2012 July Book Roundup

So it's been a while. *cough* I read some books last month though . . . and you know what that means: Book Roundup time!

If you are unaware: At the beginning of each month I do a quick review the books I read the month prior. But instead of letting myself get too wordy, each book gets a Twitter-length summary and a Twitter-length review. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites of the month are marked with a star (★).

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by AS King

YA Contemporary Fiction--When Vera's best friend Charlie Kahn dies in questionable circumstances, she's the only one that can clear his name. But does she even want to? § Cute, quirky, and a punch to the face. Vera is such a complex character: she loves and hates and accepts how she can feel both at the same time. ★

Essential Avengers Vol. 2 by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Don Heck

Comic--One day "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" found themselves united against a common foe, and the Avengers were born. And then they fought more evil. § Still silly and still dated. Love it though. Also, Hawkeye learns some humility and won a place in my heart for his ridiculous one-liners.

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

YA Paranormal?!--Brokenhearted Viola accidentally summons a genie into her world, but can't commit to her wishes, lest she make a stupid mistake. Also, romance. § This is a cute/fluffy story, though Viola's angst was rough for me at first. But once things started rolling, it was a fun read to the finish.

2012 June Book Roundup

*dun dun dun dun* Book Roundup time!

If you are unaware: At the beginning of each month I do a quick review the books I read the month prior. But instead of letting myself get too wordy, each book gets a Twitter-length summary and a Twitter-length review. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites of the month are marked with a star (★).

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

YA Sci-fi--Lunar Chronicles #1. Cinder is a cyborg mechanic and second class citizen in New Beijing. Also, plagues, princes, people on the moon, and mind powers! § Not a huge fan of Cinderella, so this was MUCH BETTER than I expected. Loved the world building, but the twist at the end was a little obvious. ★

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

YA Historical Fiction--When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's given a choice: reveal her secrets or die miserably. She choses to confess in written form. § Ultimately, this is a story about friendship, which is kinda rare for YA. It's also written beautifully. And Verity and Maddie are both awesome. ★

Essential Avengers Vol. 1 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck

Comic--One day "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" found themselves united against a common foe, and the Avengers were born. And then they fought more evil. § Pahaha, these comics are so silly and so dated. It took a little while for me to get into it, but I love how cranky and dramatic everyone acts.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

YA Fantasy--When Alina Starkov's regiment is attacked crossing the Fold, she reveals a rare power that might be the key to saving her country's future. § Such a quick and delightful read! The work of Ravka is dark and gruesome and just plain nifty, but I the love triangle just felt weird. ★

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

Picture Book--Cloudette is small for a cloud, but she's okay with that because it has its advantages. But what about when she wants to do something big? § This book was super cute. The messages rocks, the illustrations are perfect, and there are a bunch of little asides that pile on the extra charm.

Pat the Zombie by Aaron Ximm

Picture Book--A macabre re-telling of the children's classic Pat the Bunny, but with zombies. Instead of patting the bunny, you're patting its innards. § Amusing, as the minor changes made quite a difference, but lacked substance. I doubt this would be funny to anyone who never read the original.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

YA Apocalyptic Fiction--It's the zombie apocalypse and six students have taken cover in the local high school. To Sloane, this seems like the perfect time to give up. § There is SO much sadness and anger in this book and it is all handled SO well. I love the situation. I love the characters. I just love it all. ★

Writerly Tools: Pinterest

Yes, this is a Pinterest post.

If you've been following pretty much any blog for the last six months, you've already seen at least one version of this post, so you're welcome to move on. If not, stick around an I'll tell you how Pinterest can be useful to you (and your writing).

Now the idea behind Pinterest was to create virtual pinboards for everything that you as a user thinks is worth pinning. Get it? Pin + Interest = Pinterest. Haha.

At first glimpse, Pinterest looks a whole lot like Tumblr because the entire website is an explosion of pictures. This is why it took me so long to get interested. What was the point of dealing with another social website when it was so close to Tumblr? The answer to that question is because Pinterest is a bit more self-centered than Tumblr.

At its core, Tumblr is just another blogging platform, though it does have a huge emphasis on sharing content. Pinterest, on the other hand, is an easy way to organize online content that you enjoy. Tumblr uses want followers because they want to share their content, while Pinterest users seems a bit more focused on collecting things they like.

