Erin Reads – Page 29 – Notes on Books & Life

Dewey’s Read-A-Thon Mini-Challenge: Hodge-Podge Proposals

Welcome, Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-A-Thon participants! Need a break from reading or cheering? Then why not try your hand at a hodge-podge proposal? You could win one of the fabulous Read-A-Thon prizes…and have a little fun, I hope!

Here’s what you must do to participate in the Hodge-Podge Proposals Mini-Challenge. First, grab a pen and paper, open up a text file, or fire up your memory and list:

The first name of any character in the book you’re currently reading (or just finished)
The make or model of your current car, whichever you like better (if you don’t have a car, use one you’ve had or would like to have)
A job you think would be especially fascinating

For example: (1) there’s a Tasha in the book I was reading as I wrote up this post; (2) I drive a Hyundai Elantra and like the second half of its name better; (3) I think being a professional recipe tester would be really interesting.

Ok, do you have your three things? If not, stop reading now and list them! When you’re done, keep reading to find out what you do with them.

———

Numbers 1 and 2 become the first and last name of your new character, and 3 is his or her occupation. Now briefly pitch me a new series in the genre of your choice based on this hodge-podge character!

For example: Tasha Elantra, professional recipe tester extraordinaire, is highly sought after by all the world’s top chefs. Her company, Tested by Tasha, is thriving. Then suddenly, every recipe she tries falls flat. Is Tasha losing her touch? Are her high-profile clients dropping the culinary ball? Or is sabotage on the menu? Each book will bring Tasha one step closer to uncovering the truth and include one of Tasha’s favorite recipes for readers to try at home!

To participate in the challenge, leave a comment with your character name and occupation, your series synopsis, and a way to contact you. (Alternately, you can post your proposal on your blog and leave me a link and contact info in the comments.) I will draw one winner at random a few minutes before Read-A-Thon Hour 15 begins and pass the winner’s name along to the Read-A-Thon prize committee. Winner will also be announced on the main site and will be contacted about choosing a prize.

Good luck — let those creative juices flow!

Readathon Updates: October 2011

Already read my intro? Skip to the updates!

It’s Readathon time!! Last week I showed everyone my planned reading and blogging places. Well, my plans have changed a bit; I’m now visiting my parents, so I’ll be reading from their fabulous couch instead! There’s also a big slouchy armchair near the fireplace you can bet I plan to utilize as well. Plus, my parents have cats, so hopefully I’ll have some company throughout the day!

I’d planned to not have a stack other than the two books I have left for review, but between traveling and a couple of books coming in at the library, I’ve ended up with one anyway. It’s a great stack, and I can’t wait to dive in!

Just like with the last Readathon, I’ll be keeping one post and updating it periodically. I may get missed by some cheerleaders, but I won’t fill up anyone’s reader or inbox any more than usual. For an overview of the day as well as minichallenges, scroll down!

And with that…I’m off to READ!

Updates

8:00 am EST (my start time): I’m ready to go! I’m starting with The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen, which I’m about halfway done with going into the Readathon.

11:00 am: After taking care of some cheerleader-related administrative stuff at the beginning of the event, I spent a chunk of time reading The Revisionists. I also listened a little to The Devil in the White City. I completed the introduction meme and am off to cheer for a bit!

2:00 pm: I spent the first chunk of the last three hours cheering. I’ll be back to do some more later on in the day. I had lunch while listening to The Devil in the White City and then went back to reading The Revisionists, curled up in front of the fireplace with tea in hand. I’m getting a little sleepy, so it might be time for another round of cheering!

5:00 pm: Again, I spent the first chunk of this segment cheering before my eyes got tired of the computer screen and it was back to reading for me. Still working on The Revisionists. Perhaps I should have started with a shorter book?? I’m also not participating in the minichallenges like I usually do. I think part of it is that I’m not at home, which makes it harder to make sentences out of book titles (one of my favorites last year!) or find pictures to represent characters. Oh well. I’m still enjoying myself!

8:00 pm: I finished The Revisionists! It was good! Next up: The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton. I’ve been hearing from lots of people it’s an excellent book for the Readathon. I’m a couple of chapters in, and I have a feeling they were all correct.

11:00 pm: I’m still heeeeere! Getting sleepy. I started off this most recent three-hour chunk with dinner, which was much needed. I then continued with The Tapestry of Love, which is lovely! I’m starting to get sleepy again, so a bit more cheering might be in my near future.

1:00 am: Cheered a bit, switched to A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, and about 15 minutes ago accidentally took a nap. I’d say it’s bedtime for me. Thanks, everyone, for all your hard work and energy! If you’re still reading, go go go!

Summary

As of my most recent update:

I’ve read 420 pages and finished 1 book
I’ve read for 8 hours and 20 minutes
I’ve listened for 0 hours and 30 minutes
I’ve cheered for 3 hour and 15 minutes
I’ve completed 0 minichallenges and 2 memes

Minichallenges & Memes

Introduction Meme:

1) Where are you reading from today?
Ohio!

