Evocative prose and interesting characters, although you will not like this book if you want your protagonist to be thoroughly likable. Thu is a sympaEvocative prose and interesting characters, although you will not like this book if you want your protagonist to be thoroughly likable. Thu is a sympathetic protagonist, but not always likable. She's a schemer. ...more
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Code Name Verity is the best book I'll read in 2014. It's only September, so it is possible I'll turn I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Code Name Verity is the best book I'll read in 2014. It's only September, so it is possible I'll turn out to be wrong, but I've been on a jag of rereading Heyer novels and Lord Peter mysteries, so my penchant for reading and rereading books might run the clock out.
Wein has produced a beautifully conceived, beautifully researched and beautifully written piece of fiction. Others clearly think so too since it has won an Edgar Award. This book is going to be a classic. ...more
I actually had this on my shelve for at least a year and a half--a copy I had borrowed from a writerly friend in a swap of writing books. EDelightful.
I actually had this on my shelve for at least a year and a half--a copy I had borrowed from a writerly friend in a swap of writing books. Every wannabe writer needs to have a bunch of writing books sitting on the shelf--because maybe there is a secret to this whole writing thing. Maybe you really are DOING IT WRONG, and one day you'll find that holy grail of writing books that will make it all easy. (SPOILER ALERT: This never happens. That book doesn't exist).
You don't need to actually read the writing books, you just need to have some sitting around to make you feel like you are taking this whole writing thing seriously. I certainly never read Making a Literary Life for the year or so it was on my shelf, but on the day we gathered to swap back I read a bit of the section about "pretending to be a writer," and then after I had returned it to my friend, I immediately went and bought my own copy.
The distilled essence of her advice is this. If you want to be a writer, first write 1000 words a day, 5 days a week...for the rest of your life. Second, don't be evil to other people in the literary world--editors, agents, publishers, bookstore owners, other writers. You need these people.
Once you have started writing your 1000 words a day, go and read her bit about pretending to be a writer. It will make you feel better.
Takes real chops to keep people reading a book, a good chunk of which takes place in the Bodleian, and another good chunk of which involves the heroinTakes real chops to keep people reading a book, a good chunk of which takes place in the Bodleian, and another good chunk of which involves the heroine doing yoga. Not exactly the stuff of thrillers. I guess that is what a sexy vampire will do for you. I imagine one Harkness's beta-readers saying, "You know Deborah, this is really erudite stuff...but can I make a suggestion? You know what you need to sort of...liven things up? A sexy vampire--preferably British." ...more
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