Make sense? Maybe a little interested to hear more? Good, since this is the part where I cut to the chase and tell you five reasons why using Pinterest might be in your best interest:

1. Pinterest is your inspiration board
   Remember when I did a WIP picture spam post? Well Pinterest allows you to easily cultivate images and ideas for your writing . . . or anything else really (and if you're curious, here's a link to my WIP board).
2. Pinterest is a haven for writers
   So many authors have Pinterest accounts that it's not even funny. Want to see what kind of things that Laini Taylor associates with Daughter of Smoke & Bone or Beth Revis's with her mysterious new WIP? Well now you CAN.
3. Pinterest lets you organize like a champ
   You can definitely have more than one pin board, which allows you to organize everything your heart's content. Want a board for every WIP? For the tastiest looking recipes? For everything related to comics books? Totally doable.
4. Pinterest makes browsing easy
   Of course Pinterest has the standard search function, but you can also scroll through pins based on genre/category. Better yet, you can follow other people's boards and let them find all of the best content online.
5. Pinterest is only what you let it be
   Maybe you'll use it for WIP inspiration, or maybe you'll use it to procrastinate from working on your WIP. Maybe you'll get some new hobbies or save every beautiful picture you find online. If nothing else, Pinterest is versatile.

2012 May Book Roundup

It's the first of June, and you know what that means. Book Roundup! *thumbs up*

A quick primer: At the beginning of each month I do a quick review the books I read the month prior. But instead of letting myself get too wordy, each book gets a Twitter-length summary and a Twitter-length review. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites of the month are marked with a star (★).

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

YA Fantasy--Seven Realms #2. Han and Raisa are both on their way to Oden's Ford, one to discover his heritage and the other to hide from her enemies. § I had problems caring about Raisa because everything Han did was far more interesting. Of course, most of the book felt like setup for later.

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

YA Fantasy--Seven Realms #3. Oden's Ford isn't safe anymore, and now it's time for Han to discover the truth and for Raisa to take her place as queen. § This was Raisa's book. Sure, Han's a manipulative badass, but Raisa steps up and becomes worthy of her heritage and title. Can't wait for book 4!

Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson
YA Sci-fi--Ultraviolet #1. Alison has been institutionalized after she has a frightening psychotic break and admits to murdering a fellow classmate. § Alison has synesthesia, which makes for beautiful and horrifying prose that's just fun to read. The plot line is also delightfully mysterious. ★

Black Heart by Holly Black
YA Urban Fantasy--Curse Workers #3. Cassel's a lot of things, but "good" has never been one of them. Now he needs to decide between love, family, and the con. § Cassel really does have some tough choices, but I love his decisions and how he balances the truths and lies. Also, Lila is still a badass.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy
MG Fantasy--Wildwood #1. When a murder of crows from the "Impassable Wilderness" kidnap Prue's baby brother, she must explore a hidden world and save him. § This book is like a folky, American Narnia set in Portland, OR. The pacing was a little slow, but the world was delightful and and adventurous.

Habibi by Craig Thompson
Graphic Novel--The story of Dodola and Zam, two child slaves struggling to survive in a world consumed by fear, lust, and greed. Also, calligraphy and sex. § Gorgeous artwork and webs of symbolism that warrant multiple reads. Not that pleasant to read though, so definitely for mature audiences only. ★

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
MG Fantasy--Inspired by her father's stories, Minli sets off an a fantastic journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and change her family's poor fortune. § Fairy tales within fairy tails! *flail* Minli is adorable and her adventure is beautifully interwoven with her society's unique folklore. ★

Gate 7 Vol. 1 by CLAMP
Manga--An simple sightseeing trip to Kyoto becomes something more when Chikahito stumbles into a world of elemental magic and historical warfare. § Some interesting potential, but the story was incredibly confusing (and I'm familiar with Japanese history) and reminded me too much of xxxHolic.

Gate 7 Vol. 2 by CLAMP
Manga--Now that Chikahito lives with Hana and her companions, it's only a matter of time before he is drawn into their war over the powerful oni. § This volume was a bit better, if only because we got character development. Still a bit confusing, but I'm interested to see what happens next.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
YA Post-apocalyptic--Under the Never Sky #1. After being exiled from the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria's only hope for survival is in Perry, a savage Outsider. § People with heightened senses, a post-apocalyptic society with technology, and survival drama! If anything, I want even more world building. ★

2012 April Book Roundup

*dun dun dun dun* It's time for April's Book Roundup! *cheers* A quick primer: At the beginning of each month I do a quick review the books I read the month prior. But instead of letting myself get too wordy, each book gets a Twitter-length summary and a Twitter-length review. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites of the month are marked with a star (★).

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

YA Sci-fi--Chaos Walking #3. Now that humanity is at war with the Spackle again, Todd and Viola must make the right decisions in they ever want peace again. § THESE BOOKS. I've never read something so frustrating and so wonderful at the same time. However, best fictional horses EVER and yay 1017 POV! ★

Hourglass by Myra McEntire
YA Paranormal Romance--Emerson is plagued by phantoms of the past, which isn't all that great until her brother calls in the Hourglass organization. Enter le hot boy. § Emerson's voice is a fabulous combination of snark and charm. Loved it. However, the soap opera romance kinda overwhelmed the actual plot.

