I recently finished reading, well actually listening to, Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
Highly recommended for all writers!
There’s a lot of conflicting advice about craft books for writers—some think you can’t learn from them, or that the best way to improve your writing is just by more writing. And I agree with the latter point. I also believe that books on writing can help you improve if you already are writing.
Continue reading On Writing – Book Review
Name: Where They Found Her
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336 pages
Publisher: Harper
Published: April 14, 2015
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: “At the end of a long winter, in bucolic Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of an infant is discovered in the woods near the town’s prestigious university campus. No one knows who the baby is, or how her body ended up out there. But there is no shortage of opinions.
This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) from NetGalley to me:
I just finished reading Circling the Sun, written by Paula McLain – the author of The Paris Wife. Circling the Sun, published by Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books with a release date of early to mid July 2015, is based on the life of Beryl Markham (1902 – 1986).
This historical novel begins with Markham’s childhood at age four and continues to when Markham is in her early twenties. This situates McLain’s focus in the book between 1912 to the early 1920s. McLain admits to being “hijacked” by Markham’s life – and I believe her: Circling the Sun is a tremendous book that had me riveted, from beginning to end.
I’ve taken a breath. Got my emotions in check. Put my favourite comfy slippers on. Poured myself a glass of wine and have my kindle and computer at the ready, to write what is probably one of the most important book reviews of my life, well, okay… since the start of our blog launch on June 1st, 2013.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse–Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe.
The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Release date: October 2012
Borrowed from local library
My rating: 5/5 stars
Series: Sword of Truth #1
Format: Kindle
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Richard Cypher’s decision to help a woman in the Upper Ven near the Boundary between the Midlands and Westlands creates more trouble than first appears. The woman, Kahlan Amnell, brings with her dark news from the other side of the Boundary: Darken Rahl, Ruler of D’Hara, has brought down the Boundary between D’Hara and the Midlands.
Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published on: September 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Young-Adult Fiction
Synopsis (via Goodreads):
“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release date (UK): 2nd June 2015
I was so excited to get my hands on this book, and it really did not disappoint. It has everything; the vibrance of a spectacular Coney Island circus show, the darkness of an isolated women’s asylum and more, tied together in a tangled web of mystery which the talented Leslie Parry gradually unravels.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown.
I read this book immediately after finishing The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss. Admittedly, that’s a tough act to follow. As a reader, I jump genres often so while I have read some sci-fi, I would not consider myself a sci-fi reader. That said, I enjoyed where this book took me and will definitely be looking for the next in the series to come out.
