What's Up?

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So, what are you guys doing these days? Working on a manuscript? Trying to get back into gear after Christmas? Just relaxing with a book?

University has started, so I'm spending a lot of time studying, but with it I'm working on getting an Icelandic book published. I kind of feel out of sorts, though, because I feel that I should be writing (and not waiting for the kid-betas to finish reading). It's just that I'm so excited about this project that I find it hard to put it aside and dive back into my YA novel. 

It's not like I've been doing nothing in January, though. I did polish the Icelandic MG manuscript, and I have a schedule I'm sticking to. It's a darn good novel, might I add, so I have a good feeling about this one. 

Going back to my YA manuscript looks so daunting. I just need to do what Rachael Harrie advised: Take it in sections. Smaller parts are always more manageable.

Is everyone else being super active in their writing? 

Oh! And don't forget to enter the Trilogy Contest for some awesome prizes! 

Matched

Not an image of my copy...or you'd see a tiny little nibble on the margin.

I only have a hundred pages left of Matched today and I don't want it to end! And yet I can't help but turn the pages. I should be studying, but since I'm ahead of schedule, I'm indulging myself. I read some reviews saying that there was too much focus on the Society, but what I love about that is that I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen next. Two hundred and sixty pages in and I haven't figured out the ending, although I believe I have solved one of the tangles. I haven't been so engrossed in a book since Cynthia Hand's Unearthly, and it was a long time before that when I was so hooked on a book. 

I read Forest of Hands an Teeth in between and started on two galleys from Netgalley (but I'm easily distracted from both, only about three chapters in...). Nearing the ending of Forest of Hands and Teeth, I just wanted the main character to jump over the fence and be eaten by the zombies. Sheesh. But I did read the whole thing, so obviously there was something that kept up my curiosity. I'm not going to invest in the next books in the series though.

What is the last book that sucked you in so hard that you couldn't put it down?

Chapter 71.45: BookCrossing

More than twenty years ago, Sting sang "Free, free, set them free. ... If you love somebody, if you love someone, set them free."

His grammatical error aside (someone ... them), the former teacher offered good advice for lovers everywhere. Now book lovers can follow his advice. Just before Christmas, the New York Times ran a pleasant little article about BookCrossing, which helps people adopt stray books. Perhaps that's overstating things a bit; it seems from the article that these books are neither neglected nor truly abandoned. Indeed, it is as Sting sang: if you love them, set them free.

I've not yet signed up, though it's possible I will. I find myself adopting books often, though I've not left any published works on their own. It goes against my grain to leave a book, but perhaps this site will help me send books that I won't read again to someone who will enjoy them.

Indeed, their hope is to turn the whole world into a library. I likethat. To me, the world is a story factory, but that doesn't preclude it from being a library too. I've had several inspirational moments smack me in the head at libraries (a few pretty girls too, but that's a different story).

But it also appears to be a wonderful, inexpensive way for new authors to share their books and perhaps create an audience. I don't know if that has worked yet, but it is something I'd be willing to try once I've gotten my novel (and its successors) published.

So I encourage you to check out BookCrossing.com No library card required.

Chapter 71.1: Easing Into 2008

Excuse me. I didn't mean to make all that noise as I sat down into a comfy chair to relax for four days. I'm sure I'll move again before the year is out, but I need these days off to regain some energy and the prospect of heading out for Amateur Night isn't making me all warm and fuzzy.

I have much to be happy about that I accomplished in 2007. I "refinished" my novel and I'll make some changes in early 2008 before actively pursuing representation. I also reached several other goals that I had set for myself. So, all in all, I feel pretty good about the passing year.

But 2008 will be mighty different, I believe. Politics will dominate every day discussions, as it did in 2006. The Iowa Caucus takes place in less than a week, for crying out loud. And given the dramatic, tragic assassination yesterday in Pakistan, I can't imagine that international politics -- and God forbid, terrorism -- will become another issue that becomes an increasingly common concern among thinking people.

