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greentrickster · 4 years

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I live for your writing style, especially the dialogues and banter! How long have you been writing stories and do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Firstly, thank-you so much! ^///^

I’m been writing stories since about fifth grade - before that I hated writing with a passion because an idiot first grade teacher decided I hadn’t done enough work for the stories we were supposed to be writing for a class assignment and made me stay in from recess to work on it. During a rainy day, meaning I got to sit and struggle with my story while in the background everyone else in the class got to play a fun group game together. Needless to say, this did not enamor me to the activity and I hold grudges about this sort of thing. Eternal thanks to Mrs. Ellis Sasser for breaking through that. In regards to telling stories in general, that’s something I’ve done all my life - playing pretend was my favorite game as a kid.

Now, for advice... I’m lucky, I was born with a gift for this. That said, talent is useless if you don’t put in the work to hone it, and I would not be anywhere near as good a writer as I am now without all the work I’ve put in to hone my abilities. I mean, I was also really good at level 1 Algebra, first year I ever had fun in math class, it just made sense to me. But I didn’t do anything with it particularly after I’d finished that year in school, whereas I did do a lot of stuff with writing throughout, so now I’m good at writing and can’t remember how to do Algebra 1. Talent is potential, nothing more, nothing less, you still have to put the hours in. Here is how I spent my hours:

Read. A lot. More than probably seems necessary. Seriously, you want to be a writer? Then you need to be a reader, I cannot stress this enough. And I’m not talking about high-brow literature (unless that’s what you like and I salute you if that’s the case), I’m talking about what interests you. You like fantasy? Read every fantasy that catches your attention. Humour? Scour the humour section. Journalism? Read the paper. Read things that bring you joy and entertainment by the bushel and you will subconsciously learn so much from it. I’ve been a reader ever since my parents assured me they’d still read me bedtime stories even if I learned how (yeah, hated writing as a kid, actively resisted learning how to read, my life is strange like that), and that is a big part of where my passion for writing comes from.

Read broadly. And I’m not actually talking about genres here, though totally dip into other genres every now and then to get an added perspective, I mean format. Read long novels. Read short novels. Read anthologies of short stories. Read webcomics. Read serialized comics. Read graphic novels. Read manga. Read fanfiction. Read stuff here on tumblr. Because every format is a bit different in how they tell stories, and you’ll get something different from each one, though naturally give some preference to the format you want to write - you wanna write a novel, read novels. It might seem strange that I’m recommending you look at comics and manga and stuff if you’re trying to write prose, but if you’re like me, this will be invaluable for helping you visualize certain things, leading to better descriptions. If it is a story, consume it, there is stuff there to learn.

That includes TV, cartoons, anime, and movies. Sounds crazy? It’s not! Every single one of those things starts out as a script, and this can help you so much with dialogue. Listen to what the characters are saying, and listen to how they’re saying it. Heck, listen to how people talk in general. Listen to how different accents shape different words, how speech patterns change with time and place. Visual mediums rely heavily on dialogue, so take the opportunity and learn from them.

P. O. E. T. R. Y. Again, seriously. I did not start out in prose, I started out in poetry, and it has helped my prose style in so many ways. Poetry, at its core, is about getting maximum impact from minimum words and creative use of language. Poetry is meant to paint pictures in the mind and evoke an emotional response. So read poetry. Write poetry. Find a poet whose work you enjoy and consume it. I enjoy T.S. Eliot because I learned young that some of his poems are the basis of the musical CATS, which I adored as a kid and still enjoy. And it turned out I liked other things he’s written, too, I enjoy this way with language. I also really enjoy Shell Silverstein, who writes poetry for children. You don’t have to read for dusty old tomes unless you want to, just grab something that makes you feel in a way that you enjoy.

Writing groups. We all have to write stuff for school, but that’s not enough. And there will never be anything able to replace group feedback. So find a local writing group and join it - my mom tossed me into one when I was in 8th grade, actually. I was the only person under thirty. Terrifying? Yup. Huge growth experience? Yup. Local writing groups are generally run by small time writers or fellow people writing for fun. So they tend to be very supportive of each other - you might get some light criticism, but, especially if you’re younger, mostly you’ll just find people being supportive of you and your work. This helps you get over the fear of sharing your work with others, which I know many people struggle with, and also helps you learn to accept praise, which, again, I know many people struggle with. But you need both of these things if you want to be successful on any level.

Writing classes. Because you’re going to need some help at some point. Writing classes can help introduce you to structures and conventions within creative writing that school just doesn’t, and will also teach you how to be helpfully critical of your work. “This is bad” isn’t helpful. “This sentence needs tweaking, and this character wouldn’t actually act like that I just really wanted to write that scene” is helpful. Writing classes will help you learn how to do the latter instead of the former.

Acting classes. You don’t have to do a lot of these, but definitely give it a try. Nothing can top helping you get in a character’s head like actually being the character for a few minutes. Acting also helps you just start thinking about characters more in-depth, it’s just surprisingly useful. Acting also helps you gain courage and overcome shyness. As a writer you’re eventually going to have to share your work with other people, face criticism as well as praise. You will run into jerks. You need to learn to have some confidence in yourself and your work. Acting can help with that - smile long enough and your brain can be tricked into releasing the chemicals it produces when you’re feeling genuine joy. Act confident long enough, and eventually it’ll stop being an act. ;)

Literary analysis. Take at least one class on it - this is your toolbox. Analytical thinking is one of your most powerful ways of figuring out what works and what doesn’t. And don’t just learn it, apply it. If you see a scene in a story of any sort, instead of just going “That was bad and I didn’t like it,” sit down and think about why you didn’t like it. Was it because it felt contrived? Was the character behaving in a way at odds with their previous actions? Was this a solution that would have actually worked, even in-context? Then figure out what could be done to fix this, make it in-character, or a solid solution, or what groundwork should have been laid earlier in the story. And, as well as that, pay attention to what does work! There was a great moment just now? Sit down and really think about why it was so great, get excited about how you finally got pay-off for something the story’s been building up to or how suddenly a bunch of little things have an entirely new context, or even just why that line the character just said had as much punch as it did. If you can understand all these things, then they become tools that you can use as well.