Wither by Lauren DeStephano
YA Post Apocalyptic--Chemical Garden #1. After genetic experiments ruined the future of humanity, Rhine is kidnapped and wed off to repopulate the world. She is displeased. § Such a pleasant surprise! ALL of the characters are well-developed, if not likable, and the atmosphere was hauntingly beautiful and creepy. ★

Fever by Lauren DeStephano
YA Post Apocalyptic--Chemical Garden #2. Rhine and Gabriel have finally gotten away from the mansion, but freedom might not be worth it in this a world like this. § Haha, the physical world here makes no sense at all, but the prose and narration are so delightfully luscious/feverish that I don't care.

Corsets & Clockwork: 14 Steampunk Romances edited by Trisha Telep
YA Steampunk Anthology--The title says it all: a short story anthology that brings together the quirkiness of steampunk and the delight of young romance. *thumbs up* § I'm not so sure that most of the stories in this anthology count as steampunk, but they all have romance. All my kudos to "Tick, Tick, Boom."

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
YA Fiction--Cullen thinks he's got life figured out, but when an extinct woodpecker is rediscovered and his brother goes missing, everything falls apart. § Everything in this book starts off mellow, but ends up somewhere meaningful. Loved how all of the characters felt real and a little disastrous.

2012 March Book Roundup

Book Roundup time . . . weee! A quick primer: At the beginning of each month I do a quick review the books I read the month prior. But instead of letting myself get too wordy, each book gets a Twitter-length summary and a Twitter-length review. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites of the month are marked with a star (★).

Looking for Alaska by John Green
YA Contemporary Fiction--Pudge is off to an Alabama boarding school to search for his "Great Perhaps." There he meets the smart, sexy, and self-destructive Alaska Young. § This book is the better version of Paper Towns. Love how Green tackles the hard issues, but wish his characters didn't sound college-age.

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracy

YA Paranormal Romance--Braden was born with witch eyes and can see the world as it truly is. Also, horrific visions, feuding witch clans, and crazy power plays. § A very refreshing read--the magic was unique and the gay romance was handled nicely. Though, battle sequences were a bit confusing at times. ★

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Vol. 4 by Naoko Takeuchi

Manga--Usagi is the guardian of justice--Sailor Moon! The Dark Moon is here to take over the world with the malefic dark crystal! Also, revelations! § This story arc is much more exciting than the last one ... also, character development! Feelings! Dramatic happenings! All the good stuff!

Legend by Marie Lu

YA Dystopian--June is a military prodigy who's been groomed for success since birth; Day is the country's most wanted criminal. Insert dystopian agenda. § So much military goodness and a dystopian world that felt and acted dangerous! The instant romance was unfortunate, but I guess it worked.

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

YA Sci-fi--Chaos Walking #2. After fleeing into the clutches of Mayor Prentiss, Todd and Viola are separated and used against each other. Also, misery. § Ugh, this is such a dark, miserable read, though the atmosphere is perfectly appropriate. Ness is a master at playing with my sympathies. ★

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
YA Contemporary Fiction--After Katherine XIX breaks up with him, noted prodigy Colin and his best friend Hassan are off on a road trip of self-discovery and worth. § Haha, Colin's thought-process is so ridiculous it's fabulous. In fact, I love all characters. But the epiphanies got heavy-handed at the end.

Purity (ARC Copy) by Jackson Pearce
YA Contemporary Fiction--When Shelby's father becomes organizer of the annual Princess Ball, the three promises she made at her mother's deathbed become hard to keep. § Liked this a WHOLE lot more than expected. Some pretty deep themes here--love, loss, and sex--but they're all handled nicely. Go pick up a copy! ★

Johnny Wander Vol. 1: Don't Burn the House Down by Ananth Panagariya and Yuko Ota
Comic--A collection of autobiographical, "slice of life" strip comics about life after college, finding out who you are, and surviving the modern world. § These comics are always a pleasure to read (hint: I've recommended them to you before). Not only are they clever, but they're easily relatable.

Johnny Wander Vol. 2: Escape to New York by Ananth Panagariya and Yuko Ota
Comic--Again: a collection of autobiographical, "slice of life" strip comics about life after college, finding out who you are, and surviving the modern world. § Haha, more cat comics in this volume, so I was definitely happy. Also, I think the comic gets a bit more of a refined direction, which is nice.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
YA Fantasy--Seven Realms #1. After encountering underage wizards, Han gets ahold of a forbidden amulet. Also, Princess Raisa, longs to escape her gilded cage. § Now this is some high fantasy! Started off a little slow, but it takes place in a Yellowstone-esque area and the politics get pretty interesting.