2) Three random facts about me:
I majored in American Sign Language in college, I’m allergic to corn and cilantro (yeah, Mexican food is out!), and I just got a job I’m really excited about!

3) How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
Just four, but I’m very much looking forward to all of them.

4) Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
Have a lot of fun! Get some reading done while helping Trish keep the cheerleaders going!

5) If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Please turn off comment verification! The cheerleaders will love you. Enjoy yourself. This isn’t a competition. Spend a little time on Twitter or visiting other participants — the community piece of the Readathon is so cool!

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?
The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton

2. How many books have you read so far?
Um, just one. Really it was 3/4 of one.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, if I get to it!

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
Nope!

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Fewer than I’d expected, seeing as I’m reading at my parents’ house. My husband and my dad hung out together all day, and my mom has been reading. I had to stop a couple of times to put logs on the fire…life is hard!

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
Hmm. I’m not really surprised by anything so far.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Maybe but my brain is far too fried to process at the moment! I did like the form sign-up. Made it much easier for those running the event, I think.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Oh man, another hard question! I think maybe break up cheerleading stints better. I keep getting a creeping headache when I look at the computer screen for too long. Whoever thought reading would be a break for one’s eyes??

9. Are you getting tired yet?
Maybe…I mean no! Absolutely not!!

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
Do what you feel like you need to do at a particular moment. If you need a snack or some water, get it. If you need to walk around, take a break and do it. If your current book isn’t working for you, switch to a different one. It’s all about fun, people!

Thoughts on “Tracks” by Eric D. Goodman

I received a copy of Tracks by Eric D. Goodman from the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the Book:

The setting: a train. The characters: its passengers. In a series of overlapping short stories, the latter are introduced. As each takes the spotlight for a story, as the train makes its steady way from Baltimore to Chicago, the tales of those aboard unfold.

My Thoughts:

My first thought when I heard about Tracks was that the premise and the way the novel’s format reflected it sounded quite intriguing. Goodman pulls these off even better than I’d hoped. I’ve never read anything quite like Tracks.

First, there is the format of the novel itself. It begins as the train is boarded in Baltimore and ends as the passengers disembark in Chicago. In between, time is just fluid enough to make sure everyone’s story told. The way Goodman subtly shifts back a few hours or jumps ahead a little in time has the neat effect of creating that sort of discombobulated feeling you get while traveling on long-distance public transportation, that sense that you’re somehow apart from the outside world, in transition, as you make your way from one place to another. Very effective.

Goodman also lets his characters observe one another. The most common point of contact is the lounge car, which most (if not all) characters visit at least once during the trip. Here they are described in narratives not their own by certain identifying features: a dragonfly pin, a planner, a military uniform. When each character’s story comes up in the progression, we learn about the significance of each item. With each new story the reader experiences, another piece of the puzzle falls into place. The next time a character visits the lounge car or passes someone in the aisle, there is an ever greater chance of it being someone we’ve already met, one of the stories we’ve already read. And if it isn’t, there’s a good chance we will. It’s a fascinating way to build up a connected group of people, even if it is only the reader and not the characters themselves who perceives them as being linked. This approach also allows Goodman to develop his characters by showing how each reacts to fellow passengers as well as to events that occur on the train. This casual layering of perspectives is extremely well done and rather delightful to experience.

The characters’ stories are immensely varied. Some are happy or hopeful while others are painful, sad, or even scary. Some are resolved, others are not — just like in real life. Each one gets a few pages in the limelight, though. We learn why these people are on the train, why they are traveling or returning to Chicago, a bit about their histories, their families, their doubts and dreams. For the number of characters in Tracks, each is remarkably well fleshed out.

I think my favorite part of Tracks was how it makes you realize everyone has a story. How often have you sat on a train, or a bus, or a plane, and seen your fellow passengers as just people? Even if you’ve talked with them, it’s doubtful you’ve gotten their full, uncensored story. I think it can be hard to remember sometimes that every person you encounter has at least as much going on as you do. Goodman lets his characters make those snap judgements about one another we’ve all made, while simultaneously revealing that each character is so much more than that initial impression. Each story would have worked on its own, but together, linked by the thin thread of the train, they amount to something bigger than the sum of the parts. Goodman accomplished this masterfully in Tracks.

Those are my thoughts. Check out Tracks by Eric D. Goodman on Goodreads or LibraryThing! If I missed your review, please let me know.

Your Turn!

I’ve now read a couple of books where the structure ties in with the novel itself (the other that comes to mind is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell). What books have you read where this is the case?

Thoughts on “Road from the West” by Rosanne Lortz

I received a copy of and read Road from the West by Rosanne Lortz as part of a tour for Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours.

About the Book:

Tancred has been raised a knight. So when he turns away from a crucial battle, his fellow knights are puzzled. Tancred will not be swayed, refusing to fight and instead seeking the Pope’s advice. When the Pope suggests he pledge himself to the Crusades, Tancred is overjoyed. He begins to raise his army immediately, dreaming of Jerusalem and the road he will take to free it. Of course, that road is far from straight and easy. But though Tancred is young, he is also ambitious, confident of his abilities and determined to walk his own path amidst the perils and personalities he encounters on his quest. Road from the West chronicles the start of Tancred’s journey eastward.

