Reading ....

One of the things a writer MUST do is Read. I've heard this many times over. MANY MANY Times. I usually have a problem with reading WHILE I'm writing. Namely - Comparison.  I tend to compare what I write to what I've been reading. Let me tell you -- some days I just want to quit. 


Then part of me doesn't want to try to copy what I'm reading. 


I realized - It's all relative. And it's all excuses.


I love reading. I love writing. sometimes I try to do them at the same time. If I hit a snag in typing- I'll pick up a book. THat's how I managed my NaNo back in November. It was me and "JD Robb" sitting in the quiet, dark house trying to figure out how a shape shifter would manage life. 


There's a problem with that plan, though. 
sometimes the book at hand is FAR more interesting than the transition from point A to point B *my* character might be attempting. 


It's much easier to read, than it is to write. 

On a similar but rather different note - I've been reading Stephen King's book "On Writing" and enjoying it. He used himself as an example and claims that he makes a goal of how many books he's going to read. 

I wonder if he has a Kindle or a Nook. Maybe an iPad. There's no telling. It was a random Question anyway. Still, if he stumbles upon my minor blog, I'd like to have an answer. Just because I'm curious.

I have a Kindle. I got it for Christmas.
I wasn't sure I'd like it - but I do. My favorite form of book is still actual paper. 
It's more difficult to read the end of the book on a Kindle.


What brought all this up, you ask? Besides my random thought patterns...
Let me tell you...


We've been doing the 'summer reading' program through our library. You know the sort. Read a certain number of books and you get a medal. Read an even greater number of books and you win a prize. This year's prize is an inflatable Jet plane. I can't WAIT to see that bouncing around my house. The sarcasm is implied. Oh. Who am I kidding? It'll be fun. ESPECIALLY since there will be THREE of them. I refuse to play "air traffic controller."

Mini-Me has hit the grade level for the teen program. AND lo!!! Our small library has a small section of "Teen" books. Of course, it's filled with fantasy and paranormal fantasy books. BUT There are Mysteries, too.

Mysteries are Mini-Me's favorite. 


She's discovered the Sammy Keyes series. She will come laughing to me with parts she has considered hilarious. She'll tell me all about the bad guy and the antics of the heroes. 


One book she didn't think she would like was "Neil Flambe and the Marco Polo Murders" - I rather insisted that she give it a try. She fought me because she didn't think it sounded good. A chef?? Then she read that Neil's parents read to him from cook books when he couldn't sleep. I think she was hooked. She devoured it (pun. HA!) and was glad she read it. So glad that she was interested to learn there was a sequel.


Another author she wants more of is Blue Balliett. She started with "Chasing Vermeer" and went from there. 


She's enjoyed these books so much that the American Girl mysteries she'd read and loved have lost interest for her. It's a fun progression to watch for this mom who remembers with much fondness her absolute love of mysteries. 


G-man has discovered a love of the personalities in History. Marco Polo was the latest one.


J-man and Mini-E just have a love of books.


Me?? I've devoured Nora Roberts, Julia Quinn, Robyn Carr and Kerrelynn Sparks. (It comes from being a romantic who was writing a romance.)  (and my absolute love of characters.) 


And, I admit this, I love quick reads. If I'm entertained, I'm happy. Regaining my lost vocabulary is a happy coincidence.


On my 'to read pile' are JD Robb, Lee Child, Mark Greaney, William Dietz (who, incidentally, spent a lot of time on The Professor's Kindle while The Prof. was traveling), John Flanagan, Charlaine Harris and ... LOTS of others. I'm a biblioholic and not bothered by this distinction at all. I've learned to stop reading if I want to A) slap the main character until they snap B) find myself thinking it's a good time to scrub the shower. 

I coined my own phrase, allow me to quote myself: "Life is too short to read bad books and waste good dreams"

Happy Sigh

Now - what about you?
What are you reading?
'cause I might want to read it. 

A Book Review from Mini-Me

Did you know that I was homeschooled??
A lot of what I do now really is influenced by what I remember of my own education. 

I hated book reports.
I saw no need in them.
I still don't. 

However -- a good book review. That's a useful thing.

So to get around my 12 year old's shared aversion to a book report -- I've come up with the idea of a book review.

The girl is a voracious reader. (She's got good genes)

So here's her first review...


******

The Nick of Time by Ted Bell takes place on Grey Beard island 1939 [during World War II]. When 12 year old Nick McIver, his little sister Katie, and Nick’s dog, Jip find a strange chest on the beach, unknown to them the chest was containing a golden orb that turned out to be (duh duh dunnnnn) a, 

                                           TIME MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, the evil Billy Blood’s parrot Bones was watching them. Billy Blood wanted the time machine. Billy Blood had been using a second time machine to capture children from all over time and hold them for ransom!  For instance, the Pharaoh's son was kidnapped by Billy Blood.

My favorite part was when they were in Hawk Castle and Katie thought that the elevator was a portal to china and thought that Commander Hobbes was Chinese!

The book had everything comedy, action, suspense, drama, and even a huge sword fight!  

The Nick of Time is anything but boring. I enjoyed it immensely and am looking forward to the sequel. 

*****

When I asked her about the historic figures that were peppered through the book, she couldn't remember any. I know they were there because she talked about the characters in the book. 

I'm hoping that once she grasps the fun of a book review, she'll add more to it. As it is, she tore through this book and the sequel. They're worth a look.