Writerly Tools: Hazel

Huh, it's been a while since I've done one of these, hasn't it?

Today I'm going to talk about a delightful little program called Hazel, and unfortunately it's only for the Mac. Sorry PC users. *shrug* I've heard that Belvedere is the PC equivalent, so maybe try that out?

Anyway, moving on. Hazel is an automated organization program. As its creators at Noodlesoft have so elegantly said, Hazel is "your personal housekeeper."

The idea is that you set up a bunch of different parameters called "rules," and Hazel follows those rules to do the computer equivalent of housework for you. It takes a little work to set up all the rules, but it's ultimately worth it in the end.

I know, it sounds nice, but you're wondering how this is relevant to writers. Tell me, how many times have you forgotten to back up your manuscript? How many times have you ultimately suffered for that faux pas? With Hazel, NEVER AGAIN.

Interested yet? If so, good. Because now I'm going to give you five reasons why I think you might adore Hazel:

1. Hazel is your backup ninja
   Like I said above, you never have to worry about backing up your manuscript again--just set up some rules for Hazel to follow, and everything will be taken care of. I prefer the double-whammy combination of Hazel and Dropbox.
2. Hazel can do other things too
   Maybe you get Hazel for the automated backups, but the possibilities are endless. Hazel can keep your trash bin clean, organize your downloads, or even label files as certain conditions are met. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
3. Hazel works in the background
   Once you get Hazel set up, you never have to worry about it again. Everything is automatic, seamless, and behind the scenes. But if you do want updates, it's easy-peasy to set up notifications with Growl.
4. Hazel has depth
   At first glance, setting up rules in Hazel looks super intimidating. However, Hazel is only as complex as you want it to be--which allows your automated rules to be as simple or as complex as you need them to be.
5. Hazel makes your computer happy
   Writers spend a lot of time on the computer. Writing, networking, wasting time on the internet--the important thing is that Hazel's organization rules make your computer happy by removing the clutter.

2012 February Book Roundup

*fizzle crackle sputter*

. . .  and now for Book Roundup time! For those who don't know, at the beginning of each month I do a quick review the books I read the month prior. But instead of letting myself get too wordy, each book gets a Twitter-length summary and a Twitter-length review. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites of the month are marked with a star (★).

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Vol. 3 by Naoko Takeuchi
Manga--Usagi is the guardian of justice--Sailor Moon! It's time for the final battle against Queen Metalia: the enemy of old. Also, a mysterious girl. § Artistically confusing in the beginning and packed with some odd translation choices. However, I really enjoyed the start of the next story arc.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

YA Fantasy--Lucero-Elisa is an unlikely heroine, but she bears the Godstone. Savage enemies, secret political marriages, and charming revolutionaries. § Much love to how unheroic Elisa is at first, but not hugely comfy with the statement her transformation makes. Also, glorious world building. ★

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

YA Sci-fi--Chaos Walking #1. Todd lives in Prentisstown, where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts. However, Prentisstown also has a terrible secret. § Ouch. This book hurts, but the thought put into Prentisstown's history was worth it. Wish the villain had been less energizer bunny though. ★

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J Maas

YA Fantasy--Calaena's off to collect a debt the Lord of Pirates owes the Assassin's Guild. But when the payment is to be made in slaves, her mission changes. § A fun story that definitely got me excited for the next three novellas and the book in August. Celaena's definitely tough and I love her sass! ★

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

YA Contemporary Fiction--Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12 and miraculously saved at 14, 16-year-old Hazel is still "alive." Then she meets Augustus Waters. § Sad, yet fabulous. Loved how it was a book with cancer, not a cancer book. I only wish that certain sections didn't read like an English paper.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

YA Paranormal Fantasy--Rory's off to London for her last year of high school. Unfortunately there's a murderer on the loose and he's mimicking Jack the Ripper. § This book is nothing like the cover suggests ... for one thing, it's modern day. Anyway, Rory's a fun character to follow, as is the murderer.

Voila, my lovely February books. :) So did you guys read anything particularly exciting? Or have you read any of these books before? Tell me in the comments.

2012 January Book Roundup

Being that it's 2012, it's time for the book roundup rules to change a little.

Previously I was doing Twitter-length reviews. I like this plan because it let me express my thoughts succinctly, but it started to get difficult to give a brief plot overview AND a review in 140 characters. So now I'm going to give you twice the goodness. That's right. 140 characters of book summary and 140 characters of review. This way I'll be able to stick to bite-sized reviews without denying you guys the meat of the matter.

Other than that, everything the same. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites of the month are marked with a star (★).