Get a writing book. Then write in it. It can be anything - journaling, stories, a random thought you had that sounded cool, write it down. I know a lot of people write primarily on the computer or other pieces of tech these days - understandable, we live in a technological age, I love my laptop, I’m not gonna smite you for wanting to type on your phone or something. But typing and writing by hand are two very different feels and, having done both, I personally discovered that I tend to do better for long pieces if I write them by hand first. Yeah, I have to type them up later, but I’ve found this actually helps me edit as I go and improves the overall quality of the piece. Will this be same for you? Who knows, but it’s definitely worth a try! At the very least, you’ll eventually end up with a book full of stuff you thought was worth writing down, even if it takes a long time to fill it, and it’s always interesting to go back and look over your old thoughts like this and you will find at least one gem in there, if not more!

Take your time. Don’t try and implement every piece of advice on this list at once, seriously. Have I done every single thing I’ve mentioned? Yup, that’s how I know it was useful. But I did them over the course of years, and not all at once. I read before bed and in spare moments of the day and as a leisure activity, I did acting classes on and off, I did writing groups and classes on and off, I had spaces where I just existed for awhile because that’s what I needed to do. This is a gradual but effective process. Grab a couple things and start with those. Writing is an all-ages activity, you don’t have to rush.

HAVE FUN!!! Writing is not an activity you get into to become famous, successful, or anything like that - it’s something you do because you love it, because you have a story and you want to share it with others. So have fun doing that! Be self-indulgent, write things that you want to see written or read about. I wrote Dyed Feathers because I couldn’t find an Ace Attorney wing!fic involving Edgeworth and Phoenix and I wanted one. I wrote Time Bandit because I saw a prompt for it, sat down and thought about the concept a bit, and got so curious that I decided to explore it through written word. I wrote Masks because the initial idea I got for it sounded really fun and I wanted to play with it. I’m writing Saturation because I cannot physically stop myself at this point. And, more importantly, I don’t want to stop. People have commented that they can tell I’ve put so much work into this story, and my initial mental response is always “But? I haven’t??” Except then I go back and actually think about it, and remember that I have, in fact, spent hours and hours writing, typing, editing, researching, and planning for this story. I have put so much work into it. I just didn’t generally notice at the time, because I was having fun for the most part. Yeah, there’s parts that I struggled to write, but it’s still a fun process for me a good 90% of the time. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.

Whew, that was a lot! But, then, writing’s like any other skill - if you want to get really good at it, you’ve got to put in the hours, there is no shortcut, not even talent will carry you as far as you want to go if you don’t make an effort. So make an effort, and have fun doing it! This may sound like a chore list, but every single thing on it I did because I wanted to (except for that first writing group, but I was young and introverted and needed that push, and I’m very glad I did it now). With the majority of it, I had a lot of fun - I love stories of all sorts, I love writing, this is a thing I do for passion.

And that’s what these tips are all about, really - helping you pursue your passion, and better enabling you to tell those stories you have bursting inside of you, waiting to come out. So good luck, and have fun finding out how far you’ll go!

#ask #anon #Writing tips #long post #writing advice

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ucflibrary · 6 years

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Pride Month has arrived! While every day is a time to be proud of your identity and orientation, June is that extra special time for boldly celebrating with and for the LGBTQIA community (yes, there are more than lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender in the queer community). June was chosen to honor the Stonewall Riots which happened in 1969. Like other celebratory months, LGBT Pride Month started as a weeklong series of events and expanded into a full month of festivities.

In honor of Pride Month, UCF Library faculty and staff suggested books, movies and music from the UCF collection that represent a wide array of queer authors and characters. Additional events at UCF in June include “UCF Remembers” which is a week-long series of events to commemorate the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in 2016.

Click on the Keep Reading link below to see the full list, descriptions, and catalog links for the 20 titles by or about people in the LGBTQIA community suggested by UCF Library employees. These, and additional titles, are also on the Featured Bookshelf display on the second (main) floor next to the bank of two elevators.

A guide to LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus, post-Pulse edited by Virginia Stead The research in A Guide to LGBTQ+ Inclusion on Campus, Post-PULSE is premised on the notion that, because we cannot choose our sexual, racial, ethnic, cultural, political, geographic, economic, and chronological origins, with greater advantage comes greater responsibility to redistribute life's resources in favor of those whose human rights are compromised and who lack the fundamental necessities of life. Among these basic rights are access to higher education and to positive campus experiences. Queer folk and LGBTQ+ allies have collaborated on this new text in response to the June 16, 2016 targeted murder of 49 innocent victims at the PULSE nightclub, Orlando, Florida. Seasoned and novice members of the academy will find professional empowerment from these authors as they explicitly discuss multiple level theory, policy, and strategies to support LGBTQ+ campus inclusion. Their work illuminates how good, bad, and indeterminate public legislation impacts LGBTQ+ communities everywhere, and it animates multiple layers of campus life, ranging from lessons within a three-year-old day care center to policy-making among senior administration. Suggested by Tim Walker, Information Technology & Digital Initiatives

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld Darcy Patel has put college on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. With a contract in hand, she arrives in New York City with no apartment, no friends, and all the wrong clothes. But lucky for Darcy, she’s taken under the wings of other seasoned and fledgling writers who help her navigate the city and the world of writing and publishing. Over the course of a year, Darcy finishes her book, faces critique, and falls in love. Woven into Darcy’s personal story is her novel, Afterworlds, a suspenseful thriller about a teen who slips into the “Afterworld” to survive a terrorist attack. The Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead, and where many unsolved—and terrifying—stories need to be reconciled. Like Darcy, Lizzie too falls in love…until a new threat resurfaces, and her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she cares about most. Suggested by Rebecca Hawk, Circulation

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She's used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, she'd be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remains of her world. Aster lives in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, a space vessel organized much like the antebellum South. For generations, Matilda has ferried the last of humanity to a mythical Promised Land. On its way, the ship's leaders have imposed harsh moral restrictions and deep indignities on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster. Embroiled in a grudge with a brutal overseer, Aster learns there may be a way to improve her lot--if she's willing to sow the seeds of civil war. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

