tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post4384624814686165072..comments2023-11-09T03:33:41.728-05:00Comments on Jenny and Kelly Read Books: Kelly's Book 1.14: On Writingkellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07832228313612518377noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-80701601451542148042014-01-15T12:49:51.321-05:002014-01-15T12:49:51.321-05:00Kelly,
I really loved Americanah and consider th...Kelly, <br /><br />I really loved Americanah and consider that probably my "must read" book in the last year. Otherwise, I read a lot of stuff that I enjoyed but I'm not sure I would give my whole-hearted recommendations to many others. This year's The Fault in Our Stars is Eleanor and Park. It's a little too racy to recommend to middle schoolers, but I thought it was good. I also recommend The Goldfinch. I don't think it was the most brilliant thing ever, and I actually struggled with the ending---but it was still a "good read" and that's saying something! <br /><br />I also think you might like The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. I read it pretty quickly, and at the time, I was sort of "meh" about it, but I keep thinking about it. Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205737257301534685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-24036937486580903062014-01-14T23:43:03.380-05:002014-01-14T23:43:03.380-05:00Hi Jenny and Kelly
Kelly Ray here :)
I'm ch...Hi Jenny and Kelly <br /><br />Kelly Ray here :)<br /><br />I'm checking out your blog to see what y'all are reading this year, and saw that Kelly was reading On Writing. I freaking love this book! I haven't read much King -- maybe three of his novels, and one of the Bachman collections -- but I'd agree that his handling of character development is truly brilliant. I'm not a fan of horror, but dude knows what he's about when it comes to craft.<br /><br />But this book is wonderful. I sort of need to read it again now that you're talking about it.<br /><br />Anyway, as your occasional guest commenter, I just had to say hello... anything either of you read last year that I simply must read?KellYakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11070355657412827027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-71137313923833422142014-01-12T09:33:10.147-05:002014-01-12T09:33:10.147-05:00I am 50 pages into On Writing and so far, I LOVE i...I am 50 pages into <i>On Writing</i> and so far, I LOVE it. (So much that I had to put it down to come here and make a comment!) I have laughed out loud several times and highlighted passages full of great writing advice. <br /><br />It's super engaging -- I have a ton of chores to deal with today and I am worried this book is going to waylay me! Trying to remember I have a long flight tomorrow and to save it for that, but it will be difficult.kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832228313612518377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-44744819392449926972014-01-12T09:30:44.474-05:002014-01-12T09:30:44.474-05:00PS - Actual "real" frightening things (a...PS - Actual "real" frightening things (as defined by my clarification note) do, in fact, happen in <i>NOS4A2</i>... just wanted to clarify that. I mean, kidnapping is scary. But I'm just saying the supernatural stuff doesn't generally scare me. ;)kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832228313612518377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-91448993072416425862014-01-11T10:51:49.941-05:002014-01-11T10:51:49.941-05:00Hmm. That's a good point. Maybe I'll get b...Hmm. That's a good point. Maybe I'll get back on board with NOS4A2. I think the thing I really like about romance novels, and mysteries, and horror books---trade fiction---is that it's so PLOT driven. Interesting things happen! What will happen next? <br /><br />That is fun. Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205737257301534685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-63611019318646043192014-01-10T20:24:41.488-05:002014-01-10T20:24:41.488-05:00Oh, and the reason I said it's difficult for m...Oh, and the reason I said it's difficult for me to get scared by a "horror" book (w/ horror in quotes) is that other kinds of books can and do scare the sh*t out of me -- real books about truly terrifying things... like the very, very bad things that people can do to one another in horrifying circumstances (Exhibit A: Reasons why I will never read <i>The Road</i>. Exhibit B: I may never forget what happened in <i>Blindness</i>.)kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832228313612518377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-88313042442180002982014-01-10T20:19:55.984-05:002014-01-10T20:19:55.984-05:00I don't know if it's because I read so man...I don't know if it's because I read so many horror books as a kid (while you were reading trashy romance, I was reading trashy horror...) but it's pretty difficult for me to get scared by a "horror" book (a horror movie, on the other hand... cannot do it!) <br /><br />Having said that, there were definitely some creepy moments in NOS4A2. I listened to the audiobook. It was Kate Mulgrew narrating (a-mazing!) and the way she says "ChrisssstmassLand" is totally creepy. This past holiday season, if anyone said "Christmas" and hissed at all on the s's, I did get a little shiver. Heh.<br /><br />Other than that, yes, some of the descriptions were horrifying, but Joe Hill has got the Mad Character Development Skillz, so that's really what I focused on. Also, I thought it was going to have a terrible cliff-hanger-y BS ending, but he totally sticks the landing!kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832228313612518377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761784460667108854.post-67070537876794842672014-01-10T00:21:12.403-05:002014-01-10T00:21:12.403-05:00I have no problems with you changing your numberin...I have no problems with you changing your numbering! Do what you must! <br /><br />This sounds like a fun read. I wish more authors would take writing lessons from Stephen King. He's the master, and I really have enjoyed so many of his books. My friend Stacy was telling me she was listening to the audiobook for 11/blahblahblah/63 and that she couldn't stop! I remember you saying the same thing. <br /><br />Meanwhile, tell me aobut NOS4A2. Is is super scary? It seemed scary!Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205737257301534685noreply@blogger.com