A review.

If you still want to get in on Writing the Next Line go here I will post the full story on Friday.

So, I know some of you don't like book reviews and some of you do. I like them so I thought I would review the new Stephanie Meyer novella. I'll try and make it short. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer.

Again, go to Amazon.com to see what is inside.
Synopsis: Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

My take: I didn't love it. Yes, you heard me. I love Twilight and all things vampire but I have to say I was a little disappointed. I think it is a great quick read but for me I wanted more. Is this because I'm honing my skills as a writer so I'm being picky? Maybe. I guess I shouldn't have looked at it so hard but I did. So if you are looking for some quick entertainment then I would say pick it up. Part of what you pay for the book goes to the American Red Cross. So a donation is nice. You can also read it for free on Stephanie Meyer's website --go here. Until July 5th.

I hold a high respect for Ms. Meyer as an author and absolutely love the Twilight series. She has a great knack for writing characters I want to read about and love. I just thought this was rushed and a possible marketing tactic to promote Eclipse (the movie). I want to read Midnight Sun--Edward's POV of Twilight. I read a little of it and to me it is almost better than Twilight. I have a feeling she is saving this until after the Breaking Dawn movies.

WARNING SOME SPOILERS--I think I wanted more characterization of Bree (who was she before this?). Maybe since I knew the ending that may have taken a little away from it. There were also some other things that bothered me but they are little details. Like the war--I wanted more from that (more ripping apart or something) and the way she addresses Edward (she does not know his name and she kept referring to him as the red head--this confused me. He's described in Twilight as having hair that's reddish brown. The only red head I kept thinking of is Victoria and I knew she was dead.) Like I said, I really took it apart and I feel bad that I did. I should have just read it and left it alone.

I did enjoy it but I felt like it needed more guts. I hope I'm not sounding harsh because I really liked the idea that it was an interesting take on a character we would have never really known. Sorry, if I offended anyone. Sometimes my opinion gets away from me. Stephanie Meyer just write Midnight Sun already!!!

Has anyone else read this book?

What are your thoughts?

Friday, I will post the recap of Writing the Next Line. Next week, I will be posting my first author interview--Michelle Gregory. So stay tuned.

Have a great day!

Books, books, books.

Hello and welcome to the new blogger buddies. Take a look around and I will be visiting your blogs soon.

As you know I'm in a local book club. Since I pretty much read YA/Paranormal/Sci Fi --you know the whole sha bang--I wanted to expand my book reading and the book club forces me to read books I would never look at. Sure some are hard to read and make my slow reading even slower--but the one I'm reading now has suprised me.

I did a review way back on my first book for the book club The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

The second book was Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Don't click to see what's inside --I'm borrowing the picture.  Go to Amazon.com for that.

Here is the synopsis:
All children should believe they are special. But the students of Hailsham, an elite school in the English countryside, are so special that visitors shun them, and only by rumor and the occasional fleeting remark by a teacher do they discover their unconventional origins and strange destiny. Kazuo Ishiguro's sixth novel, Never Let Me Go, is a masterpiece of indirection. Like the students of Hailsham, readers are "told but not told" what is going on and should be allowed to discover the secrets of Hailsham and the truth about these children on their own.
Offsetting the bizarreness of these revelations is the placid, measured voice of the narrator, Kathy H., a 31-year-old Hailsham alumna who, at the close of the 1990s, is consciously ending one phase of her life and beginning another. She is in a reflective mood, and recounts not only her childhood memories, but her quest in adulthood to find out more about Hailsham and the idealistic women who ran it. Although often poignant, Kathy's matter-of-fact narration blunts the sharper emotional effects you might expect in a novel that deals with illness, self-sacrifice, and the severe restriction of personal freedoms. As in Ishiguro's best-known work, The Remains of the Day, only after closing the book do you absorb the magnitude of what his characters endure. --Regina Marler

My take:
This was slow in the beginning. It took me awhile to get into it and understand what the heck was going on. The middle picked it up through to the end. I think the way it is written is what was hard for me. Since I write in first person I tend to gravitate towards books that are written that way and if they are not the book tends to drag for me. The story idea is brilliant but the way its told is odd. I had a hard time figuring out the time period. I thought it took place in the 50s or 60s and the summary says the 90s. Everyone in the book club pretty much agreed on that confusion. I thought some characters traits were odd and in some parts I thought it needed more. In the end --I did like it. Just not raving about it.

This is the book that is surprising me. A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White is great. I really like this book and I'm not done. I will give a full review later. It's not written in first person but it seems to hold my attention and the pace flows quickly. So far, I definately would recommend this one. Check out my review on this next week.

***The books I'm reading that are not part of the book club (purely for my interest):

I just finished Eldala by Michelle Gregory and really liked it. You should check out her site.