And Then I Danced: traveling the road to LGBT equality: a memoir by Mark Segal On December 11, 1973, Mark Segal disrupted a live broadcast of the CBS Evening News when he sat on the desk directly between the camera and news anchor Walter Cronkite, yelling, "Gays protest CBS prejudice!" He was wrestled to the studio floor by the stagehands on live national television, thus ending LGBT invisibility. But this one victory left many more battles to fight, and creativity was required to find a way to challenge stereotypes surrounding the LGBT community. Mark Segal's job, as he saw it, was to show the nation who gay people are: our sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers. Because of activists like Mark Segal, whose life work is dramatically detailed in this poignant and important memoir, today there are openly LGBT people working in the White House and throughout corporate America. An entire community of gay world citizens is now finding the voice that they need to become visible. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

Basically Queer: an intergenerational introduction to LGBTQA2S+ lives by Claire Robson, Kelsey Blair, and Jen Marchbank Basically Queer offers an introduction to what it can look and feel like to live life as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, two spirited and trans. Written by youth and elders who've lived these lives first hand, the book combines no-nonsense explanations, definitions, and information with engaging stories and poetry that bring them to life. Basically Queer answers those questions that many want to ask but fear will give offence--What is it really like to be queer? What's appropriate language? How can I be an ally? It also provides a succinct and readable account of queer history and legal rights worldwide, addresses intergenerational issues, and offers some tips and tricks for living queer. It does so in an easy and conversational style that will be accessible to most readers, including teens. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel Meet Alison's father, a historic preservation expert and obsessive restorer of the family's Victorian home, a third-generation funeral home director, a high school English teacher, an icily distant parent, and a closeted homosexual who, as it turns out, is involved with his male students and a family babysitter. Through narrative that is alternately heartbreaking and fiercely funny, we are drawn into a daughter's complex yearning for her father. And yet, apart from assigned stints dusting caskets at the family-owned "fun home," as Alison and her brothers call it, the relationship achieves its most intimate expression through the shared code of books. When Alison comes out as homosexual herself in late adolescence, the denouement is swift, graphic -- and redemptive. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections, and Schuyler Kerby, Rosen Library

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado In Her Body and Other Parties, Carmen Maria Machado blithely demolishes the arbitrary borders between psychological realism and science fiction, comedy and horror, fantasy and fabulism. In this electric and provocative debut, Machado bends genre to shape startling narratives that map the realities of women's lives and the violence visited upon their bodies. A wife refuses her husband's entreaties to remove the green ribbon from around her neck. A woman recounts her sexual encounters as a plague slowly consumes humanity. A salesclerk in a mall makes a horrifying discovery within the seams of the store's prom dresses. One woman's surgery-induced weight loss results in an unwanted houseguest. And in the bravura novella "Especially Heinous," Machado reimagines every episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a show we naively assumed had shown it all, generating a phantasmagoric police procedural full of doppelgangers, ghosts, and girls with bells for eyes. Earthy and otherworldly, antic and sexy, queer and caustic, comic and deadly serious, Her Body and Other Parties swings from horrific violence to the most exquisite sentiment. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Inseparable: desire between women in literature by Emma Donoghue Emma Donoghue examines how desire between women in English literature has been portrayed, from schoolgirls and vampires to runaway wives, from cross-dressing knights to contemporary murder stories. She looks at the work of those writers who have addressed the "unspeakable subject," examining whether same-sex desire is freakish or omnipresent, holy or evil, as she excavates a long-obscured tradition of (inseparable) friendship between women, one that is surprisingly central to our cultural history. Inseparable is a revelation of a centuries-old literary tradition — brilliant, amusing, and until now, deliberately overlooked. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann Claire Kann’s debut novel Let’s Talk About Love, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, gracefully explores the struggle with emerging adulthood and the complicated line between friendship and what it might mean to be something more. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Little and Lion by Brandy Colbert Suzette returns home to Los Angeles from boarding school and grapples with her bisexual identity when she and her brother Lionel fall in love with the same girl, pushing Lionel's bipolar disorder to spin out of control and forcing Suzette to confront her own demons. Suggested by Emma Gisclair, Curriculum Materials Center

Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal Myra's personality is altered by her sex change operation and Myron is transported back through time to the year 1948. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Subject Librarian

Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers Set on a Southern army base in the 1930s, REFLECTIONS tells the story of Captain Penderton, a bisexual whose life is upset by the arrival of Major Langdon, a charming womanizer who has an affair with Penderton's tempestuous and flirtatious wife, Leonora. Upon the novel's publication in 1941, reviewers were unsure of what to make of its relatively scandalous subject matter. But a critic for Time Magazine wrote, "In almost any hands, such material would yield a rank fruitcake of mere arty melodrama. But Carson McCullers tells her tale with simplicity, insight, and a rare gift of phrase." Written during a time when McCullers's own marriage to Reeves was on the brink of collapse, her second novel deals with her trademark themes of alienation and unfulfilled loves. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Subject Librarian

Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala In the tradition of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah, Speak No Evil explores what it means to be different in a fundamentally conformist society and how that difference plays out in our inner and outer struggles. It is a novel about the power of words and self-identification, about who gets to speak and who has the power to speak for other people. As heart-wrenching and timely as his breakout debut, Beasts of No Nation, Uzodinma Iweala’s second novel cuts to the core of our humanity and leaves us reeling in its wake. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Tash hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee Fame and success come at a cost for Natasha "Tash" Zelenka when she creates the web series "Unhappy Families," a modern adaptation of Anna Karenina--written by Tash's eternal love Leo Tolstoy. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

The Boys in the Band by Mart Crowley The Boys in the Band was the first commercially successful play to reveal gay life to mainstream America. This is a special fortieth anniversary edition of the play, which includes an original preface by acclaimed writer Tony Kushner (Angels in America), along with previously unpublished photographs of Mart Crowley and the cast of the play/film. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Subject Librarian

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. She casts aside her fine wedding clothes, takes her chain mail and her sword, and follows her brave dwarf retainers into the tunnels under the mountain towards the sleeping kingdom. This queen will decide her own future -- and the princess who needs rescuing is not quite what she seems. Suggested by Rebecca Hawk, Circulation

