About Writing, and a Contest

It's been a while since I last posted. A long while. I blame college apps. And homework. And school, for that matter. But mainly college apps. I'm done with college apps now, though, so hopefully I'll have time to post again. I haven't gotten to read much either, sadly. However, I decided to pop in at the end of my winter break here to rave about a particular other blog (and, in the process, inter a competition). I know I'm technically not reviewing a book, so I don't blame you if you don't read this. But it is the blog of an author I'm a fan of, so maybe you'll find this interesting. I don't know. Also, it's still, like, a review. Just of an author's blog instead of an author's book. Anyways.

Maggie Stiefvater is the fairly (aka very) well-known author of the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I read the first book, Shiver, near the end of the summer, and that's one of the next books I'll be blogging about. It's good. I intend to read the others quite soon. But that is not why I am here. I am here because Maggie's blog is amazing.
Now, this contest I'm entering, which is to decide the recipient of a beautiful stack of thirty-five (if I counted right) books that Maggie is giving up. I want these books. Basically, I need to talk about my favorite of all of her posts. Obviously, I am doing a bit more than that. That's not because I'm hoping that praising her and her blog to no end will give me a better chance. It's just because I am the kind of person who goes all out. Especially for these kinds of things. And I didn't want to post some half-baked homage to some random entry of some random lady's blog. I wanted to post a complete and ready-to-serve explanation, description, and analysis of a relevant entry of an inspiring author named Maggie Stiefvater's blog. So that is what you, dear readers, are going to get. If you exist. And if you keep reading.
My favorite post is a fairly recent one titled "Writing the Book I Always Meant To." It's about her newest book, The Scorpio Races, which I absolutely must read. It revolves around one certain piece of advice that she received when she was a teen and is now passing on to us: "write the book you've always wanted to read, but can't find on the shelf." It's also about how she has spent her whole life (pretty much) trying to follow this advice, and how she has finally succeeded.
So, whether I win that gorgeous stack of thirty-five splendid books or not, I thank you, Maggie Stiefvater. Your blog has given me a lot to learn, a lot to be inspired by, and a lot to work towards. And this one post, especially, has shown me that someday, everything I do for my writing will pay off, and my writing will finally be exactly where I want it to be. Basically, you have shown me the light at the end of the tunnel. ...Too morbid? Okay, the silver lining then. You have shown me the brilliant, pure silver lining of this massively large, dark, and oddly-shaped cloud that I think may start raining on me at any moment. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go fetch an umbrella.
UPDATE: Well, it turns out I missed the deadline for this contest, but oh well. This still needed to be said. I think I'll go try to find a way to get Maggie to read this anyways, because, well, I suppose I just want her to know how that post affected me.

First of all, she's hilarious. Just the way she puts everything together, the analogies she makes (and she loves analogies), even the topics she writes about. But that's not why I'm blogging about this. I'm blogging about this because I'm a writer, and many of her posts discuss how she writes and contain good advice for aspiring writers.
Last night I went through her "how I write" tag and read about ten of such posts. I had already read a few, because Goodreads tells me when she blogs, but I've still only read a fraction of them. I would've read more last night, but these posts are fairly long and very thorough, so the ten-ish that I read took up most of my primetime evening (especially since my mom was watching clips of Jimmy Fallon next to me so, naturally, I was multitasking). And then I was really tired so I went to bed.
The thing is, her explanations on how to write - or, how she writes, and how one may approach writing when stuck - are usable. She answers the questions that we aspiring writers all want to know, and she answers them in ways we can understand. Though most of her advice relates to longer pieces, such as novels, it is relevant to all aspects of writing. And though obviously her blog and Jimmy Fallon meant that I had no time to write my own stuff last night, I can't wait to try out some of her techniques and put some of her advice to good use.


First of all, I think that is amazing advice. It's the kind of thing I never would have thought of by myself, but now that I've seen it, it's so obvious. I think that this is the kind of advice that will give you something you are truly passionate about and, when you have completed it, can be proud of. I want to do this. Which means I need to really think about what I want out of the books I read, and put that into my writing.
So... a love triangle that won't let me choose a side, like I talked about in my last post. And maybe a boyband or two.
I jest.
(Except not really.)
(I'll explain.)
(But not now.)
Second of all, Maggie talks about all her attempts to write this book. Because no, she did not one day think, "I know. I know what I want to read; I know what to write," and then go do it. No, she tried to write this book in her teens, at the beginning of her (adult) writing career, in the middle of said career, in the later middle of said career... Many times. She tried to write the book she wanted to read over and over and over again, but never got it exactly right. But after all of these attempts, and after writing many other books and stories, she finally found everything she needed to write this book, most importantly her own - 100% Maggie - style. So this time, she got it right. One of my favorite paragraphs of the post (yes, I am going to quote, just like the good little English student and practiced essay writer that I am) is as follows:

And of course, finally, in chapter 46 of The Scorpio Races, I wrote the scene I'd been imagining since I was my daughter's age: a herd of water horses tearing in from an angry sea. Chapter 46 isn't a very long one, and it wasn't late when I wrote it, but after I finished the last sentence of it, I closed my computer and had to stop writing for the night. It's a weird feeling to finally do something right after doing it wrong for so many years. I knew before that that The Scorpio Races was the best thing I'd written so far, but that was when I really realized I'd written the book I'd wanted to find on the shelf all those years ago.

