Link-a-Licious

Here are some links, some writing related, some not:

• Last day! Check out these writing e-books that are on sale for drastically reduced prices.
• Like Francesca Lia Block? Check out this site.
• Need a laugh? Try this erotica. I haven't actually read it though, since it's released for Kindle & I have a Nook. If you're interested in reading & reviewing this book, let me know! I would love to host a review for it on this blog.
• Stop naming your kids after Internet phenomena! They will not appreciate it when they are older.

Do you have a link you have felt a burning need to share? Share it with me in the comments; I love comments.

Precious Stones & Romance Sucks

Today, I am going to belatedly review the Young Adult novel Sapphire Blue, by Kerstin Gier. The novel was released last month, and is translated from German by Anthea Bell.

Sapphire Blue is the sequel to Ruby Red, as well as the second book in a trilogy. I received an ARE of the novel, and did not previously read the first novel.

Overall, I found this novel fairly enjoyable. The novel appears to leave off approximately where the first one leaves off. This in medias rei approach is nice, because the pace of the novel is quick and fun...

At least, for the most part. The "romance" story line was:

a. predictable, &

b. annoying.

The protagonist's waffling between "empowered female" and "why doesn't he care about meee" whining may be realistic, but here's a secret:

Teenage girls who are in love and unsure if those feelings are returned are boring.

At first, as a reader, you're listening to the whining and you're sympathetic. Poor, poor Gwyneth - the guy she likes seems kind of like a dick. Luckily, she realizes this, and can move on to find someone else.

Oh, wait. She's doing that thing where she lets him kiss her because she's still not over him? Well, that's realistic...

& now she's crushed b/c Douchey Love Interest isn't being nice to her again... Who didn't see that coming?

Oh - Gwyneth didn't see it coming? It's not like this behavior is out of the ordinary for him - What is she, mentally deficient?

OMG - she's still going on about this guy! And acting like she wants to die because of some guy she's only known for a few weeks? (Stephenie Meyer - I'm blaming you for this.)

Ok. She needs to shut up, or I'm going to burst my eardrums, on purpose, even though I'm reading this ridiculousness & that action would do me no good.

So, yeah, the romance story line really got on my nerves.

Other than that, though, I found the novel fairly enjoyable.

The time travel important to the story lines of this trilogy is very interesting, particularly because the writing of the time shifts is very well done.

I was able to follow along very well, but still recommend that you read Ruby Red before delving into this story. I got a good feeling for all of the characters, but felt that it would have been a little bit more fun to be revisiting them in Sapphire Blue rather than meeting them for the first time. Also, while I caught on to most of the time travel lingo going on, it probably would have been easier had I read the first novel.

I will say, despite the annoying romance stuff, that I will probably read the next novel (Emerald Green) in the trilogy to find out how the series ends!

Have you been reading this trilogy/novel? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Interesting Description

This Nook Book is free of charge & got good reviews, so I will download & read it. I just find the description something I want to share -- "...eyes as clean as Jesus..."

Yes. Yes, I want to read this. Don't you?

The Small Ones, The Bad Ones & The Predictable Ones

The adjectival title is referring to secrets, the subject of Kate Morton's latest novel, The Secret Keeper.

THIS novel

This novel was the first that I have read by Kate Morton, but was fairly well done, and makes me interested in reading another by her. As you might have guessed, the novel revolves around personal and family secrets, with a juicy murder at the heart of a daughter's investigation into her ailing elderly mother's past.

Is your interest piqued?

Okay, I admit that most descriptions of this novel are going to sound like a trashy TV show that has jumped the shark, but Morton's writing saves what could be an overwrought, plot-crazy novel into something interesting and sweet.

Morton writes characters who are fleshed out and believable, and whom you want to continue reading about, even though you don't like everything about them. Really, there is only one character who is truly despicable in the novel, though a few of the characters do horrible things - and that is one of the possible flaws. The villain is the only character who is not fully fleshed out. Somehow, this lack of detail for that one character worked for me, as a reader. He became a shadowy kind of bogeyman, creeping me out and causing some part of me to want to pull my covers over my head. I do think, though, that this lack of detail for that one character might bother some readers.

Mm... covers

There was one thing that kind of bothered me about this book. There's a "twist" at the end, but I saw it coming at least 2/3 or my way into the reading (possibly earlier, it's taken me awhile to get around to writing this review, and my memory regarding this is fuzzy - but definitely earlier than I was intended to perceive it). I am also, to put it nicely, no Sherlock Holmes. I'm not even an Hercule Poirot, sitting around being nice to the ladies while twirling & admiring my excessively large mustache. So if I can see a twist coming, it's probably pretty obvious to most people - with the exception, perhaps, of the individuals who do not read very often.

