I've been in the middle of writing a book for the last eight years, so it would have been pretty bad if I hadn't read anything in all that time. When I wasn't under any pressure to get something finished I liked to read a book a week, especially new fiction in my genres of interest.
Since the writer's conference I've only read three books, Brandon's "Alcatraz," "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis, and "Fair Weather" by Richard Peck.
I have a hard time reading something similar to what I'm writing, so I try to avoid that, but I still read quite a bit.
This summer I've read "Dragon Slippers" and "Dragon Flight" by Jessica Day George, reread "Archangel" by Sharon Shinn (an old favorite of mine that I still enjoy), "The #1 Ladies Detective Agency", "Breaking Dawn" (which I hated so much that I returned it, as did Chersti. Kevin, however, liked it, but maybe because he'd heard us discuss it and had no expectations), and right now I'm reading "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman because I enjoyed the movie. Not so sure about the book though...
If anyone is looking for a terrific series, the Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner is fabulous. Chersti and I love them; Amy is reading them now and loving them. Also, both Shannon Hale and Mette Ivie Harrison rave about them. They really are wonderful books. The title are: The Thief, Queen of Attolia, and King of Attolia.
I just finished a book called "Keturah and Lord Death" By Martine Levitt. I was a little bummed because it was a little like an idea I had had a long time ago, but then I read it and found that she did a fantastic job. fantastically fantastic. it was the best book I've read in a while. I will never be able to write that story, but that's okay, because it wasn't ruined. If you want to read a really great book, that is it. Just to prove that it is good, I'll tell you this. It's a love story. And I liked it. This is coming from the girl who gags at any kind of public affection. It was a little cheesy, but I liked it enough to forgive it of that.
I also just finished "Jingo" by Terry Pratchett *my favorite*. Once again, He has charmed me. Even though he has, once again, talked his villain out of it in the end (which bytheway drives me nuts!) I still thoroughly enjoyed it. hooray for Terry Pratchett.
OH I LOVE MEGAN WHELAN TURNER! Yes! Read her books! I highly second the motion.
Have any of you tried Kenneth Oppel? His Silverwing trilogy was a nice animal fantasy, but what I really loved was his "Airborn" and "Skybreaker" books. Some of that retro-science fiction.
I reread Black Beauty, which is one of my all-time favorites. I also read Carolina Autumn by Carol Williams (yay!), reread the Twilight books, and am still trying to get through Breaking Dawn. I keep saying to myself "when is this movie going to be OVER???" and that is not a good sign. I also reread several Animorphs books and the entire Warriors series (the first one, and half of the second, as well as the big epic book). So lots of animals and weird things. Oh. And "This is what I did:" I read again because it's so awesome.
Contributors to this blog attended BYU's 2008 Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop - Science Fiction and Fantasy section taught by Brandon Sanderson. This blog is established as a way to keep in touch, share happy news, share advice and critiques, and in all ways continue to take part in each others' creative process.
6 comments:
I have a hard time reading anything (fiction) if I'm in the middle of writing a book!
Does anyone else have this problem?
I've been in the middle of writing a book for the last eight years, so it would have been pretty bad if I hadn't read anything in all that time. When I wasn't under any pressure to get something finished I liked to read a book a week, especially new fiction in my genres of interest.
Since the writer's conference I've only read three books, Brandon's "Alcatraz," "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis, and "Fair Weather" by Richard Peck.
I have a hard time reading something similar to what I'm writing, so I try to avoid that, but I still read quite a bit.
This summer I've read "Dragon Slippers" and "Dragon Flight" by Jessica Day George, reread "Archangel" by Sharon Shinn (an old favorite of mine that I still enjoy), "The #1 Ladies Detective Agency", "Breaking Dawn" (which I hated so much that I returned it, as did Chersti. Kevin, however, liked it, but maybe because he'd heard us discuss it and had no expectations), and right now I'm reading "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman because I enjoyed the movie. Not so sure about the book though...
If anyone is looking for a terrific series, the Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner is fabulous. Chersti and I love them; Amy is reading them now and loving them. Also, both Shannon Hale and Mette Ivie Harrison rave about them. They really are wonderful books. The title are: The Thief, Queen of Attolia, and King of Attolia.
I just finished a book called "Keturah and Lord Death" By Martine Levitt. I was a little bummed because it was a little like an idea I had had a long time ago, but then I read it and found that she did a fantastic job. fantastically fantastic. it was the best book I've read in a while. I will never be able to write that story, but that's okay, because it wasn't ruined. If you want to read a really great book, that is it. Just to prove that it is good, I'll tell you this. It's a love story. And I liked it. This is coming from the girl who gags at any kind of public affection. It was a little cheesy, but I liked it enough to forgive it of that.
I also just finished "Jingo" by Terry Pratchett *my favorite*. Once again, He has charmed me. Even though he has, once again, talked his villain out of it in the end (which bytheway drives me nuts!) I still thoroughly enjoyed it. hooray for Terry Pratchett.
OH I LOVE MEGAN WHELAN TURNER! Yes! Read her books! I highly second the motion.
Have any of you tried Kenneth Oppel? His Silverwing trilogy was a nice animal fantasy, but what I really loved was his "Airborn" and "Skybreaker" books. Some of that retro-science fiction.
I reread Black Beauty, which is one of my all-time favorites. I also read Carolina Autumn by Carol Williams (yay!), reread the Twilight books, and am still trying to get through Breaking Dawn. I keep saying to myself "when is this movie going to be OVER???" and that is not a good sign.
I also reread several Animorphs books and the entire Warriors series (the first one, and half of the second, as well as the big epic book). So lots of animals and weird things. Oh. And "This is what I did:" I read again because it's so awesome.
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