For me, the idea of experiencing this feeling is wholly fascinating. Just the fact that she tried so many times and never gave up, never got discouraged, is inspiring. The fact that she finally reached the point where she was able to write this book goes to show that practice really does make perfect. All I hear about the world of the writer is that it is a very difficult job, that so many writers struggle and never become successful, but this. This says otherwise. I know Maggie was successful before she wrote The Scorpio Races, but that's a different kind of success. I know personally that it's so easy to become discouraged before you even try to enter the publishing world, because it's practically impossible to be truly satisfied with your own writing. But this shows that it just takes time. You have to go through so much time and effort and writing, writing, writing before you can be totally ready to create something that will complete you. And what she talks about concerning chapter 46... I feel like something like that just validates everything you've ever put into your writing, every hour, every word, every single drop of your soul that you've poured into it. When you reach that, that one moment, everything must finally click. This is why you write. This is why you go through all of this grief to write. This is why you've given up so much to write. And finally you can believe that tiny part of your heart that has been telling you all along that you made all the right decisions, and that someday you would get your reward. This, this feeling, this moment she's talking about - this is your reward. And it is worth everything.
I can't wait.

Indecision

A few months ago, in early April, I gave my dad a short speech about how what I really wanted to read was a book in which the protagonist (who, in the majority of the books I read these days, is a girl) had to choose between two boys and I couldn't choose who my favorite was. In all the books I've ever read that feature love triangles, I've always known who I want the girl to end up with from the very beginning. For Bella, I chose Edward over Jacob; for Katniss, I chose Peeta over Gale; for Clary, I chose Jace over Simon; for Tessa, I chose Will over Jem; for Ellie, I chose Will over Gavin (and I think over Kamil, too, but I still haven't finished those and I never really got to know him); for Jacky, I chose Jamie over... well, everyone else, haha; etc. This is not to say I got them all right; maybe I did, maybe I didn't (not telling). The point is, I always knew my choice, even when the girl didn't know hers. I always knew who I wanted her to be with. After so many books in which I was never uncertain, I wanted one in which I was. I wanted a book with a love triangle, where the girl couldn't choose between two boys and I couldn't either. Less than a week later, I found one. I give you The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Mary has grown up listening to her mother's stories. Stories of a time, before the Return, when the Unconsecrated were not a constant danger, when the village was not an island of life in a sea of death, when there was a world outside the fences. Stories of a place called the ocean, where there is only water as far as you can see, and where the water is always moving, and where the water is filled with salt. And Mary feels restless. But the Sisterhood knows best, and it is not good to ask questions. Mary knows this, and she knows that soon her friend Harry will ask her to the Harvest Celebration, and next spring they will be married. Even though she wishes his brother Travis would ask her instead. But before she can accept her future with Harry, her mother is bitten by an Unconsecrated and released to the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Her brother Jed blames her, and he turns her out of their house. And since Harry fails to claim her, Mary's only choice is to join the Sisterhood, and relinquish what little freedom she has. But the unprecedented arrival of an Outsider from somewhere past the fences sets off a chain of events that leaves Mary and her loved ones without a home and with no choice but to venture beyond the fences and into the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

This book is a "postapocalyptic romance." Yes, it is about zombies. No, it is not a zombie massacre book. I think the Unconsecrated (aka the zombies) are just a vessel for the story, and they are dealt with sophisticatedly and sans cliches. The threat of the Unconsecrated is only the primary adversity the characters face; they are in a truly life-and-death situation. This is a story about the variable resilience of faith in personal beliefs, and it is a story about the bonds that hold people together, their mercurial strength in the face of hardship, and how they are broken. These are two beautiful themes, in my opinion. And it is a captivating book in all areas: the themes, the writing, the romance, the impossible journey, the secrets, the Unconsecrated. The writing is a curious combination of formal and informal, both beautifully simple and fascinatingly complex. The characterization is thorough and compelling; all the main characters have personal strengths and weaknesses, and they are all believable. Mary is a truly inspiring protagonist; she is strong and determined and stays true to herself. And Sister Tabitha is a very intriguing quasi-antagonist.
But, as I hinted in my introduction above, I think my favorite part of this novel is the love triangle. Travis or Harry? Harry or Travis? Mary is smitten with Travis at the outset, but her feelings fluctuated, and so did mine. In fact, I believe mine fluctuated more than hers! It was unprecedented. First I favored Harry, and then Travis, and then Harry again, and then Travis again, and then, and then, etc, etc. It was such an invigorating feeling, not being able to choose. And, as an added positive, it caused me to be very attached to both of them, as people and as love interests. I truly believe this is the first book I have read that has fostered such romantic indecision in me, and for this, I commend it to no end.