Very Recent History: an entirely factual account of a year (c. AD 2009) in a large city by Choire Sicha What will the future make of us? In one of the greatest cities in the world, the richest man in town is the Mayor. Billionaires shed apartments like last season's fashion trends, even as the country's economy turns inside out and workers are expelled from the City's glass towers. The young and careless go on as they always have, getting laid and getting laid off, falling in and falling out of love, and trying to navigate the strange world they traffic in: the Internet, complex financial markets, credit cards, pop stars, microplane cheese graters, and sex apps. A true-life fable of money, sex, and politics, Very Recent History follows a man named John and his circle of friends, lovers, and enemies. It is a book that pieces together our every day, as if it were already forgotten. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Victim directed by Basil Dearden A highly respected, but closeted barrister, Melville Farr, risks his marriage and reputation to take on an elusive blackmail ring terrorizing gay men with the threat of public exposure and police action. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Subject Librarian

Why be happy when you could be normal? by Jeanette Winterson Traces the author's lifelong search for happiness as the adopted daughter of Pentecostal parents who raised her through practices of fierce control and paranoia, an experience that prompted her to search for her biological mother. Suggested by Lindsey Ritzert, Circulation

Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson The most beguilingly seductive novel to date from the author of The Passion and Sexing the Cherry. Winterson chronicles the consuming affair between the narrator, who is given neither name nor gender, and the beloved, a complex and confused married woman. Suggested by Rebecca Hawk, Circulation

#lgbtq pride month #lgbtqia #pride month #neil gaiman #ucf #ucf library #ucf libraries bookshelf #booklr

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vthiker09 · 5 years

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A Gimpy Kid’s Book Review

When you are forced to spend time on the couch and movement becomes something you only do when absolutely necessary, you find yourself with piles of free time. At first, I filled said free time with horror movies. Halloween being my favorite holiday, it only made sense to cheer myself up via my favorite movie genre. Quite quickly, however, I realized my six to eight hour daily horror movie habit, was in fact, mind numbing and made me feel worse about my overall situation.

I dabbled in a variety of arts and crafts, including: swear word coloring books, adult coloring books, paint-by-number, figurine painting, and knitting. I also spent way too much time on Facebook and did my fair share of crossword puzzles and word searches. It was probably the only time Mike would say “want to play a board game?” and my answer would always be “YES!”

Despite my attempts to replace the outdoors with much more mundane activities, I was left with time to fill. I remembered at some point, before graduate school, I liked to read. Graduate school ruined reading for me via a unreasonable number of pages per week. When I graduated, I was free from the massive pile of sometimes wildly boring reading assignments and I took said freedom, as a pass to basically never read a book again.

My long periods of forced couch time over the last two and half years, have reminded me, I do in fact like to read. Perhaps a silver lining of an otherwise abysmal experience, I started to read again and kept doing it. Below are the books I’ve read since I hurt myself and my general thoughts about each. I hope you find something you would like to read!

What is it about: Roxane Gay was gang raped as a child. To cope with the trauma, she gained weight. To her, it was a way to protect herself, because society tells us heavy people aren’t desirable. She details her lifelong struggle with PTSD, obesity, relationships and how society sees and treats her as a obese, female, queer, person of color.

My thoughts: I LOVE THIS BOOK! It’s an intense read and can be triggering. At the same time, it’s such a well constructed, honest, and raw look at how we look at trauma and more so, how we treat obese people. It connects her experience as a trauma survivor, with her experiences with racism, sexism, and sizeism in such a perfect and often times disturbing way. I cannot recommend this book enough. This was also the first book I read when I got hurt. It holds a special place in my reading heart.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 5/5

What is it about: John Hodgman is a comedian. The book is about how he grew up in a working household, who often struggled, and his transition from just making it, to having a vacation home in a wealthy town in Maine.

What I thought about it: It’s a comical exploration into class in America. He writes about the silly things he used to do as a youth and the equal number of silly class based practices, he sees as a wealthy person. He takes a critical look at both the working class and the ultra-wealthy. He also writes about “belonging” and what it’s like to transition from one class to another and to feel like you don’t fit-in.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 4/5

What is it about: It challenges the concept that Millennials are a lazy, entitled group of brats and explains how they are, in fact, screwed in many ways. It focuses on the economy and discusses everything from student loans, to the job market, to internships, to helicopter parenting, to benefits, to buying a house, to the environment.

What I thought about it: As a Millennial, I thought “finally! someone who gets it!” At the same time, I thought “This all sucks!” It’s a good exploration into the financial and life ruin we setup young people for. It blows apart the idea that if you “try,” you’ll end up with 2.5 kids, a white picket fence, and a house on a col-de-sac. I found it to be both affirming and disheartening. The end outlines a few action steps, but when you spend a couple hundred pages detailing how bad it is, 20 pages outlining how to make it better, doesn’t really do the trick.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 3.5/5

What is it about: Michael Finkel is a journalist, who attempts to write about Christopher Knight. Christopher lived in the woods in rural Maine for several decades - by choice. It details both his relationship with Christopher and how Christopher survived living outside for so long. It also explores why Christopher chose to become a hermit, in the first place, and his struggle to assimilate back into society.

What I thought about it: I LOVED THIS BOOK! and I found it to be really sad. I appreciated the author didn’t straight out say Christopher was a mentally ill person, who fell under the radar for a couple of decades. At the same time, it was hard to read about someone who purposely opted out of society and then was forced back into it. It’s an interesting look into the idea there are people out there who don’t want a car, a house, or a job, and are actually happy living in the woods - and this is okay. It’s a challenge to what we see as “normal,” honors Christopher’s life, and the complexity of his choices.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 5/5

What is it about: Rebecca Solnit is an activist and a writer. This book is a collection of several essays she’s written. “Men explain things to me,” is one of the essays in the book and explains the concept of mansplaning. It starts with a story about how someone, who didn’t know who she was, tried to explain her own book to her at a party. The other essays look at various areas of feminism, including the institution of marriage, sexual violence, war, racially fueled sexism, and how misogynistic norms are strongly embed into our society.

What I thought about it: She is a great writer and everything in this book is true and important. Everyone should understand these truths and should work to change them, as she outlines, so clearly, how destructive they are. At the same time, nothing in this book was new to me. I felt myself saying “YEAH!” but not learning anything new. I’m not sure this is a reason to not read this book. It’s a well written collection of feminist essays.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 4/5

What is it about: It’s a graphic novel about the author’s relationship with her father. It starts with her as a young child and goes through his death.