Despite having foreseen what was supposed to be a shocking revelation, I continued to enjoy reading this novel. Not in the compulsive, "OMG, this is so horrible, but I have to keep reading it" way that has occurred in the past, either; I was simply enjoying the writing. And while I knew where the writer was going, I was not entirely sure how she was going to get there.

Thus, The Secret Keeper is a pretty good novel that I highly recommend. While I received a free copy for review, I would not have been disappointed to have paid money for it (and might just do that, with the holiday season right around the corner (I'm ignoring the stores that already have Christmas displays up b/c it is TOO EARLY to begin the madness)).

Creepy Craigslist: Romance Denied

Let me explain something... even if she remembers you, she associates you with the scent of urine-soaked excrement.

Romance denied.

I'm going to be annoying - but please read, anyway

I recently discovered that Michael Thomas Ford, author of one of the few Austen adaptations I genuinely enjoyed, is attempting to raise funds to help him release a new novel on Indiegogo.

I am writing about this for a few reasons:

1) I think utilizing Indiegogo to sell books is a pretty cool concept. Particularly since Mr. Ford has had success with getting his books published through a publishing house. The fact that he does not need to self-publish, but is experimenting with it anyway is inspiring. We all need to keep experimenting throughout our lives, mais oui?

Intimate-apparel-turned-hat is optional. However, if you do create a gorgeous sexbot, don't be a weenie. Have sex with it. (Also, if you haven't seen "Weird Science," don't bother - I just ruined it for you.)

2) I think that Mr. Ford is an excellent writer. Therefore, I would like more of his delightful books existing in this crazy world. Life is depressing enough; let's not deprive ourselves of a great book.

3) This book that Mr. Ford is self-publishing sounds kick ass.

...not this kind of kick ass

Seriously, he's writing a fairy-tale-esque adaptation involving a psychic 13-year-old girl named Lily, an evil mother, and a traveling church revival... how awesome does that sound?

That's right - very awesome.

4) Mr. Ford is not quite halfway to his goal monetary amount, and there are only 14 days to go!

5) It only takes $15 to help out. For $15, you can get an e-book copy of the novel. For $25, you can get a paperback. For $35, you can get a hardcover (& e-book copy, if desired).

6) Christmas is coming up - this sale allows you to do a good deed and get some Christmas shopping out of the way!

& who doesn't want more presents from Santa?

So please, check it out at this link. & if it sounds like something you or someone you know well might like, consider buying a copy and showing your support for someone who writes well.

TV Marathons Are Probably Not Good for You

I've been watching a lot of Bones recently - in the past 1.5 weeks, I've watched the entirety of season 1 (oh Netflix, how alluring and tempting art thou!). It's an interesting show, but I really don't like the show as much as could reasonably be expected of a gal who has watched an entire season in 1.5 weeks.

Naturally, this obsession, paired with my inability to explain it, led to my analyzing what, in particular, I didn't like about the show.

Part of it might have been the Deschanel school of acting.

I told you I can't act - you're really not going to get any more out of me.

While Emily is a vastly different type of actress than her sister Zooey, she still manages to be kind of boring. It almost feels like the show's writers wrote a character who doesn't actually have to be acted, since she's supposed to be awkward and stilted, etc. Even so, however, EDeschanel is not entirely convincing.

The biggest factor for me, though, is the genre. According to Wikipedia (which, while not an authoritative source, we all use), Bones is "an American crime comedy-drama." This description is probably fairly accurate. It is not, however, what I expect from the television show. Based on the crimes and jobs involved with the show's story lines and characters, I am always expecting a mystery show. It always kind of feels, to me, like as one of the show's viewers, I am invested in trying to figure out who is perpetrating the often disgusting and gruesome crimes the show revolves around.

Except that solving the crimes is really secondary. Every episode, it seems like the "aloof" Dr. Brennan, who supposedly keeps to herself, is telling someone some intimate detail(s) about her past that make her seem more human (or would, if she were being portrayed by an actress other than Emily Deschanel). So the character development, which I should care about, but don't, is the primary concern of the show. Meanwhile, the interesting cases, which really do interest me, and which occupy much of the screen time of the show, tend to be wrapped up fairly hastily.

Yet the cases continue to attempt to out-do their predecessors, becoming increasingly gruesome and horrifying, which indicates that the cases are considered a definite draw to bring in viewers.

This confuses me. We're supposed to care about the cases, but we're supposed to care more about the (infinitely more boring) characters - to the point that we're not supposed to care that the cases are solved too quickly, without giving viewers that relieved feeling of "Oh good, the mystery has been solved & the world makes sense again." (Like, for example, that feeling derived from most episodes of Veronica Mars.)

Basically, I think I continue to watch Bones b/c I keep expecting it to live up to its' mystery-caliber potential. And I am then continually disappointed b/c the show doesn't live up to that potential. Do you watch any shows like this? & how do you stop the madness of a marathon that you're not particularly enjoying?