Think Like A Writer!!

I came across an article on the Huffington Post titled How to Think Like A Writer by Carolyn Gregoire. In the article, Gregoire writes:

Writing isn't easy. In fact, it can be painfully difficult. Why? Because it's thinking, but on paper. "To write well is to think clearly. That's why it's so hard," said Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author David McCullough 

Many great writers, including Joan Didion and Don DeLillo, have said that their purpose for putting words on paper is to find clarity with their thoughts, and have described the process of writing as one of becoming familiar with their own minds. 

“I find that by putting things in writing I can understand them and see them a little more objectively," Hunter S. Thompson wrote in a 1958 letter. "For words are merely tools and if you use the right ones you can actually put even your life in order." 

If you're a writer, then you're likely both devoted to your craft and eternally frustrated by it -- and even the most talented writers could use guidance from the greats on how to hone their powers of thinking and get those creative juices flowing. Take a cue from the likes of Henry Miller, Zadie Smith and William Faulkner to get into your "writer's mind" and produce your best work.

Click on above link to read the tips on how to think like a writer! 

Friday Finds #36

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...

Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

Okay, so another week has come and I've added another two audiobooks to my repertoire this week from Audible.com.

1. The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
2. My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent

So, which books did you add to your reading wishlist/reading pile?

Shoots to Kill by Kate Collins

Yesterday, I finished reading Shoots to Kill by Kate Collins, which is the seventh cozy mystery novel in 'A Flower Shop Mystery Series' to feature florist and amateur sleuth, Abby Knight. 

I like the 'A Flower Shop Mystery Series' and fictional character, Abby Knight. Shoots to Kill is the fifth novel I've read by Kate Collins and I'm look forward to reading more novels in the 'Flower Shop Mystery Series'.

What did I enjoy about Shoots to Kill? First off, I liked it because it is a cozy mystery novel... I'm a cozy mystery novel enthusiast. I feel that Kate Collins is a good writer, who creates good storylines, filled with interesting characters, nice dialogue and a good amount of drama and red herrings. I didn't guess who the killer was until the end of Shoots to Kill, which is a good thing as who really wants to figure out who the killer is early on? Shoots to Kill is a fast, fun read!!

I'm giving Shoots to Kill an 8 star out of 10 star rating.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Hercule Poirot's Real-Life Model May Have Been Discovered!

I came across an article in The Guardian titled Hercule Poirot's real-life model may have been detected in Torquay by Alison Flood. This is exciting news for me to learn as I'm an Agatha Christie fan. I've read several of Agatha Christie novels and my favorite fictional character created by Ms. Christie is Hercule Poirot. So, to learn that Hercule Poirot may have indeed been modeled on a real life person is an intriguing factoid to learn!

In the above mentioned article, Alison Flood writes the following in her article:

Retired Devon Navy commander Michael Clapp was researching his family history when he discovered that hundreds of Belgian refugees came to the region after the war started. One of them was retired gendarme Jacques Hornais, whose name was recorded by Clapp's grandmother Alice Graham Clapp as having been billeted with a Mrs Potts Chatto. 

"Further down the road [from Mrs Potts Chatto] lived Agatha Christie's family in another quite large house. They obviously knew each other socially," said Clapp. "The coincidence came when I went to Torquay, and someone at the museum dug out an old newspaper article saying that Mrs Potts Chatto had held a meeting to raise money and clothing for the Belgian refugees, and a young girl played the piano there. She turned out to be Agatha Christie." 

Clapp said that Christie had "always said that her inspiration for Poirot came from a Belgian refugee, and he was the only gendarme or detective of any kind I know of to have been sent there. So it's not proof, but it's a pretty good coincidence".

Click on the top link to read the full story. 

Until my next post, happy reading! 

I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

Unabridged Audio Version

I recently listened to I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas by Molly Harper and narrated by Amanda Ronconi. I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas is part of the Half-Moon Hollows series and is approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes in length.

Yes, I know it's a bit early for Christmas holiday reads, but I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas was a free download from Audible.com and a short listen for commuting. 

Listening to I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas was also my first experience with anything written by Molly Harper. Although, I enjoyed Amanda Ronconi's narration of Molly Harper's I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas, I wasn't impressed with the storyline and characters themselves in I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas. 

Sure, there were funny moments in I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas, but I'm still trying to figure out the point of the story. Sure it's about Christmas, spending time with family and friends, along with blending vampires, humans and werewolves together for the holidays.... But it just wasn't much of a story in my opinion. The ending of I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas wasn't much of an ending either... The ending was too tidy for my taste.

