about this until after her death but my curiosity was peaked and I wanted to remember her for something other than movies. I decided to read Postcards From the Edge and I was pleased to find Fisher’s other talents.

Suzanne Vale is an actress who knew she would end up in rehab at some point. It all started after an incident involving Percodan and scallops. Alex is a writer who doesn’t think of himself as an addict, despite his obvious love for cocaine. Their two stories come together as they reflect on their lives before rehab, their hopes for the future, and their fears of losing everything in the fickle entertainment industry.

Though this novel is relatively short, it packs a large punch of humor, honesty, and poignancy. Fisher provides these two narratives with plenty of unfiltered commentary about Hollywood and drug addictions and everything in between. There is no doubt that Fisher took a page out of real life in order to provide the profound revelations in her writing. Even if you aren’t involved in Hollywood, it is still easy to sympathize with Suzanne and Alex as they struggle to put their lives back together. Fisher’s humor and insight knows no bounds as she explores certain taboo topics. It is easy to remember why  Fisher was so loved by many after reading this novel.

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The Words Find a Way: Reviewing The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

When I was in eighth grade, I went on a class trip to Washington DC. One of the locations we visited was the Holocaust Museum. For those who have not been there, it is a touching and gut-wrenching experience. It was fairly quiet in there, save for television screens showing bits of documentaries. You couldn’t help but walk slowly, wanting to absorb every ounce of information there was to offer. From the room of portraits that was three stories high to the pile of shoes in the floor, I had a hard time wrapping my head around what happened between 1938 and 1945. For a new kind of story about such a devastating historical event, I will now tell you about The Book Thief. 

It all starts with the death of Liesel Meminger’s younger brother. After he is buried, she finds a book titled The Grave Digger’s Handbook. Despite the fact she cannot read, Liesel becomes fascinated with books and begins to steal from the Nazi book-burnings. Soon, Liesel is sent to a foster home where her foster father helps to teach her to read, her foster mother rules with an iron fist, and a Jewish boxer named Max hides in the basement. She befriends a boy named Rudy who dreams of being as fast as Jesse Owens. Told through the eyes of Death, who is fascinated with Liesel, her life changes forever during the Second World War.

The first thing I love about this novel is the fact it is told through the perspective of Death. The entity is honest, a touch humorous, and profound. Liesel is a great female lead, exhibiting bravery that one might not expect from such a young girl. The characters  all exhibit such strong personalities that shine against the dark backdrop. In a way, they are all outcasts who bond with each other throughout the outbreak of Nazism. Though this novel is certainly heart-breaking and dark, it also offers a message of hope and love that will bring any reader to tears. Zusak artfully crafts a unique historical fiction that deserves more attention.

Note: There is a movie adaptation, if you are interested. I personally have not seen it.

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This and This and This: Reviewing The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

This maybe an unpopular opinion but I preferred the Illiad to the Odyssey. Both of Homer’s epics are great but I have always enjoyed the former. I like the intertwining stories of the gods in Olympus and the mortals fighting to the death. The Trojan War is just such an interesting topic to me. Being the mythology buff I am, when I heard about Miller’s novel I was immediately intrigued. Now that I finally have a physical copy of the book, I will review The Song of Achilles. 

Told through the eyes of Patroclus, his story begins when he is exiled from his home by his father after a violent altercation. In an attempt to be a better prince and son, he hopes to learn from the famous demigod, Achilles. The two soon become closer and closer as they train to be heroes. When Helen of Sparta is kidnapped by Prince Paris, the two young men find themselves right in the center of the Trojan War. With the help of the centaur Chiron, the clever Odysseus, and other famous figures, Patroclus and Achilles must withstand the test of the five-year war and learn who they truly are, unaware of what the Fates have planned for them.

I truly enjoyed this new look at the Trojan War. It’s interesting to have such a different perspective at Homer’s classic epic. In particular, this novel focuses on Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship as lovers. (Note: Homosexual relationships were very common in ancient Greece for various reasons. More than likely, they were in a relationship based on historical records. Also, they were not cousins like they were in the Brad Pitt movie.) Miller combines the intimacy of their relationship with the intensity if the war in the background in a beautiful way. It’s heart-breaking, thrilling, and gripping. With a better look at the other famous characters, Miller takes a classic epic and puts it into a new perspective for the modern reader. This novel is perfect for mythology buffs or romance fans with Miller’s beautiful writing.