There's a movie page for The Forest of Hands and Teeth on IMDb, but the information is limited to writers (screenplay and novel), producer, and production attorney (...what?). It says 2011, but I can't imagine that's the truth, if they don't even have a director yet, let alone primary cast. According to Carrie Ryan's blog and the Seven Star Pictures site, it is a current project, though they say it is expected to come out in 2012 (makes a lot more sense to me). For this kind of book, the movie could go either way, but I would definitely see it. I feel like even if they don't get all the details right, and even if I don't agree with their casting choices, it will still be an amazing movie to watch, especially in theaters. Ha. I'm gonna cry so much. I forgot to say, this book made me cry more than just about every other book I've ever read. Second only to Deathly Hallows. I cried a lot. Anyways, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

There is a sequel - three, actually - though I'd say they're more of companions. I believe there are some of the same characters, but the stories belong to new and different protagonists. There is no cliff hanger at the end of The Forest of Hands and Teeth; you do not have to read the others. I'm going to, though. I already have the second book, The Dead-Tossed Waves. The third book is called The Dark and Hollow Places. And the third companion, which is really a prequel to the first, is called Hare Moon. It is about Sister Tabitha. I intend to read it. I like Carrie Ryan's writing, and I like the stories, so I'm gonna read all of them.

Thanks to... huh. I don't think I have anyone to thank for this. That's... unfortunate. Oh, I suppose I could thank Madeleine, my wonderful friend, who you will definitely hear a lot more about in the future, for reading this book after me, even though I sprung it on her at a really random time. And for finishing it really fast, so we could talk about it at that special sleepover when she finished reading the Hunger Games series to me and I started reading the Mortal Instruments series to her. She's pretty cool. So thanks, Maddie.

Recommendation: This is for sure YA, not that other people won't like it, but just be aware. If you like postapocalyptic romances, this is the book for you. If you like a little mystery mixed in, this has it. If you enjoy reading about zombies but are sick of all the usual stuff, check this out. And if, like me, you just want a book with a love triangle that you can't make up your mind about, this is the answer to your prayers. It was the answer to mine. I still can't get over how soon after I ranted to my dad I found exactly what I was looking for. I loved it.

Ten Percent

Earlier this summer I went to a week-long writing workshop at the home of a local YA author. It was awesome. See, because I want to be a writer. And I feel like the workshop really helped cement that decision in me. And it helped me become a better writer and a more critical reader, which is an incredibly important aspect to writing. Anyway, before the workshop, in order to have a common medium for talking about things, we all read The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson. It's very thought-provoking, both in the story and the writing. At one point I was going to use it in one of my college essays, if that says anything, but that didn't end up working out. Anyway, tadaaaa!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just woken up from a year-long coma that resulted from a car accident. She cannot remember the accident, and she cannot remember anything from before it. She doesn't recognize her mom, or her dad, or her grandma; she doesn't even recognize herself. They have given her family videos documenting her whole life, some of which begin to spark too-vivid memories, but there is something wrong. There is something wrong with the her parents' story, and there is something wrong with her. All Jenna wants is to live a normal life, to live her own life. And maybe to know the truth. What really happened the night of the accident? Are all these memories really hers? Whose voices scream for her help when no one is around? And who is Jenna Fox, really?

This is the kind of book that gets in your head and eats your brain for snack, and then you're just like ...Wait, what? I kid you not. It's blow-your-mind twisty (means it has twists, people; use your noggins). It's slightly futuristic, as in, it's not at all, but there are borderline sci-fi elements that can't be ignored. Very mysterious. Also, the idea that this book surrounds is just crazy. How on earth did Mary E. Pearson come up with it? I'm still getting little "aha!" moments from it, and I read it like... weeks ago. Anyways, like I said, this book is super thought-provoking and will leave your mind spinning for days. And, the characters are so interesting! Lily and Dane especially, if you ask me, though I was expecting more of a storyline for one of them (no, I won't tell you whom). And Jenna, of course. Watching her struggle with her conflicting needs to know the truth, protect herself, and save her loved ones is familiar, and seeing the choices she makes is inspiring. Also, I feel like this book is secretly about every teenager's uncertainty about who they are and if they're normal.
Another really interesting thing about this book is the writing style. Little chaptered scenes divided by (usually) single-paged, poetically-flowing snippets of thought, on slightly darker paper. And it's the kind of writing that is wonderfully easy to read, that just streams through your head like you're drinking it. A bit of a page-turner, too, but it just glides so easily, on and on and on like you're not even turning pages. The kind of book you could curl up in a chair and read in a day, without lifting your eyes to look out the window or getting up for a snack even once. You wouldn't notice the time passing, because it flows just as smoothly as the words.

As far as I know there is no movie, which is kind of good cause I really don't know how they would do that. Actually, scratch that. That would be incredibly easy for them to do. Obviously everyone should ignore me because I have no idea what I am talking about.