Dreadnought by Cherie Priest

Steampunk--Mercy's husband is dead and when her dying father summons her to Seattle, there's nothing to keep her. Civil war schemes and zombies ahoy. § This book is fabulous. Not only is Mercy a strong character, but she's interesting too and her environment is full of excitement and intrigue. ★

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Paranormal--Diana Bishop is a witch who wishes she wasn't. Then she stumbles upon a lost manuscript, and catches the attention of the paranormal world. § This book. Starts off. So slow. Also, there are a lot of complex and fascinating ideas in play here, but I really didn't like the love interest.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

YA Sci-fi--Sequel to Across the Universe. It's been 3 months since Amy was unplugged and Elder assumed leadership. Too bad there are more lies to uncover. § Painful to read ... but in a good (and hard to put down) way! Revis has woven a claustrophobic web of disaster that can't help getting worse. ★

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

YA Urban Fantasy--Sophie Mercer is a witch who's been sent to Hex Hall--a reform school for paranormals. Unfortunately for her, someone's been targeting witches. § Sophie is delightfully sassy and it's great to see a paranormal that doesn't take itself too seriously. However, nothing really stood out.

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

YA Fiction--Ed Kennedy is just a deadbeat cabdriver. But after he inadvertently stops a bank robbery, the Aces start arriving and he must become a messenger. § Ack, Zusak is excellent at making you care about ALL of his characters--major, minor, whatever. Inspirational and a total pleasure to read. ★

And there you guys go--the first five books I read during 2012! So, are you guys going to start up any reading goals? And what books have you read thus far? Tell me in the comments!

One year with a Kindle 3

About a year ago I got a Kindle 3 and joined the world of e-books. Despite appearances, I was a bit wary about having an e-reader. Why? I just happen be one of those tactile people who like collecting things, so the idea of hardcovers arranged neatly on my shelf is a happy one. Either way, I thought I'd give you an overview of my thoughts after a year of e-reader happiness.

The good:

• E-ink. As a person who gets migraines from eye strain, this is a Big Deal to me. Screw backlit LCD screens--when you want to be reading something for hours on end, e-ink is the way to go.
• With programs liks calibre and DownloadStory, you can read nearly anything on the Kindle, including fanfiction and unpublished manuscripts. I love being able to do this.
• Reading while eating, crocheting, etcetera is now completely possible. Without, you know, crumbling up the pages of your book or losing your place.
• Say you secretly love romance novels, but you don't want anyone else to know. With an e-reader, you can now read your romance novels everywhere with complete anonymity.
• Kindles come with a built-in dictionary. This is fabulous.

The bad:

• With the black and white screen, it's not quite the same as having a gorgeous slip cover or colored ink. Then again, if you care about that kind of thing, you'll probably be buying hardcovers anyway. I still do when it matters.
• You can't really get a book signed. I mean, if I'd purchased the e-book version of The Fault in Our Stars, I wouldn't have gotten a hanklerfish. And I like my hanklerfish.
• Honestly, the Kindle's organization system is a little lacking. There are no nested folders, you can't directly delete anything from a collection, and it a bit wieldy to even get things into collections.

So, do you have an e-reader? If so, which kind (Kindle, Nook, Kobo, etc?) and what do you think about it? Has your e-reader replaced traditional books for you, or do you still indulge in the occasional hardback? Tell me what you think in the comments.

December Book Roundup

After much toil and heartache and many hours spent staring at words, I successfully read 100 books and have thus completed my Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge! Woo!

Anyway, let's get onto the book roundup. For the uninitiated: At the beginning of each month I do Twitter-length reviews of the books I read during the month prior. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites are marked with a star (★).

700 Sundays by Billy Crystal

Memoir--Amusing vignettes on life, love, and family. Honest and personable and full of Crystal's voice. Kinda wish there was an audio book version though.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

YA Paranormal Romance--Mara wakes from a horrific accident and can't remember what happened. Delightfully creepy and mysterious, but I hoped it'd be a stand-alone.

Shotgun Gravy: An Atlanta Burns Novella by Chuck Wendig

YA Noir--Atlanta's been drawn into a battle against high school bullies. Dark, gritty, and full of badassery. Also, Atlanta's very much a girl, which rocks. ★

Paper Towns by John Green
YA Contemporary Fiction--Margo is a mystery, and Q is going to figure her out. Lots of great ideas on what it means to be a person, but I didn't relate to the characters.

Toradora! Vol. 1 by Yuyuko Takemiya (Baka-Tsuki translation)
Light Novel--Ryuuji's a normal kid who looks like a ganster and Taiga's a doll-sized girl with attitude. Cute romantic comedy, but holy jarring translation, Batman.