What I thought about it: The author is a Vermonter and I like to support people who live in Vermont. As a queer identified, it focuses heavily on her experience as a queer youth, coming out, and her thoughts on her father’s sexuality. She didn’t have a good relationship with her parents and I wouldn’t say it’s a happy book. She also explores her challenges with mental illness, relationships, and becoming an author. I don’t know if I would say I liked this book, mostly because I don’t think I like the author. I find her to be arrogant and a little too neurotic for my taste.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 3/5

What is it about: It’s a graphic novel about the author’s relationship with her mother. It’s a sequel to “Fun Home,” which I talk about above.

What I thought about it: It’s a less interesting version of “Fun Home.” I didn’t enjoy it.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 2/5

What is it about: It’s a fictional story about a women’s experience with deciding whether to have weight loss surgery or not. It’s meant to be a commentary on sizeism, the diet industry, and how awfully we treat people who are overweight.

What I thought about it: I enjoyed it. It’s a good look at how awful we are to overweight people and in how many different ways. It’s critical of the weight loss industry, fad diets, and weight loss surgery. I found the end to be a little weird, but overall, I liked it.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 3.5/5

What is it about: It’s a beginner’s guide to meditation, for people who don’t do yoga or drink soy matcha lates.

What I thought about it: Well, I never started to mediate - so it was not life changing. At the same time, it made mediation approachable and this is coming from someone who often times vehemently rejects things I believe are “hipster.” It makes a good case for the health benefits associated with mediation, gives you a clear plan to start, and takes out much of the touchy-feely side of meditation. Mike got this for me when I was not a happy camper, thinking it might help. If you aren’t into yoga, essential oils, or have no idea what chakras are, this is a good book - if you want to start to meditate.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 3.5/5

What is it about: It’s a collection of Oatmeal comics.

What I thought about it: If you like the Oatmeal, you’ll like the book. It’s funny.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 4/5

What is it about: Christian Picciolini was a high level skinhead. The book details how he became a skinhead, what he did while he was a skinhead, and how he got out of that lifestyle. Since writing the book, he started a non-profit, which helps other people get out of this lifestyle.

What I thought about this book: I really liked it. It, at points, is hard to read. He is honest about what he did as a skinhead and all of it is horrible. It’s quite violent at times. At the same time, it’s an honest look about how these groups recruit new members, groom them, and eventually rope them in. It relates skinhead groups closely to tactics used by gangs. It’s also an honest look at someone who did awful things and managed to change. Reading about someone who had such toxic views about race and truly reformed, is refreshing given our current political climate. It’s an example of how people can change, no matter how “far gone,” they may appear to be.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 5/5

What is it about: It’s a comic series named the Awkward Yeti. The Yeti is the main character and all the other characters are the Yeti’s body parts. It personifies their body parts and each comic explores something we can all relate to, when it comes to our body. For example, the intestines are grumpy and talk about how tongue and brain make him do so much work. His tag-line is “soon!” Tongue is a villain who makes brain eat everything awful for the Yeti. Eyes are bros who just like to lift weights all day. Gallbladder does nothing other than make gallstones and says “I maked these.”

What I thought about the books: This is my favorite comic series. I think I started to like it more when I was struggling with my body. I could imagine my little tendons dancing around and my stomach being like “NO MORE TYLENOL!” I also relate strongly to heart, who is impulsive and motivated to do everything. The relationship between heart and brain is interesting, because although heart is impulsive and often times doesn’t follow-through, heart motivates brain to relax and see the brighter side of life. At the same time, brain keeps heart in line.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 5/5 - I even own a heart plushy!

What is it about: It’s an essay about how feminism is not a “woman’s cause” and how we should all care. The title basically explains the book.

What I thought about the book: I 100% agree with everything in it. It’s well written and I feel the same way about this book, as I did about “When Men Explain Things to Me” - I didn’t learn anything new. At the same time, I feel like every white male should read it.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 4/5

What is it about: It’s a women’s empowerment piece written by a writer for Dad’s Magazine/Elle columnist and a writer who does a bunch of critical pieces about pop-culture. The book basically dispels all the pressure women put on themselves, to fit a particular socially created mold, and encourages women to be more supportive - since we are all part of the same “coven.”

What I thought about it: It’s a fun and superficial look at how destructive pop-culture is. It’s an interesting read, especially if you love everything about Halloween and feminism. There are reviews which are really bad, because it actually has little to do with witchcraft. It uses the fundamentals of witchcraft to challenge pop-culture and encourage women to be themselves. It’s not really trying to be a book about becoming a witch.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Review: 3.5/5

What is it about: It takes 10 minutes to read and it’s one of those life quote books. It’s a book for adults.

What I thought about it: I LOVE THE COOKIE MONSTER! It’s written from their perspective and talks a bunch about how cookies make life better. It’s just a fun read for Cookie Monster lovers.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 5/5 only if you love the Cookie Monster

What is it about: It’s about a black teen (Starr) who lives in the ghetto, sees her black best friend get shot by a white cop, dates a white boy, and goes to an expensive private school - where she is one of two black students. It explores the challenges she faces as a black youth who goes between “ghetto life” and “rich white people life” and looks closely at the complexity of race relations in America, with a clear focus on racially driven police brutality.

What I thought about it: If you have ever uttered the words "all lives matter" or "blue lives matter," read this book. If you didn't vote in the last election or believe politics is something you can opt out of, read this book. If you've made a racist joke in the last 10 years, read this book. If you don't think racism or the impact of racially driven police brutality is real, read this book. Even if you are a politically active, socially responsible, white ally, you should still read this book. It should basically be required reading for every white person.

Gimpy Kid Five Star Rating: 5/5

What is it about: Holly Madison was a Playboy Bunny for a long time. She lived in the Playboy Mansion with Hue Hefner. The book is a tell-all about what it was like to be in the Mansion and live with and date Hue.

What I thought about it: I really liked this book. Holly blows apart the concept of the “dumb blonde.” She writes a detailed expose into how awful Hue Hefner was. She clearly explains how he abused his “girlfriends.” It’s a in-depth look into the complexity of domestic violence, tactics used by abusers, and is written by someone who supposedly “had it all.” It also challenges more militant feminists to honor the experiences of people who engage in behaviors, which are seen as counter to the feminist agenda.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 4.5/5

What is it about: It’s a self-help book written by a blogger. It focuses on concepts like: saying no, being okay with failing and learning from it, being okay with being wrong, the concept of choice, and how the perpetual race for “happiness” is crap.