The synopsis:
Kieran's blood boils every time he hears about the abuse handed down by Teleria's nobility. But years of hiding in his father's smithy have taught him to avoid trouble. Content with being a blacksmith, the only disruptions in his well-ordered life are his disturbing dreams. It isn't until his twentieth birthday, when he receives a mysterious letter and sword from King Arathor - the man who claims to be his real father - that he wonders if his nightmares have become reality. If he believes Arathor, he will have a chance to end a twenty-year curse over Teleria, and free the people from King Rahnak's oppression. But it could also mean giving up his quest to find the mysterious woman with whom he shares an intimate heart connection.

My take:
I really liked this book. It was more up my alley. I am always in awe by authors who create worlds that are similar to ours but are different. This is like a medieval world with it's own language and cool magic. Kudos Michelle on making up a language. The names are great too. I've been having trouble in this area with my own WiP so I am inspired by this. It's a great love story and her descriptions are fantastic. The magical element added a nice touch. You know me love story, YA, and any sort of magical element--I get a mushy and smile. The pace is good and the writing fantastic. You should check this out.
Michelle is also hosting a blogfest on July 1st and will be giving away a prize during her blogfest. I will be interviewing Michelle and will post it the last week in June. So stay tuned.

So I'm trying to figure out what to read next. I said I would read Hunger Games but I may save that for later in the summer. I did take a peek at the first page and didn't want to put it down. We will see. I may read the novella by Stephanie Meyer. It's short and I could fly through it. Hopefully--remember slow reader here. I also have Candor by Pam Bachorz. I won this from the awesome Elana. I'll let you know. My list on Goodreads.com is getting longer and I'm trying to keep up the Shelfari site too. I think I have too many sites going on along with too many books to read.

Do you have any good books to share? (I know I asked this last week but you guys read faster than me.) 

Any fellow blogger books you recommend?

***I will be hosting ***Writing the Next Line on Friday June 18th.****  So promote it and come back.

This is my 100th post how crazy is that. To my CPs --I'm off to critique.

Have a great day! Sorry for the long post.

Title attraction.

I'm back...did anyone miss me?

My son is doing well after his surgery except for the sleep factor but we are working on that.

Thanks to everyone who took part in Writing the Next Line.  I may try it again next month. The story looks great and I'll post it later this week. Great job guys!

Also, thanks to all of you who gave me feedback on my old version of chapter 1.  It was put up on the Beta Club for open critique this past Thursday. All of your feedback was very helpful and Roni is awesome.  I hope to put something else on there soon.  Thanks Roni!

Here is something I've been thinking about. Titles. That's right, titles. The title of your book is very important just like the cover art (which is a whole other topic). The title catches the readers eye to draw them into picking up your book, opening it up and at least forcing them to read the inside jacket.

Lately, I have been thinking about the title of my WiP. Currently, it's a working title but I'm not sold on it. I think it's a little generic and there are many other books that have the same name but I'm going to wait until my manuscript is complete to rename it.

I do look to other books to see what pulled me in, what made me want to read them. Some books have a name that is obvious. Names that pretty much tell you what the book is about.

Dracula by Bram Stoker--about Dracula told from Jonathan Harker's POV.

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice--About an interview with --you guessed it-- a vampire.

Both of these books are classics in my mind but both with simple and self explanatory titles.

Then there are titles that maybe hint at something in the book but it's not the dominate theme or plot. These intrigue me because I wonder how the author decided on them. They really make me want to know what is this book about.

Shiver by Maggie Steifvater- Sure Sam shivers in this book along with making me shiver due to the temperature reminder at the beginning of each chapter.

hush,hush by Becca Fitzpatrick-- I'm still figuring this out maybe it went over my head--that happens. I think I remember a line in the book including these two words.  It doesn't matter-- I love the book.  The cover art didn't hurt on this one either.

Then there is the series.  If my book was ever published (and that's a big 'if') I do have a second book in mind.  So when I finally decide on a title I will have to keep in mind a title for the next book (it's plotted out in my head). Series titles are interesting too.

Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer-- I know some of you don't like this series but you have to admit it is clever. The titles--Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.  See the theme?

The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlene Harris--Every title has the word dead in it. Dead after Dark, Club Dead, Dead to the World...you get the idea. There are about 10 books in the series and I'm not naming every one.

Not every series has titles that relate which is fine too.  It gives each book it own personality seperate from it's brothers and sisters.

Back to Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice--That series contains Interview with a Vampire, Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned and Tale of the Body Thief. Sure there is sort of a theme but it wouldn't surprise you if they were not.

See the books go together but look like they don't have to be.

So this gives me a lot to think about when naming my baby. What are your thoughts on the subject?

How do you go about naming your manuscript?

Do you name it at the start of writing, the middle or when you are finished?

What are your favorite titles?

How important is a title to you?

Don't forget to sign up for the last line blogfest Mat 1st at Lilah Pierce's blog.  Should be fun!

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I'm so happy to be back.
Have a great day!