Plain Kate by Erin Bow
YA Fantasy--Plain Kate is just a talented wood carver, but everyone thinks she's a witch. This story is compelling from the first page. Also, a talking cat. ★

And there you guys go--the last six books I read during 2011! So, did you guys have any reading goals, and, if so, did you have the pleasure of meeting them? What was the last book that you read this year? Tell me in the comments!

November Book Roundup

Well, I didn't read much in this past month thanks to NaNoWriMo. Actually . . . I didn't read anything at all until I got my 50,000 words out of the way. But what I did read was relatively exciting.

Oh, and if you're curious, this is my monthly book roundup post. In other words: At the beginning of each month I do Twitter-length reviews of the books I read during the month prior. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites are marked with a star (★).

Ashes by Ilsa J Bick

YA Post-apocalyptic--EMPs and zombies and super powers and cults! This book is weirdly bi-polar. Loved the first half, but then it went downhill. Also, WTF cliffhanger?

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Vol. 2 by Naoko Takeuchi

Manga--Usagi is the guardian of justice--Sailor Moon! Story gets a bit darker in this volume, but the romance is lovely and we get some background info.

The Immorality Engine by George Mann

Steampunk Mystery--Newbury & Hobbes #3. Steampunk Victorian England takes a dark and relatively unexpected twist in this volume. Also, Veronica is STILL awesome. ★

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
YA Contemporary Fantasy--The Scorpio Races are brutal, thrilling, and both Sean and Puck must win. Holy crap I love Stiefvater's water horses and her beautiful prose. ★

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
YA Contemporary Fantasy--Tragedy strikes and as a result, Jacob's gonna unearth his grandfather's past. Haunting photos ... with a story that doesn't really match up.

See, not too shabby. I also find it kind of entertaining how most of the covers fall under a muted color palette. Anyway, what did you guys read? Or did you get any reading done at all? Tell me in the comments.

Writerly Tools: Tumblr

Tumblr is one of those websites that is both inspirational and a superb time suck. It also took me a long time to appreciate.

Like many other writers, I think it's easy to find inspiration in all sorts of things: pictures, videos, comics, music, etc. What I didn't understand, was that Tumblr is home to all of these things if you know how to look. Actually, Tumblr is home to a lot of exciting and inspirational stuff. You just have to give it an opportunity.

Like all social networks, Tumblr is riddled with garbage, but it's surprisingly easy to avoid. We're not talking status updates like Twitter and Facebook. We're talking microblogging. This is like Blogger and Wordpress, but quicker and easier. Tumblr can be whatever you want to make it, depending on who you follow and what you post/reblog.

So now that I've maybe perked your interest, let me tell you a little bit more about it. Here, five reasons why Tumblr might be another social network that's worth your time:

1. Tumblr is the blogging alternative
   A lot of people have been burnt out on blogging, but Tumblr takes that familiar formula and twists it. Yup, Tumblr is all about stream-of-consciousness, quick and easy, micro-blogging. It lets you take images, words, anything, and lets your ideas speak for themselves.
2. Tumblr is simple
   Seriously. Tumblr is up there with Twitter when it comes to ease of use. This is definitely a good thing, especially when you consider how broad it's applications of use can be.
3. Tumblr can be your scrapbook
   You can post nearly anything on Tumblr, and thus, it's really easy to create a scrapbook of images relating yo your writing, or even a collection of writing exercises or flash fiction. Tags are specific to tumblelogs, so it's easy to keep everything organized.
4. Tumblr is a creativity goldmine
   Continuing on the scrapbook vein, you can find pretty much anything on Tumblr. Pictures, patterns, recipes . . . it's all there. And you can reblog and share all of it. So if you need to jumpstart your creativity, go peruse Tumblr for a while.
5. Tumblr is light hearted
   Tumblr loves kittens and memes and all sorts of silly internet-related things. Better yet, Tumblr lets you spread the joy with a simple click of the Reblog button. And frankly, this is a great way to escape the writerly angst.

October Book Roundup

Book Roundup time!

If you're new to the process, here's the book roundup lowdown: At the beginning of each month I do Twitter-length reviews of the books I read during the month prior. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites are marked with a star (★).

Pretty easy, right? So let's get to the meaty bits already:

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi

Manga--Usagi is the guardian of justice--Sailor Moon! Typical magical girl storyline, but this "renewal edition" rocks despite some awkward translations.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
YA Paranormal Romance--Conclusion of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. Still full of fantastic character voices and a romance that doesn't make you want to gag.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
YA Steampunk--Final Leviathan installment. Barking spiders, this book rocks. Clankers, beasties, history, romance, perspicacious lorises! Such a fitting end. ★

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
YA Historical Fiction--Munich, Nazis, and a girl who steals books--all deliciously narrated by Death. This story made me bawl, which never happens. Just go read this. ★

Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio (illustrations by Scott Campbell)
Picture Book--Mortimer the zombie is looking for love. This is pretty much the cutest thing EVER, and the illustrations are fantastic. Worms = adorable! ★

Wildefire by Karsten Knight
YA Urban Fantasy--Ashline is reincarnated goddess and her sister is a psychopath. THIS is how you write a pantheon story! Also, second person narration FTW.