What I thought about it: I bought it in an airport on my way to NYC, mainly because of the title. I like the overall concept of letting things go and trying to stop living up to socially created ideals of happiness, which are all bullshit. It’s definitely for those of us who are a little more bitter about life. At the same time, it’s not a bitter book. It takes bitter people concepts and uses them as a way to let people live life in a more free and less stressful way. I wouldn’t say it’s life changing, but it’s interesting. The guy is also a little bit of an asshole and as a fellow slight asshole, I can appreciate this.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 3.5/5

What is it about: Porchoista has lime disease. It’s details her horrific experiences with the American Healthcare system, when it came to getting a diagnosis and appropriate care.

What I thought about it: We all know, at this point, I think the American Healthcare system has epic room for improvement. I found this book to be comforting, because basically all the ways I’ve written about how Healthcare is America is awful, she also experienced. I also found it to be terrifying, because a small part of me hoped what I experienced is not the norm. If some day I write a book, it’ll be like this book. It made me feel mad and sad on Porochista’s behalf, she had to struggle for so long, just to get better. It’s a comprehensive look at dismissive doctors, the horrendous state of women’s healthcare, and pill happy doctors - and the wreckage this can create. It should be required reading for all healthcare workers.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Review: 5/5

What is it about: Samantha Irby is a comedian/blogger/writer. It’s a collection of essays about her take on life, which are really funny. It’s an honest look at her experience living with IBS, dating, and being an obese black person in NYC.

What I think about it: You know those things we want to say about life and never say? Well she says them - all of them. It’s a hilarious and raw look at some of life’s most embarrassing life moments. I found myself saying “YES!” while laughing and being a little terrified. It’s a book any, slightly bitter, young woman can relate to.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 4/5

What is it about: It’s memoir about her life before the Mindy Project.

What I thought about it: It’s well written and I like her. If you like her as a comedian, you’ll like the book. It mainly looks at how she became a writer and her time at The Office. It’s not fantastic, but again, if you like her, you’ll like the book.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 3/5

What is it about: It’s a collection of short descriptions of monsters across the world. They are mainly folklore or the monsters your parents tell you about to keep you doing bad things.

What I thought about it: It took 10 minutes to read and I like Halloween. Mike got it for me when I was having a bad day. It did it’s job i.e. it cheered me up. The illustrations are really well done and there are a couple of interesting monsters. Enera is my favorite.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 3/5

What is it about: It looks at the Hillbilly culture in Northern Kentucky and the author’s experience growing up in a poverty stricken part of Ohio.

What I thought about it: I hate this book. The author becomes a lawyer and graduates from Yale. He uses this as a platform to say “Look at me! I grew up in crappy conditions and still made something of myself.” He blames people for perpetuating systemic poverty and basically confirms everything conservatives say about “welfare queens.” Although J.D. had a really tough childhood and no child should have to experience what he did and I’m really glad it all worked out for him - I think his book lacks insight regarding the complexity of systemic poverty and I wish he didn’t write it. I mainly kept reading hoping I was missing something and it would get better - it never did.

Gimpy Kid 5 Star Rating: 0/5

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rebelthroughreading-blog · 6 years

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Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Callie cannot seem to avoid all the drama between her over ambitious play and her failing and confusing love life.

Quick Information

price: $7.38

number of pages: 240

ISBN: 978-0545326995

publisher and date: Scholastic / Graphix 2012

author’s website: https://goraina.com/

genre: juvenile fiction, graphic novel

main subjects: theater, interpersonal relationships, middle school, graphic novel, comic

Plot

Seventh grader, Callie works the stage crew with her middle school drama team on a musical she has loved for ages. As head of set design, she has a grand vision for every scene despite their lacking budget. With left over props from years previous and as much stage magic as the crew can muster, Callie relentlessly works to achieve her set goals. At the same time, she meets new friends, including Jesse who she starts to like as more than friends after being shunted away from her previous crush that kissed and ditched her. Juggling her love and theater lives proves to create more and more drama.

Who’s reading it?

Graphic novels inherently appeal to a wide range of young adults. This one is written on about a 6-8 grade level, and would be of interest of anyone between the ages of 10-16.

Why did I read it?

For years, I have been in the middle of the “Smile is the best book ever!” craze, though I admit that I have never had the pleasure of reading it. While visiting some family, I happened across Telgemeier’s Ghost and was able to read a couple of pages. Intrigued, I promised myself that I would eventually read it for myself. Though I have not read that either, when I learned of this assignment, I was excited to read one of her books as they are so widely thought of as wonderful amongst young adults. Therefore, Drama was the perfect choice, since it fit with the theme. It deals with issues that many teens go through at some point in their lives.

Evaluation

An easy read for young adults, Drama easily appeals to many ages and personalities. At its core, we have a story about a young girl who is a bit different, not popular, beautiful, or extraordinary, but she is passionate about her interests. In her case, Callie is a theater geek who cares more about the stage than most people that she knows. With a single best friend and a couple of other friends that she meets along the way through her theater journey, she speaks to many people. She struggles with the idea of love - it confuses and distracts her. She wants to have these relationships that just do not work. She has these grand ideas about the production that can never work in the setting but she does not give up until she can literally no longer work on making things work any longer. She is persistent, dogged, overwhelmed, and the poster child for the drama kid. Callie is a seventh grader in middle school, but has a story that appeals to even high school students. The same story of confused love, friendship, passion, and drama could have been told in a high school setting with no other changes.

The graphic novel format adds to the visual style of the narrative. The comic-strip like art style displays the emotions of young adults, much like that of the emoji. Whereas at one time, we had the chibi and super-d art styles to display that over-the-top emotional reactions, now we have the art of emojis. Somewhat difficult for an older generation to understand, the comic-strip style is similar to that now. Everything is about the way that the faces look as they react. For this story, the art brings that drama unlike what only words could do.

The Issues

LGBTQ

interpersonal relationships

One of the least controversial books on my list of great controversial books to read, Drama does in fact have some difficult subjects, especially for such a young age group. The most obvious is that of not one but two homosexual males. They are drama nerds who love to sing, one loves the spotlight, and they are one another’s twin. They display the stereotypical characteristics of gay boys. They are as emotional as the girls, and they love drama.

