Behind again, but for good reasons
So, let’s see. I think I hunted around for some art to post in here last Thursday, but realized that the one thing I’d been working on was something I hadn’t taken pictures of yet. In cleaning the apartment, I found an unfinished mail-holder, and remembered that I’d once intended to use that to replace the little plastic drawers we’d been using for the purpose of collecting mail. So I drug it out again, and started working on it. Some of it is painted, and some of it I’m going to woodburn. I got to distress a paint finish for the first time, which was fun. I may take some pictures of it so far, and post those. I just haven’t gotten around to it.
Last week was good, in terms of writing, which is really why I’ve been neglecting the blog. Also, I gave myself a half hour in Books-a-Million last week to go through the YA section and pick out all the books I think I *need* to read, eventually.
Here’s the list I made:
Going Bovine ~ Libba Bray
I read her Gemma Doyle trilogy and loved it. She’s actually won some awards for the above, so it must be a pretty decent read.
The Demon’s Lexicon ~ Sarah Rees Brennan
I got lucky, and the West Melbourne library had a copy of this, which I snagged. I finished it last night, actually. I like her writing style and the way she characterizes her people. Sometimes the interactions between characters were a little hard to figure out, but I don’t know if that was just me not understanding teen angst, or what.
Hush, Hush ~ Becca Fitzpatrick
Beautiful Creatures ~ Kami Garcia/Margaret Stohl
The Host ~ Stephanie Meyer
Yes, that Stephanie Meyer. I did enjoy the Twilight series, even if I take issue with some of the characters’ actions and lack of real literary flair. They were enjoyable. I decided to put the above on my list simply from the back cover blurb, which looked interesting.
Wake
Fade
Gone ~ Lisa McMann
I read Wake last week. Actually, I finished it the same day I checked it out of the library. It is yet another novel I’ve found recently that is written in the present tense…is that becoming a trend in YA literature? Present tense sounds odd in my head when I think about it, but when I’m actually reading the story, my brain just ignores it after a while. The story was well-crafted and the premise was interesting, so I definitely want to get my hands on the next two at some point.
Vampire Academy books ~ Richelle Mead
Blue Moon
Evermore
Shadowland ~ Alyson Noel
Sabriel
Lirael
Abhorsen~ Garth Nix
I’ve heard nothing but good things about this trilogy. I think it’s time I discovered why.
Vampire Diaries books ~ L. J. Smith
This is almost the same kind of story that Twilight is, but these actually came out before Twilight (and may have been an influence). The moral, conflicted vampire boy falls for a human girl and the problems that result therein.
Shiver ~ Maggie Stiefvater
I think she even has another book out after this one, but I can’t remember what it’s called. The bookstore didn’t have it, at any rate.
Leviathan ~ Scott Westerfeld
Westerfeld is becoming one of my favorite YA authors. I just recently happened across a book called The Last Days in the library, which I discovered is a sequel to Peeps. (I didn’t know Peeps had a sequel.) I’m in the middle of The Last Days right now. Leviathan is the first of a new trilogy he’s working on, and I hear it’s as good as his others.
Some literary books it’s probably time I read, or read again:
Lord of the Flies ~ William Golding
One I managed to avoid reading during high school, but since it is the most classic and popular use of the kids-alone premise, I should probably give it a shot.
To Kill a Mockingbird ~ Harper Lee
Another one I wriggled out of in high school. I think I even attempted it on my own once, and found it boring. Time for another try.
Catcher in the Rye ~ J. D. Salinger
Now, this one I did have to read in high school, and all I remember about it was that I really didn’t like it much. But as a writer, I might find it more interesting. It’s kind of one of the original YA stories.
Wicked ~ Gregory Maguire
Not literary exactly, but I’ve heard his Wicked Witch books are good. Plus, I’d like to find out how he makes the witch a sympathetic character.
When they come out:
White Cat ~ Holly Black
I liked Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside…and I hear that Jace from Claire’s Mortal Instruments series makes a cameo appearance. (These gals all know each other, and their characters sometimes slip into each others’ books for fun.)
A Clockwork Angel
City of Fallen Angels ~ Cassandra Claire
Carries on some of the characters from her Mortal Instruments trilogy, which I am a fan of.
The Season of Risks ~ Susan Hubbard
The next book in the Society of S vampire story, which is probably the most different and interesting take on vampires I’ve seen yet.
Lies ~ Michael Grant
The next book in his Gone series, which uses a premise not unlike that of Lord of the Flies. I have a story in the queue that also uses the idea of a bunch of kids with superpowers surviving on their own without adults…so I remain curious as to where Grant will take his story.
Yeah, it’s a long list. But it will keep me busy for a while, I hope. I also intend on finishing the Wheel of Time series as the last books come out. Speaking of, while I was at the library, I checked out a book by Brandon Sanderson, who has been entrusted with finishing the Wheel of Time since the original author, Jordan, died. (I do not envy him that project. At all. If you’ve read the Wheel of Time, you’ll understand why.) Sanderson also does a very informative and entertaining podcast called Writing Excuses with two other guys (took me a while to put two and two together, and realize that Writing Excuses’ Brandon was THAT Brandon). The premise of the book I picked up sounded fascinating (and keep in mind, very little in the fantasy genre sounds fascinating to me anymore), so I decided to find out if he’s as good a writer as he seems to be.
I also checked out a book called Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry, who wrote The Giver and Number the Stars, two books I enjoyed from my childhood. Apparently Gathering Blue is a pseudo-continuation of The Giver, and in the last book, the two main characters from each meet. And yeah, I totally just looked that up online…I didn’t know the two were related when I was at the library. Lowry is a prolific and well-respected childrens’ and YA author…so it would behoove me, as a writer, to read the best in my genre, right?
Today I head back to Books-a-Million when they open at 10AM, and continue writing on Shades.
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