Flash Burnout by LK Madigan
YA Fiction--Blake is caught between the girl who loves him and the girl who needs him. STRONG. MALE. TEENAGE. VOICE. The kind of voice that keeps you reading.

October was a fun month for me. :) Was it fun for you guys? Read anything fun or wonderful? Or have you had the joy of reading any of the books that I read? Tell me in the comments.

September Book Roundup (UPDATED!)

ETA (10/013/11): Oops, I forgot to list a book because I read it in the bookstore. Review and cover picture added for posterity.

September was a bit of a slow reading month for me, but I don't really care, since I got to read Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone . . . which is a book that I've been waiting for since it was announced. It's always wonderful to finally get your hands on those highly-anticipated books, you know?

Moving on. If you happen to be new, here's the book roundup lowdown: At the beginning of each month I do Twitter-length reviews of the books I read during the month prior. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my absolute favorites are marked with a star (★).

Simple, yeah? So here are the lucky books of the month:

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

YA Horror--Dr. Warthrop studies monsters and Will Henry is his apprentice. The first half drags and everything is SUPER dark, but an interesting read.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
YA Fiction--Samantha relives her last day seven times. READ THIS BOOK. It's so much more than I imaged. Heartbreaking and complex and cruel--but relatable! ★

Making Waves by Tawna Fenske
Contemporary Romance--Corporate castoff pirates + steamy romance + quirky humor = this book. A bit over-the-top at times, but relentlessly entertaining and funny.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
YA Paranormal Romance--The southern town of Gatlin has secrets, including witches and curses. Gorgeous historical depth, but I really didn't care about the MC. At all.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
YA Fantasy Extravaganza--Karou's different and she's about to get caught up in an otherworldly war. Masterful and exquisite and wonderfully creative. READ THIS BOOK TOO. ★

If You Give A Cat A Cupcake by Laura Joffe Numeroff (illustrations by Felicia Bond)

Picture Book--If you give a cat a cupcake ... it will get rather demanding. Cute, but after all the other books in this series, feels a little TOO derivative.

And that's a wrap. Not much this month, but my to-read pile is looking mighty good, so I'm betting that October will rock. What about you guys? Any exciting books that you're looking forward to . . . or have you already gotten your hands on them? Tell me the details in the comments!

OST Lowdown: PotC - At World's End

Okay, so yeah. This soundtrack is kind of old. *cough*it came out in 2007*cough* But it's also one of my favorites to write to, so in the spirit of sharing the goodness, it's the subject of this week's OST Lowdown. Let the review begin!

Ooo, look how  misty it is!

Album details--composer, number of songs, etc, etc?
Music was composed by the infamous Hans Zimmer, and there are 13 tracks that range anywhere from a minute and half to 10 and a half minutes long. Get the full details on Amazon.

What are your favorite tracks and why?
At Wit's End--Lovely, long montage goodness
Up is Down--Bright and playful and full of movement
I See Dead People in Boats--Quiet, but with power
I Don't Think Now is the Best Time--ACTION SEQUENCE
One Day--A bit depressing, but nice
Drink Up Me Hearties--It's the main theme medley people

So, from a writing standpoint?
Most of the music has a lot of punch, so I think it'd be good to listen to while writing scenes with power. By that, I mean scenes where something important is happening--scenes with action and scenes where your characters are definitely feeling something. It might be too heavy-handed for some writers though, because the orchestra and chorus are well-utilized, so this definitely isn't a calm soundtrack.

And your overall impression?
I already told you guys that I like this soundtrack. There's a lot of power in the music, and that's something I particularly like to find in instrumental pieces. The tracks are incredibly complex and varied, so unlike the soundtracks for the first two Pirates movies, it doesn't stick to the sea shanty motif 100% of the time. There are recurring motifs, but they always feel fresh, and there's plenty of unique moments (see Singapore or Multiple Jacks) to keep the mood alive. Two thumbs up from me!

Writerly Tools: Spotify

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get one of the first Spotify accounts in the United States, and I've gotta say, I'm super psyched about it.

If there is one thing that most writers can agree on, it's a love for music. We like making playlists that represent our writing. We like composing our super dramatic book climaxes to appropriate movie scores. We been known to spend hours getting our musical preferences just perfect.