On top of the use of two gay males in such a young group, one is also a love interest for Callie, who is so focused on dating someone throughout the entire book that she loses track of her real friendship with her best friend sometimes. Instead of giving Callie the job of making a decision, like if she had to choose not to date because it was not the right time or she realized something was more important, she was given the easy out where the choice was no longer hers to make. By making Jesse gay, Callie no longer has any responsibility.

So why should we read it?

Jessie and Justin are only in eighth grade and gay, but they know that it speaks to them unlike being straight. Justin explains to Callie that he does not want to tell people yet, because he is not ready for it. That would be more appropriate in a later book where they are in high school instead of middle school. He goes to the dance with Liz, who had already guessed that he was gay but went anyway knowing what was really important. Jesse is gay, but he shows a different side than the bombastic, dramatic Justin. He does not need the spotlight, and therefore does not flaunt her sexuality. We do not know until the end that he is gay, because it overall is only important in that Callie thinks she might like him. Their sexuality is not a driving force of the book. It does not define the rest of the story.

How can we use it?

Young adults need to understand their desires and feelings toward other people. Sometimes, at the most inconvenient times, they want to create relationships when they should be focusing on old ones. Sometimes their desires interrupt their dreams, like her want for a boyfriend that interrupted her dream of making the production. On the reverse side, sometimes that interruption creates new inspiration. Jesse, who takes away from her relationship with Liz, brings her a new inspiration for the theater. He and Justin take Callie to a place with books and materials on theater productions unlike she had ever seen before. They are extra people to be excited about the same things as her. She can revel in her geekdom with others who feel the same way. By the end of the novel, she makes up with her best friend, has more friends, and realizes that her friendships and the theater are where are true passions lie.

Every person needs to hear that message at some point. Even adults have a hard time remembering that they have to go through a journey before they can reap the rewards. And like with all difficult times in life, reading about a success can inspire people to keep trying and working to get to that good ending for themselves.

Booktalk Ideas

Greg kisses Callie right at the beginning of the book and then ignores her. Callie falls for Jesse, and he turns out to be gay. Greg later tries to get together with her after, and instead of jumping at the chance to be with the guy on whom she had had the original crush, she turns him down and walks home alone. What is the significance of her saying no to Greg at that point? Why would she walk away if she has been looking for a partner the entire time?

Callie spends a lot of time with Jesse, essentially replacing Liz as her primary friend. In the end, after quite a bit of drama, Jesse makes a big deal of Callie making up with Liz for ditching her at the dance after finding out that Jesse is gay and dealing with Greg. When Jesse makes that big deal about Callie and Liz’s relationship, the author is pushing the relationship of friends as more important than the relationship of dating. Is it important for Callie to see how far she has distanced herself from her best friend because of her supposed feelings for these boys? What is the significance of making sure that relationship works when a romantic one does not happen for Callie at all throughout the entire book?

What else can I read?

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Ghost by Raina Telgemeier

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Awards and Lists

A Stonewall Honor Book

Harvey Award Nominee

NPR: 5 Great Summer Reads for Teens

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2012

A Washington Post Best Book of 2012

New York Times Editors’ Choice

Booklist Editors’ Choice

NPR: Graphic Novels that Flew Under the Radar

New York Public Library’s 100 Titles For Reading and Sharing

School Library Journal Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2012

Professional Reviews

Snow Wildsmith (2012), Booklist - http://go.galegroup.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA304307088&v=2.1&u=csusj&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Kate Quealy-Gainer (2012), Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books - https://muse-jhu-edu.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/article/489049

#raina telgemeier #comic #graphic novel #middle school #YA #young adult #fiction #drama #love #theater #musical theater #theater kid #lgbtq #gay best friend #gay #homosexual

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readingsanctuary · 6 years

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This months haul is a little out of control. I knew it would possibly be higher than normal because I always buy books while I’m on holiday, but this time it’s worse because I started panic buying books to take with me, because it felt like a good way to fix my reading slump. It only sort of worked, in that I managed to read a few graphic novels. I didn’t do so well with full length books.

Giant Days – volumes 2 & 3

Susan, Esther, and Daisy started at university three weeks ago and became fast friends. Now, away from home for the first time, all three want to reinvent themselves. But in the face of handwringing boys, “personal experimentation,” influenza, mystery-mold, nu-chauvinism, and the willful, unwanted intrusion of “academia,” they may be lucky just to make it to spring alive. Going off to university is always a time of change and growth, but for Esther, Susan, and Daisy, things are about to get a little weird.

I’ve been kicking myself for only buying the first volume for months, so when I finally had the chance, I picked up these from one of my favourite indie comic book stores. I’ve already read both of these and I really enjoyed them. I love the episodic, slice of life format, and the humour that works really well with the fun art style.

The Backstagers – volume 1

All the world’s a stage . . . but what happens behind the curtain is pure magic literally!

When Jory transfers to an all-boys private high school, he’s taken in by the only ones who don’t treat him like a new kid, the lowly stage crew known as the Backstagers. Not only does he gain great, lifetime friends, Jory is also introduced to an entire magical world that lives beyond the curtain. With the unpredictable twists and turns of the underground world, the Backstagers venture into the unknown, determined to put together the best play their high school has ever seen.

I’ve been wanting to pick this up ever since I read and reviewed the first issue from Netgalley, and loved it. The only reason it’s taken me so long to get to it is that I’ve struggled to find a copy in stores, and I prefer to support physical stores wherever I can. I’ve already read this and I’m in love with the series. I need to get my hands on the second volume soon.

The Ancient Magus Bride volumes 2, 3, 5, 6, & 7

Her name is Chise Hatori, a penniless orphan troubled by visions. Sold as a slave to an inhuman mage, she is about to begin a strange new life, filled with magic, fairies, and other beings of a fantastical nature.

So, I clearly have a problem. This series has sucked me in, in a big way. I loved the anime, and I’m planning on slowly making my way through the manga. I’m having slight difficulty locating volume four in stores, so I might have to order it online.

Bruja Born – by Zoraida Cordova

Three sisters. One spell. Countless dead.

Lula Mortiz feels like an outsider. Her sister’s newfound Encantrix powers have wounded her in ways that Lula’s bruja healing powers can’t fix, and she longs for the comfort her family once brought her. Thank the Deos for Maks, her sweet, steady boyfriend who sees the beauty within her and brings light to her life.