ThereisgonnabeasequelandIamsuperjuiced. It's coming out this August on the 30th!!!!!!!!! And it's called The Fox Inheritance. It's gonna be awwwwesommmmme.

Thanks to Deborah, for having the writing workshop, because it was an amazing week. And thanks to all the wonderful friends I made there. I don't want to name everyone, though I will say that one of the best non-writing activities I took part in was hot-actor-obsessing with Riley, Courtney, and Amy. Which was so much fun.

Recommendation: Technically, this is a YA book, but I know adults would like it, too. Let's say, anyone who likes some good thought-provoking sci-fi. Anyone who wants to be left with something to continue turning over in their mind for days afterwards. Moral dilemmas abound, so if you like those, go for it. And anyone who wants a book that they can just sink into and flow through, as easy as gliding down one of those lazy inner-tube rivers at a water park.

Heartthrob Numero Uno del Mundo

Here's something fun: At the beginning of the summer, I made it my goal to read as many of the literary classics as I could. Here's something not so fun: Due to an inordinate amount of summer homework and college shopping, I have only had time to read one. And summer's almost over. I am going to continue on this little venture, though, because used copies are fairly cheap at Pegasus, so when I went, I ended up getting about twenty million and spending all my money. Basically, I have muchos libros classicos (I am such a pro at Spanglish), and I am very excited to read them, summer or school year. Anywho, the one book I have read is none other than Pride and Prejudice by none other than Jane Austen. I really don't think I need to summarize this book, but whatever. Here goes.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Bennet family lives a good life in their home at Longbourn, but this will end as soon as Mr. Bennet dies. When he passes, Longbourn will be entailed to Mr. Collins (a cousin), and his family will be without a home. Because of this, Mrs. Bennet is anxious to get her five daughters married off to respectable young men as soon as possible. The daughters are as follows: Jane, the beautiful eldest, is idealistic and optimistic, and can only think the best of people; Elizabeth is headstrong, practical, and her father's favorite; Mary is antisocial and focused on her studies, and is wholly unconcerned with men and marriage; Catherine, or Kitty, is shy, naïve, and frivolous; and Lydia, the youngest, who is even more naïve and frivolous, but not at all shy, is boy-crazy and extremely foolish. When the wealthy Mr. Bingley moves in to Netherfield, bringing his two sisters, one brother-in-law, and one friend, Mrs. Bennet is sure that he will make a wonderful husband for one of her girls. He takes an immediate liking to Jane, who takes an immediate liking to him as well, so that seems like a done deal. And maybe his friend, Mr. Darcy, could marry another one of her girls? But no, that is not to be; Darcy's arrogance and standoffishness make him quite despised by everyone in town, especially Elizabeth. She takes an immediate dislike to him, and he returns the sentiment. Meanwhile, a militia regiment has arrived to nearby Meryton, and is staying the whole winter. Kitty and Lydia become quite smitten with all the men, while Elizabeth strikes up a flirtatious acquaintance with the favorite, Mr. Wickham. But there is more to Wickham than meets the eye, and it seems that he and Darcy, who is paying Elizabeth a bit more attention than either of them expected (though the attention is antagonistic), have had a very rocky past relationship. To make matters even more complicated, Mr. Collins, the cousin who will inherit Longbourn when Mr. Bennet passes, comes to visit - and to choose a bride among the sisters? Mild scandal ensues on all fronts, especially when it appears Bingley did not fancy Jane as much as everyone had thought - and when Darcy appears to have unwillingly developed feelings for the least likely Bennet daughter.

This book is long! Really long! It took me (exactly) two weeks to read! Wait, that doesn't sound like a very long time. But it is! And it felt long! (Ooh... Nope. Don't say it. I see what I wrote, now let's just forget that happened.) Three hundred and seventy-three pages of the smallest type you have ever seen in a real-life novel! I am not kidding! The chapters were short, though, so I often ended up reading for a lot longer than I planned. (You know, the "I'll just read one more chapter, it won't take long" deal.)
Also, the language is true to the time period, ergo very decorous. Big words + formal syntax + early nineteenth century England = sometimes I would read a whole paragraph without any inkling of what it meant = I did a lot of rereading of passages. But after a while, I kind of got into a rhythm with it, so I understood it better and sometimes found myself thinking in that style of language even when I wasn't reading, which was fun and exciting and made me feel highly cultured. So although it is a slow read, it is also an enjoyable read. At least, it was for me.
Anyway, this book is great. I mean, I can for sure understand why it's considered a classic. I'm pretty sure we all know how it ends, or at least who the poster couple of this book is, but if you don't know and don't want to know, skip the rest of this paragraph because it is about to be fraught with SPOILERS. Watching the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy shift and grow is a delicious treat and extremely satisfying. I mean really, who doesn't love sexual tension? (Although, if Jane Austen or any of her characters heard me say that, I would be completely shunned by their entire society.) And Jane and Bingley are incredibly cute. Mr. Bennet is hilarious, Mrs. Bennet is infuriating, Kitty is adorably silly, Lydia is appallingly frustrating, and Mr. Collins is all four of those things. Mary is dismissible, awkward, and, though I feel bad saying this, a bit pathetic. Bingley's sisters drive me nuts, and his brother-in-law is even more dismissible than Mary. Wickham is more or less despicable and extremely good at throwing away my respect, though he starts off disarmingly charming; however, I couldn't help loving him, and I fully blame the TV miniseries Lost in Austen, which I stupidly watched before reading the book. There are loads of other distinctive characters whose names I could never keep straight. And their society seems so shallow and frivolous - I found myself simultaneously looking down on and laughing at the general population. Despite this, it's incredibly interesting to get a peek at the culture of the time.
Also, Mr. Darcy is Heartthrob Number One of the world.
I think what I found most interesting about Jane Austen's writing is that there are next to no physical descriptions of the characters. I mean sure, we get handsome or beautiful, and we get some general ideas of height, weight, and build, but nothing concrete that can be used to form a picture in your head. Nothing about hair or eye color, nothing about facial features, nothing about anything like that. Oh, I think she does refer to some of the characters as "fair," but still, that's pretty much nothing. It's kind of cool, because then the picture you form in your head is completely yours and defined by what you find attractive, but I don't know if everyone would like that much freedom. Of course, you don't really notice. I didn't notice until after I had already finished the book. It's really interesting that she gave the reader so much freedom, though, in my opinion.