Of course, there's only so much a person can worry about such things before becoming paralyzed by fear. So we deflect our concerns with meaningless things. Some choose popular culture, and while I'm not averse to a nice movie to divert my mind, I can't tolerate the current crop of morons who seem to captivate so many people. Instead, I'll enter 2008 the way I ended 2007: reading, writing, and solving puzzles.

I may blog again before the year is out, but if I my little thoughts don't cross your paths before the calendar page turns, may you all have a Happy New Year!

Chapter 58: Owen Meany

I'm rereading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving; I've not read it for about 15 years. While I'd forgotten most of the details of the story, I know basically what happens. I remember feeling quite amazed, the first time I read it, at how well Irving wove all the various parts into the surprising climax; even now, I'm startled at some of the clever ways Irving conveyed the characters and made them seem completely real.

I'll have more to say, I suspect, about Owen -- I intend to include a review on my Elephant's Bookshelf blog -- but if I don't get around to that and you're looking for a good book to read, give this one a try. In a nutshell, it's about a very small boy who does great things and leaves an impression chiseled into the memories of everyone he's known. Even those who are dwindling into dementia recall him and especially HIS VOICE, WHICH COMES FROM A THROAT THAT IS STUCK IN A PERMANENT SCREAM. Owen was also an opinion writer during high school. I wonder if he'd have had a blog if he were a teenager today rather than in the early '60s. But the most important element of this tale is religion.

Owen develops a sense that he is an instrument of God; by the end of the story it's clear that he was right. Without spoiling it for those few out there who've not read it (come on, the book's been in print since 1989!), I'll say that even people who don't believe in God will find the story engaging. The joy of this book is in the discovery. It has everything a reader wants: strongly developed characters that the reader can picture and relate to; a compelling story that keeps the pages moving; snippets of both sex and baseball (what story would be complete without them?); and clever ways to piss off the establishment. Throw in some armless symbols and tragic beauty and loads of idealism, and you've got yourself a winner.

Oh yeah, there's also a lot of semicolons; it wouldn't be quite the same without the semicolons.

Chapter 57.5: A Good Weekend

It's not even noon yet, and already I feel like I've had a fantastic weekend. There's much I still need to do. Eat breakfast, go to the supermarket, jog, help my brother move some stuff in his house. But rare weekends like this, where I actually have two days that I can use, become precious.

This morning, before we got out of bed, I read another thirty pages or so of Lisey's Story by Stephen King. This is the book that actually appears to have had an editor touch it, and it's an improvement over many of his recent novels. My wife is struggling through Cell, which she says takes 110 pages to describe what could easily have been accomplished in less than half that amount. I've not read it, but when a devoted reader like my wife starts skimming her favorite author, you can be sure there's problems with the story. As for Lisey, the novel took about seventy pages to get to the real threat, but he took that time to cast out a few other story lines related to the characters. I respect King's love of the craft, even though he irritates me with his that/which problems.

So, dear reader, you see that for me a good weekend needn't be all sun and shine and lunar eclipse. Sometimes it can be simply a warm bed, a cup or two of coffee, and a book to read. At least until the baseball season starts.

Chapter 54.07: Resolve and Reserve

I'm one of those who makes resolutions -- or rather, I set goals. Sometimes I achieve them (for example, I intended to read at least two books a month on average, and I came close to doubling that goal), sometimes I fail (e.g., finishing the latest re-draft of my novel).

I have resolutions already -- which I don't need to go into here. But I think the resolution that makes the most sense is to be safe. This year has been pretty good for me -- busy but successful. But looking at these final days, I'm seeing ominous signs for the new year. This morning, I was on a first aid call for an attempted suicide. Not a pretty scene. Then I found out that a friend of mine lost her home yesterday in a fire. I don't know whether these will be blessings in the guise of grief, but I have a feeling that 2007 will be a year of tumultuous change. I pray it is a safe one for us all.