Then a bus crash turns Lula’s world upside down. Her classmates are all dead, including Maks. But Lula was born to heal, to fix. She can bring Maks back, even if it means seeking help from her sisters and defying Death herself. But magic that defies the laws of the deos is dangerous. Unpredictable. And when the dust settles, Maks isn’t the only one who’s been brought back…

This was a last-minute purchase before I went on holiday because I started panicking about what books to take with me, due to my reading slump making me ridiculously fickle. I mean, I was planning to wait and put it on my birthday wishlist, but I am glad to have this in my hands, even if I haven’t managed to read it just yet.

Lumberjanes: volume 1

FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX!

At Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s camp for hard-core lady-types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together… And they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here.

Collects Lumberjanes No. 1-4.

I am always seeing this series recommended, and have been meaning to check it out for a while now. Since I’ve been reading more graphic novels this month, I decided to pick this first volume up and see why so many people love it. I have already started reading this and so far I’m enjoying it. Hopefully this becomes a series that I love, and want to continue on with.

Spinning Silver – by Naomi Novik

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders… but her father isn’t a very good one. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has loaned out most of his wife’s dowry and left the family on the edge of poverty–until Miryem steps in. Hardening her heart against her fellow villagers’ pleas, she sets out to collect what is owed–and finds herself more than up to the task. When her grandfather loans her a pouch of silver pennies, she brings it back full of gold.

But having the reputation of being able to change silver to gold can be more trouble than it’s worth–especially when her fate becomes tangled with the cold creatures that haunt the wood, and whose king has learned of her reputation and wants to exploit it for reasons Miryem cannot understand.

I simply could not resist this stunning hardcover when I saw a signed copy in the bookstore. I’ve seen so many glowing reviews, that I’m confident I’ll enjoy it. I’m even more excited to get to it now that I’ve finally read (and adored) Uprooted. I just hope I don’t wait another three years before reading this one.

The Accident Season – by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

A bewitching, dark and beautiful debut novel about a girl living in the shadow of a mysterious curse.

It’s the accident season, the same time every year. Bones break, skin tears, bruises bloom.

The accident season has been part of seventeen-year-old Cara’s life for as long as she can remember. Towards the end of October, foreshadowed by the deaths of many relatives before them, Cara’s family becomes inexplicably accident-prone. They banish knives to locked drawers, cover sharp table edges with padding, switch off electrical items – but injuries follow wherever they go, and the accident season becomes an ever-growing obsession and fear.

But why are they so cursed? And how can they break free?

I’ve been intrigued by the idea of the book for years, so when I saw it in a second-hand book store while I was on holiday, I didn’t think twice. I feel like this is a very autumnal book, so I’m hoping to read it in a few months time, possibly in October, since that’s when this book takes place.

Love Letters to the Dead – by Ava Dellaira

It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more — though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was — lovely and amazing and deeply flawed — can she begin to discover her own path in this stunning debut from Ava Dellaira, Love Letters to the Dead.

This was another second hand book store find, it was more of an impulse purchase than the other books I’ve bouhgt this month. I don’t know too much about it, but it caught my eye, and after reading the first few lines, I was interested enough to want to keep reading. I have no idea what to expect from this, or how I’ll feel about it, and if I’m honest, I’m quite looking forward to going in to it blind.

S.T.A.G.S. – by M.A. Bennett

Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend.

It is the autumn term and Greer MacDonald is struggling to settle into the sixth form at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known to its privileged pupils as S.T.A.G.S. Just when she despairs of making friends Greer receives a mysterious invitation with three words embossed upon on it: huntin’ shootin’ fishin’. When Greer learns that the invitation is to spend the half term weekend at the country manor of Henry de Warlencourt, the most popular and wealthy boy at S.T.A.G.S., she is as surprised as she is flattered.

But when Greer joins the other chosen few at the ancient and sprawling Longcross Hall, she realises that Henry’s parents are not at home; the only adults present are a cohort of eerily compliant servants. The students are at the mercy of their capricious host, and, over the next three days, as the three bloodsports – hunting, shooting and fishing – become increasingly dark and twisted, Greer comes to the horrifying realisation that those being hunted are not wild game, but the very misfits Henry has brought with him from school…

This book I bought out of curiosity. I’ve seen some quite mixed reviews that have only made me more intrigued about this book. I’m not sure I would have paid full price to try this book out, but since it was cheap in a second hand book store, I decided to give it a go.

Record of a Spaceborn Few – by Becky Chambers

From the ground, we stand. From our ship, we live. By the stars, we hope

The incredible new novel by Becky Chambers, author of the belovedThe Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet.

Centuries after the last humans left Earth, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, a place many are from but few outsiders have seen. Humanity has finally been accepted into the galactic community, but while this has opened doors for many, those who have not yet left for alien cities fear that their carefully cultivated way of life is under threat.

Tessa chose to stay home when her brother Ashby left for the stars, but has to question that decision when her position in the Fleet is threatened.

Kip, a reluctant young apprentice, itches for change but doesn’t know where to find it.

Sawyer, a lost and lonely newcomer, is just looking for a place to belong.

When a disaster rocks this already fragile community, those Exodans who still call the Fleet their home can no longer avoid the inescapable question:

What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination?

I finally have this book in my hands! I can’t even tell you how happy I am that I finally have a copy of this book. It is my most anticipated book of the entire year, and I am so excited to read it, although I do feel compelled to take things slow and savour it. I’m just so very, very happy that this book is in my life!

So, that’s my excessive book haul for the month. I have no idea where most of these books are going to live, I’m kind of overrun by books at the moment. What books are you excited about this month? Have you read any of the books that I’ve hauled this month? What did you think of them? I love hearing from you in the comments!

Want to chat, about books or anything else, here are some other places you can find me:

Twitter @reading_escape

Instagram: @readingsanctuary

Goodreads

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July Book Haul This months haul is a little out of control. I knew it would possibly be higher than normal because I always buy books while I'm on holiday, but this time it's worse because I started panic buying books to take with me, because it felt like a good way to fix my reading slump.

#book blog #book blogger #book haul #book recommendations #bookish #books #graphic novels #July Book Haul #YA #ya books #young adult #young adult books

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