The following is a plot summary for I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas from Audible:

It's Christmas in Half-Moon Hollow and newly turned vampire Iris Scanlon-Calix wants to make Gigi's first visit home from college as normal and special as possible. It's taken months for Iris to work up the nerve to spend time around her baby sister after her vampire transition, so she enlists help from Jane Jameson and Company to keep her blood-thirst under control and assure Gigi's safety. Gigi, on the other hand, has problems of her own, including the demise of her relationship with high school sweetheart, Ben, and a looming job interview with Ophelia Lambert, the scariest potential employer in the Hollow. And then there's the small matter of the handsome, frustrating vampire who keeps appearing in Gigi's peripheral vision, then disappearing before she can talk to him. Can the Scanlon sisters negotiate romantic problems, vampire politics, and Christmas cookie disasters and enjoy a relatively normal holiday?

I'm giving I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas by Molly Harper a rating of 5 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Comics That Can Help You Understand Mental Illness

I came across an article on Io9 titled 10 Comics That Can Help You Understand Mental Illness by Lauren Davis. In the article, Davis writes:

Comics don't always have the best track record when it comes to portraying mental illness. In superhero stories, mental illness is often associated with violence and villainy. There are, however, other, often personal, comics that can open your eyes to real human experiences with mental disorders.
Just a heads up: many of these comics deal with self-harm, suicide, and other issues that can be triggering to some individuals.

The comic books mentioned in the above article written by Lauren Davis, sound like intriguing ones to read. I'm all for becoming more educated with regards to various mental health issues and how mental illness effects those who are coping/dealing with one on a daily basis. 

15 Teen Feminist Books to Read!

Being a woman, I can't help but be a feminist! So, when I came across an article on Flavorwire titled 15 Teen Feminist Books Everyone Should Read by Elisabeth Donnelly, I couldn't wait to read the article and share it on my blog.

I've yet to read any of the books mentioned in  Elisabeth Donnelly's article. Most, if not all of them sound like amazing books to read!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I recently listened to the unabridged audio version of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and read by Kate Rudd. 

Wow, what a beautifully written novel!! I'd read several glowing reviews from other book bloggers about their views on The Fault in Our Stars, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to listen to the unabridged download from Audible.com. 

I'm glad that I did listen to The Fault in Our Stars. It is my first experience with anything written by author John Green and his writing is awesome. Mr. Green really captures the teenage soul. The characters are well developed, so is the storyline and I enjoyed the unexpected turns of events in parts. I also felt that The Fault in Our Stars is well read by Kate Rudd. My favorite characters in The Fault in Our Stars are Hazel and Augustus Waters and their relationship.

My only complaint about this novel is how sad it is in parts... I found myself crying during several scenes in this novel beginning in chapter 13 onward due to the nature of cancer/illness as presented in this novel. I don't want to add anymore information than that as I want to avoid spoilers for those who have yet to read The Fault in Our Stars. Don't let the sad scenes/storyline scare you off from reading this book as it is an amazingly well told story and a worthwhile read.

The following is a plot summary of The Fault of Our Stars from Audible:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten. 

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

I'm giving The Fault in Our Stars a rating of 8.5 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

The Booktaker: A Nameless Detective Mystery by Bill Pronzini

I listened to The Booktaker: A Nameless Detective Mystery by Bill Pronzini and read by Nick Sullivan. This is an unabridged audio book and is approximately 90 minutes in length.

This was my first experienced reading or listening to anything written by Bill Pronzini and I really enjoyed this detective/mystery story... I love mystery novels and bookstores, so a mystery read that takes place inside a bookstore for part of the story is good in my book! Add a well developed storyline, good dialogue and nice characters and you have a great read... Or in this case listen! I also thought that Nick Sullivan did a swell job of reading this story.

The following is a plot summary from Audible:

The Nameless Detective is called upon to find out how rare books and maps are being stolen from an antiquarian bookshop with a faultless alarm system. He goes undercover in the store, only to be foiled when a theft occurs right under his nose. Then, as he ponders the case (while on a date with the lovely Kerry), he’s violently struck from behind by a car that seems bent on driving him off the road. Will Nameless survive this attempt on his life and solve the case?

I'm giving The Booktaker: A Nameless Detective Mystery by Bill Pronzini a 7 star out of 10 star rating!

Until my next post, happy reading!!