Now, we all know that there is no sequel to Pride and Prejudice, unless you count the numerous ones by other authors, and I don't. But, as we all also know, Jane Austen wrote many other novels, and I bet they are just as good. I am super duper juiced to read them, although none of them are at the top of my summer-of-classics list, mostly because I haven't bought any of them yet. But I do intend to read them at some point.


We all just happen to also know that Pride and Prejudice has been adapted many, many times, most notably in the 1995 BBC television miniseries starring the fantabulous Colin Firth, and the 2005 film starring Matthew MacFadyen and Keira Knightley. I am currently feeling a desperate need to watch the series, which I have never seen before, and to rewatch the movie, which I have. However, neither is streamable on Netflix, which is lame. I will have to get the series from the library, but at least I can borrow the movie from Melinda or Lily, who are both Pride and Prejudice fanatics. I will do that soon.

Thanks to Pegasus for having a gorgeous new copy for only five bucks, and pre-thanks to Melinda and/or Lily, for letting me borrow the movie. You guys are swell and I heart Pegasus!

Recommendation: Anyone who is interested in the classics, and/or is interested in the society and style of early nineteenth-century England. Anyone who appreciates a good romance and SPOILER a happy ending END SPOILER. It's all very appropriate, but, due to the highly decorous language, I'd wait for high school, or at least middle school. (I know middle schoolers can do it if they really want to and put their minds to it.) Really, though, I'm sure pretty much everyone knows enough about this book to know if they can and want to handle it.

"It's All Exactly True."

This past year in English 3 Honors we read a well-known but understated book called The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien. Earlier this week, in preparation of possibly writing a college essay about it, I reread it, and took substantial notes in the margins. Personally, I see writing in books as a minor form of sacrilege, but sometimes I need my notes right there, and anyways, I only write in used books. The point is, this book actually means a lot to me.

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

This is kind of a hard book to summarize. It's a series of metafictional, semi-autobiographical short stories that take place during (or in connection with) the Vietnam War. The narrator is a young soldier named Tim O'Brien who shares many significant characteristics with the author (most obviously being that they both fought in the Vietnam War). However, even if it matters to you, it's very hard to tell what is real and what is fiction (for example, he very convincingly speaks of his daughter Kathleen, who is absolutely no more than a character in the book). Although, there are times when he explicitly says that a certain thing is made up - not that you can believe him when he says that. It's all about the art of storytelling; he really shows how sometimes in order to make the reader really understand the story, it can't be all true. Sometimes it can't be true at all. Anyways, these short stories, though able to stand alone, are meant to be read together, and in the order they are in. There are things that just click when you read the book the way it's supposed to be read. Like how as you move through the book, it seems like it's just about this guy's time in the war, but it's really about the bond between all the men in the Alpha Company, but it's really about the effect the war had on all of them, but it's really about how to tell a true war story, but it's really about how true the truth actually is. Really, it's about stories, how they arrive, how they affect people, their importance, all of that. And at first you think he's writing all of this because the war really damaged him, and this is how he is dealing with that, but in the last chapter, he introduces a new aspect of his life that affected him deeply, and you realize that this, this, is the real reason for everything. Which completely changes your view of the entire book.
So when you read it again, you get a whole lot more out of it.