My Thoughts:

Road from the West is good, solid historical fiction. It isn’t riddled with scandal or or breathtakingly unpredictable. It does, however, feature the sort of hero one can get behind: young and determined, with a moral compass to guide his actions and the smarts to find his way in the world. Its supporting characters are intriguing and individual, providing a colorful context into which Tancred’s story is worked.

Rosanne Lortz writes in a style I’ve found rare in my admittedly limited experience with historical fiction. Over flowery language and paragraphs that drip with details, Lortz favors simple prose and sparse yet effective bits of atmosphere. Rather than describe exactly how something is done or precisely what a scene looks like, Lortz writes just enough that the reader knows and can picture what is happening yet has plenty of room to utilize her imagination. In this respect Road from the West reads a bit like contemporary fiction does, the author assuming the reader and characters share common points of reference that make extended explanation unnecessary. I found nothing lacking in Lortz’s approach and enjoyed how she let Tancred’s story be the novel’s focus.

When I began reading Road from the West, I did not realize that Tancred was, in fact, a historical figure. I learned this from the author’s note at the end. Knowing that small detail changed the way I perceived the book. I had wondered, as I read, why certain events happened, as some seemed not to fit clearly into the overall narrative, or why Lortz chose to include so many cities for Tancred and his fellow Crusaders to besiege. It turns out Lortz has extensively researched Tancred’s life and crafted a novel based closely on the real deal. I appreciated Tancred’s story more for its historical reality and found myself more interested in him as a person than I might have been in a fictional hero.

Fans of historical fiction will most likely enjoy this first installment of Tancred’s tale, especially those who like their novels strongly guided by the actual past. I know I’m curious to continue his story whenever Book II is released!

Those are my thoughts. Check out Road from the West by Rosanne Lortz on Goodreads or LibraryThing, or explore the rest of the tour!

Sunday Salon: The Read-A-Thon Approacheth! and More!

Winner of Another Bad-Dog Book!

First order of business is to announce the winner of the signed copy of Another Bad-Dog Book by Joni B. Cole. It goes to…

Amy!

Congratulations! Winner has been notified and has 48 hours to respond. If you enjoy essays, especially humorous ones about life, this is a collection worth checking out. Thanks to the author for sponsoring the giveaway!

Today’s Agenda: Reviewathon!

Alita from alita.reads. had the excellent idea of holding a reviewathon. The idea is to spend some time this weekend catching up on reviews so that the impending Read-A-Thon doesn’t add to an already scary list! I do have some reviews I need to get written, so I’ll be spending part of today working on those. How cool would it be to go into the Read-A-Thon with no backlog of reviews??

Today I’m hoping to get through thoughts on Dracula by Bram Stoker (audiobook), Tracks by Eric D. Goodman, The Women of the Cousins’ War by Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin and Michael Jones, Original Sins by Peg Kingman and Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (audiobook). We’ll see how far I actually get!

Happening Soon: The Read-A-Thon!

Friends and fellow readers! The time for Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-A-Thon approaches! On Saturday, October 22, readers all over the world will spend the same 24 hours doing what we all love. There will be many pages read, snacks consumed, and prizes won.

There will also be much enthusiasm! The cheerleaders are a huge part of that, a core part of the Read-A-Thon experience for pretty much anyone you ask. If you have an hour (or more) to cheer on your fellow readers, your efforts will be much appreciated! Trish and I are currently putting together cheering squads and would love to add you. There’s still time to sign up!

If you want to be really friendly to the cheerleaders as a reader, please turn off word verification just for the event. Your cheerleaders will appreciate it immeasurably. Word verification is fine when you’re just commenting on a few blogs, but when you’re trying to get through lots of them, typing those nonsense codes can get really tiring!

Tradition dictates that I post a bit about my plans for the event. It’s my first time being (co-) in charge of anything for the event, and I’m not sure yet how much time keeping the cheering going will take away from my own reading. The books on which I’ll focus are the last of my obligation books — those I’ve received specifically for review. At the top of the list are The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen and The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton, and I’m looking forward to both! I’ll also work on finishing any book I have going at the start of the event. I always have an audiobook for reading breaks, and this year I’m debating between Goliath by Scott Westerfeld and Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik. Both are the last available book in series I love, though the latter seems to have disappointed some series fans. Decisions, decisions!

The first time I participated in the Read-A-Thon, I created a new post each time I updated. The second time I created one post and updated it as needed. I liked the second approach better, so that’s what I plan to do again this time around.

Though I move around during the day’s extended reading periods, there are two spots you’ll usually find me: at my desk, checking in with other readers and cheering them on, or in my reading chair, the only place I can sit for a long time without getting uncomfortable.

What are your Read-A-Thon plans?