I think it's safe to say that this is the only book I have ever read for school that I have actually liked (excluding Shakespeare). I mean, for me, school really ruins books. You are forced to read certain books, and in a certain amount of time, which I find really takes the enjoyment out of reading. Also, English teachers these days go way overboard with the analyzing. I mean really, I would rather not know why the blue house in Beloved has the address 124. (Besides, I kind of feel like they were finding meaning in that number where there wasn't supposed to be any.) In my experience, school turns reading into a chore.
But reading this was not a chore. I fell behind in reading many of the past year's school-assigned books, and usually just skimmed the endings, but for this, I read ahead. Which never happens for me with school books. But I was more or less enthralled by both Tim O'Brien's writing style and his many interweaving stories. I mean, I feel like I did a lot of reviewing in my summary (oops...), but I don't know; this book is really hard to explain. His characters, all of them, are incredibly real and distinct, and it's easy to imagine that they're all as real as Tim himself (because even if the narrator is not the same as the author, thinking of them - him - as two different people is not even an option), and that they all have lived real, human lives. Every single character has a history and a future, though not all of them are told. The stories, though separate, flow spectacularly. And the way he writes, where he emphasizes his own twisting of the truth in an effort to give the story the impact it deserves, is thoroughly fascinating. As the story and its themes evolve, so did my ideas about both it and the art of storytelling. And, being a writer myself, this was invaluable; I see my own style as being similar in a number of ways to that of Tim O'Brien, so this book really gave me a kind of stylistic goal to emulate. This book is really a role model for me.
And I definitely can't wait to read more of his writing.

I don't know if there's a movie, and I don't really care. I don't. There is no way they could satisfactorily capture the writing style, because that's what it is. It's not in ANY way a style, it's a writing style. The beauty in it comes from the reading of it. What? What? Fine. You know what? Fine. I'll look it up.
Okay, so in an NPR interview from March 2010, Tim O'Brien said it has been optioned many times, but it hasn't yet reached the big screen.
However, according to Wikipedia, one of the stories, "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," was adapted in 1998, into a film starring Kiefer Sutherland, titled A Soldier's Sweetheart.
Happy?
Oh, thanks. Now I kinda want to watch that... AND it's got Georgina Cates! She was in An Awfully Big Adventure, which was really good despite the title. I watched that when I was home alone after the SAT. It's got Alan Rickman in it (which is, of course, why I watched it). And I can totally see her as Mary Anne! Geez...
Ooh, good, it's not streamable on Netflix. Now I won't be tempted.
Except I still am.
I blame this on you guys.

I suppose I should thank the English 3 Honors teachers for making me read this, but I really don't want to. Hey, thanks to Sarah, my college essay coach, for helping me choose to write an essay about The Things They Carried, so leading me to read it again. I got a lot out of it the first time, but I definitely got even more out of it the second time.

Anyways, splendid book.

Recommendation: Oooh. Umm, let's see. I'd say this is a good read for anyone who just wants to read a book about the Vietnam War, or any war, really, because the effect of war on those involved does not differ between wars. It's a better read for someone interested in alternative writing styles, or who wants to read an engaging manual on storytelling (though it's so much more than that). And anyone who just wants to read a really good book. However, it is about war, so there is death, and there is also a fair amount of foul language. If you find this offensive, or are young (high school is definitely fine, and I know I at least could have managed it in middle school - well, maybe not sixth grade, cause that was my stab-people-with-pencils-whenever-they-swear-in-hearing-range phase). Also, and this is a BIG also, there is some animal cruelty. Enough in the second instance (there are two) that I both wanted to cry and felt sick. For some people, this will be a huge problem - I told my mom that even though she'd like the rest of it, I thought she should absolutely NOT read it. I flat out told her not to, because I know that that stuff really gets to her, and I didn't want her to just skip those bits, because you have to read all of the book, in the sequence it was meant to be read, in order to get everything out of it that you can. I beg you, if you do decide to read The Things They Carried, to please follow this one bolded statement.

Midnight Cravings for Spoonfuls of Honey

We're done with all things Percy for now, because, truthfully, there are no things Percy left at the moment. But recently I read a really good book that I kind of can't get over. It is called Chalice, is by Robin McKinley, and inspired a bit of a honey-and-bee obsession in me that pops back up every once in a while. I know many of the terms in the following summary are going to be unfamiliar and/or confusing, and I'm sorry about that; it's because this book is about a society that, as far as I know, is quite unlike any current societies. Please bear with me.

Chalice by Robin McKinley

Mirasol is just a simple beekeeper who can feel the earthlines of her demesne a little bit more than most - until the out-of-control Master of Willowlands and his inexperienced Chalice die tragically. Willowlands and its earthlines are thrown into turmoil, taking Mirasol with them, and the last thing she expects is to be told that she has been chosen to be the next Chalice. Fueled by a desperate need to save her demesne, Mirasol tries to fulfill her role with no one to train her in her duties as Chalice or teach her the ways of the Circle. Then the old Master's younger brother, who should have been Master instead, returns to succeed him. But the new Master has been with the priests of Fire for seven years and is now too far into Fire to live among ordinary people; he may not even be human anymore. The only way Mirasol can save her demesne, and the only way she can save herself, is to bind Willowlands, its people, and its disintegrating Circle to a new Master, one who is so much a part of Fire that his touch burns human skin.

Unlike most of what I read these days, this book is mainly exposition and long, beautifully crafted descriptions, and has less action and dialogue than I'm used to. That's far from bad, though. It was relaxing to read and flowed easily, and the imagery was deliciously vibrant. The numerous descriptions of a hundred types of honey were so vivid and appealing, during the entire four days I spent reading Chalice, I constantly craved it. I still get hankerings every once in a while; for example, last week I spent half an hour stirring some into a glass of cold milk (because I wanted it cold, that's why). And right now, I could really go for some coconut pancakes with lavender honey. Do they even make lavender honey? They should. It sounds heavenly. Also, the expository sections epitomized great grammar and were chock-full of splendid vocabulary. I had to look up a good number of words (mainly adjectives, I seem to recall, not that it matters), but I'm pretty sure Robin McKinley increased my IQ by about a million points. The writing was very formal, too, as was the dialogue (there may not have been a whole lot, but it was there), which also made me feel smart and sophisticated. And feeling smart and sophisticated is always fun.
This is one of those stories that, at random points throughout the novel, led me to sit back and try to comprehend how the author thought of it. I really don't know. It is such a unique storyline, and so complicated, with all these breathtaking little nuances, and I just have no idea how Robin McKinley came to create it. And then, of course, she put it together gorgeously, and populated it with incredibly real characters.
Mirasol, first of all, is a wonderful character. Her task seems almost hopeless, and she struggles with it, but she does not give up. And despite the pressure from the rest of the Circle for her to conform to traditional Chalice convention, she stays true to herself and her beliefs, and paves her own way as her own Chalice. She is incredibly strong. The Master is also spectacularly designed; the reader cheers for him as he fights to regain his humanity and keep his demesne together, and feels for him as he grapples with the fear that he will and should fail. Even the Grand Seneschal is a compelling character, and it is never obvious whose side he's on.
There are elements of fantasy and historical fiction in Chalice, though they are both subtle. Even more subtle is the element of romance (which you all know I love). It's so subtle, it can be rounded down to being not even there. Only I could pull something like that out of the book. From the beginning, I wanted Mirasol and the Master to be together, just because I wanted somebody to be together and they were the first possible couple I came across. But that idea was so barely touched on, and so taboo in their society, that I couldn't decide whether or not it would actually be part of the story. I know now, of course. And guess what? I'm not telling!
Despite the formal, relaxed, expository composition of this novel, it does have a very riveting climax. I couldn't put the book down near the end, there. Obviously, I hoped for a happy ending, but as I approached the climax, it was impossible for me to tell if there would be one. (And once again, I'm not telling!)

Chalice is not part of a series, and the end does not leave room for a second, but Robin McKinley has written quite a few other books, some of which are award-winning. I loved Chalice, and I , for one, cannot wait to read more of her books. Her writing is positively scrumptious.

Thanks go to the marvelous Lily, who read this because I wanted her to, even though it's not really her style. Like all the books I read, she thought it was "weird," though I do believe she enjoyed it at least a little. As far as I can tell, she views all books that aren't strictly fiction of nonfiction as weird. Which I find hilarious. In general, Lily is hilarious. Love you, my dear!

Recommendation: Anyone who has an appreciation for well-crafted writing, or beautiful and unique societies. Anyone who wants to improve his or her vocabulary, and have a delightful time doing so. Anyone who likes to be surprised, and doesn't like to be able to predict everything. Not people who don't like long descriptions, or need excessive action and dialogue. Though the content is suitable for all ages (in my opinion), I don't recommend this book to preteens or younger, unless we're talking about a spelling bee champion or something. I think fifteen, or ambitious fourteen, is a good cut-off age. In my experience, anyone younger could get easily frustrated with the advanced vocabulary and complex writing structure. Of course, they would probably get bored from the lack of action first. But Chalice is really good, so if you feel you fit these criteria, you should definitely check it out.

Another Little Dose of Percy

So I know I made a gargantuan deal about The Last Olympian being the end of Percy, but the oh-so-generous Rick Riordan has given us something amazing: a sequel series. Now, The Heroes of Olympus has a new cast of characters, though the old are still very present as well (thank the gods), and it's about a lot more than the children of the Greek gods. Percy isn't even in the first book, really. Which makes me sad. But this book is seriously just what any Percy fan needs after finishing the original Percy series. And so we begin with book one, The Lost Hero. There are, however, SPOILERS AHEAD for the original series. This is a new series, so you don't need to read the first series before reading this one, but I really think you should. You'll just appreciate it way more. And Percy is the best, so I really don't know why you would want to skip five books of him him him!

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Jason, Piper, and Leo, three new demigods, are the protagonists of this book, and it switches between their points of view every two chapters. The story starts when Jason wakes up on a bus full of "bad kids," with no idea who he is or where he came from. Piper and Leo, his supposed girlfriend and best friend, are upset that he doesn't remember them, but he is absolutely positive he has never seen them before in his life. He has no idea what's going on, but everything just feels wrong. And then he has to fight some storm spirits and learns he can fly. All in a day's work, right? Here we get our first character reunion: Annabeth and a guy named Butch show up to take our three new friends to Camp Half-Blood, where they discover that they are demigods. Leo, with his always-moving hands and talent with tools, is an obvious fit for the Hephaestus cabin. He would feel right at home, too, if it weren't for the cabin's curse and the metal dragon terrorizing the camp. Piper, on the other hand, doesn't think she belongs anywhere, especially since her dad went missing and she's been getting horribly realistic dreams telling her that the only way to get him back is to betray her friends. And Jason is discovered to be a new son of Zeus - no, wait, Jupiter. As some of his memories come back, he begins to piece together a past in which he belonged to a whole different demigod society, one that has been kept forcibly separate from Camp Half-Blood so long that only Chiron knows of it. Meanwhile, some camper that seems to be famous at camp, a teen named Percy Jackson, (who is also Annabeth's boyfriend, yay!!!) is missing, and the other campers are distraught. And Hera, the queen of the gods, has been imprisoned by a mysterious and powerful force. Something very, very bad is brewing in the world of the gods, who have gone silent at the worst possible time. It is up to none other than Jason, Piper, and Leo to rescue Hera and uncover the truth of what's going on.

I am ashamed to say I didn't finish this book until almost six months after it came out. This is because part way into reading it, I began my five-month long bookfast. OH, THE SHAME! Yes, people, for five months the only reading I did (aside from school-assigned reading, which doesn't count) was on the computer. That's five months of staring at a bright screen, and five months without turning pages. I eventually forced my way back into real reading, which was difficult, but felt incredibly good. I'm never leaving books again!

So I finally finished it, and boy, was I pleased! Well, mostly, but I'll explain that later. First of all, reading about the demigods of Camp Half-Blood and all the characters from the original series was like coming home, and coming back to all my best friends. It was wonderful. Annabeth, Thalia, Rachel, Chiron, some Clarisse, the Stoll brothers; they're practically all there. And there are so many new characters, both good and bad; besides the main three, we meet Butch, Clovis, Drew, Coach Hedge, and many more. As always, Rick Riordan sneakily educates us, this time on Boreas and Aeolus, Medea, Midas, and many more. Also as always, he does it with the perfect combination of action, humor, and teenage angst. This is a wonderful start to the perfect follow-up series that so many of us desperately need.

I do have some problems, though. I mean, I love the story, and I love the writing; nothing's changed there. But this series isn't told in first person, which I think doesn't allow the reader to make as personal of a connection with the narrating character(s). And I also think it doesn't allow Rick Riordan to write in as humorous a voice as he used before, which makes me sad. And then there is that whole thing about how darn much I miss Percy's narrating.
{I guess you could say that I'm about to get into some very slight SPOILERS for this book - and by "very slight" I mean I'm just going to talk about which characters I missed because they weren't in this book. If you don't want to read this part, just skip this next paragraph.}
The other problem I had, and the main problem I had, is just the fact that I missed people. Clarisse isn't mentioned enough (though she is there, thank goodness). Tyson and Grover aren't there (at least not very much at all, because I sure can't remember them being there). Nico isn't in it at all, which really disappointed me because he's such an interesting and complex character, and one of my favorites. And then, of course, there's Percy, who is the "lost hero" in the title. He is MIA during the entire book, though Rick Riordan throws us lots of bones in the form of extremely pleasing references to him (and to his relationship with Annabeth, heehee). This made me so distraught that when I finally finished the book at one in the morning, I had a small but violent Percy-deprivation seizure in my bed and had to fetch my copy of The Last Olympian and read all my favorite parts (which kept me up till three, thus ruining my brain functionality for the following day). However, I am pleased to say that - SMALL SPOILER - the sneak peek of the second book (titled The Son of Neptune, hiphiphooray) on Rick Riordan's website is, while still in third person, entirely in Percy's point of view. So that is DEFINITELY something to look forward to!

Anyway, my final assessment is that The Lost Hero is totally wicked and the perfect fix for all fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians who cried themselves to sleep the night they finished the fifth book and thought it was All. Over.

The next book, The Son of Neptune, is set to come out October 4th. Who's camping out at Barnes & Noble with me?

And, if they do end up making the entire Percy series into movies, well... I mean I guess the movies could get better, in which case I might want them to make this series into movies as well, but for now I'm going to judge them solely on their performance with the Lightning Thief and say PLEASE GOD don't let them continue. At this point, I don't think I could bear it. 

Big huge thanks to Rick Riordan for continuing his Camp Half-Blood stories, ergo saving my life. 'Cause I probably would have died if Percy really had been gone for good. Also, thank you for continuing with the age group instead of starting with new twelve-year-old characters. This way, I continue to grow up with the characters, who tend to be almost exactly my age. It's really fun for me.

Recommendation: EVERYONE, at least everyone who likes to read and/or laugh, who is interested in mythology, who wants to get back into reading, etc. Mainly teens and preteens. Also, EVERYONE WHO READ AND LOVED PERCY. And preferably not people who haven't read Percy; i.e., if you haven't, do so now.