Spotify is a magical program that allows you to stream almost any music you want to your computer. For free. Needless to say, it can quickly become a writer's best friend. In fact, the only downside to Spotify is the fact that it's not available in every country. Hopefully this with be rectified soon, yeah?

Anyway, now that I've got Spotify, I'm not sure that I could give it up again. And if you haven't checked it out yet, here are five reasons why you definitely should:

1. Spotify has a lot of music
   If you want to listen to something specific, you're probably in luck, since Spotify users have access to MILLIONS of songs. Soundtracks, popular music, and local bands--the only arena in which Spotify seems to lack is the foreign music scene.
2. Spotify can play local files too
   That's right. It can access and play anything in your Downloads, Music, or iTunes folders. That means you don't need to have multiple music programs open in order to listen to everything your heart desires.
3. Spotify's paid options don't suck
   Not only are the Unlimited and Premium packages super cheap, but they offer things that are actually worth the price. Unlimited gets rid of the ads (which are annoying as hell), and Premium allows you to listen to your music offline.
4. Spotify helps you find new music
   Not only is there a radio station feature similar to Pandora or last.fm, but Spotify lets you share tracks with your friends and has a Related Artists feature. Better yet, instead of scouring YouTube for music samples or buying an album you've never heard, you can check it out on Spotify.
5. Spotify is portable
   You can access your account/playlists/favorites/etc on any computer with the Spotify client. There's an iPod app, so you can easily play music through a speaker system. And with the Premium package, you can access Spotify anywhere on your phone.

August Book Roundup

Before we get to the meat of the book roundup, some crazy news. I've read 76 books this year. Which is a bit ridiculous. Especially considering that my original goal was 50 books (it's now 100). So I'm feeling pretty good about myself. Yay books!

Anyway. Moving on to the actual book roundup bit. If you don't know, here's the lowdown: At the beginning of each month I do Twitter-length reviews of the new books I read during the month prior. Genres are listed at the beginning of the reviews and my very favorites are marked with a star (★).

If you've got it, let's get things started.

The Osiris Ritual by George Mann

Steampunk Mystery--Sequel to The Affinity Bridge. Once again, Sherlock Holmes in a steampunk world with elements of the occult. Truly difficult to put down!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

YA Fiction--Anna's father is sending her to boarding school in France and she's NOT happy. Want a swoon-worthy, yet realistic teen romance? This is your book. ★

Spell Hunter (née Knife) by RJ Anderson

YA Fantasy--The faeries in the great Oak have lost their magic and are dying. But no one remembers why. A perfect blend of mystery, magic, and adventure. ★

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

YA Fiction--Gemma writes a letter to the man that kidnapped her. Stockholm Syndrome is always a little creepy and this book does a good job of it. Loved.

Wayfarer (née Rebel) by RJ Anderson

YA Fantasy--Sequel to Knife. Linden is on a mission to find other faeries and save her people. Lots of exciting faery lore, but Timothy was obnoxious.

Emily the Strange: The Lost Days by Bob Reger and Jessica Gruner

Middle Grade Mystery--Emily, err, "Earwig" has amnesia and a mystery to solve. Incredibly entertaining with a great voice and a crazy plot. Also, cat doodles.

Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide edited by Leo Cotton
Cookbook--The 1963 edition, but it has a ridiculous number of recipes. Don't drink if you're underage, but if you're not, definitely look into this book.

Red Glove by Holly Black

YA Urban Fantasy--Sequel to White Cat. Cassel's brother is murdered and his own uncertain future is looming. Everyone in this book is a slimewad. AND I LOVE IT. ★

Chime by Franny Billingsley

YA Fantasy--Briony's secret has caused terrible, terrible things. The prose is haunting and dark and gorgeous. Love the voice, love the world, love everything. ★

And that's all for this month! So, now I'm curious. How many books have you guys read this year? Are you meeting your goals? Are you feeling particularly prolific? Tell me about it in the comments.

Writerly Tools: Skype

Communicating over the internet isn't the greatest. I won't deny it--email gets the job done, and it's super easy to meet new people on Twitter and in writing forums. But it doesn't beat old fashioned face-to-face conversation.

That is where video calling applications come into play.

If you don't know, a video call is pretty much what it sounds like. Basically you "call" someone else's computer and communicate via microphone and webcam footage. It's pretty sweet.

Now, there are several options out there: Windows Live Messenger. FaceTime. ooVoo. Google Voice and Video Chat. And my personal favorite, Skype. What makes Skype my number one choice? Well, let me give you guys five quick reasons:

1. Skype just works
   There are several different programs for video calling, but Skype does what you want and when you want. The user interface is simple and you don't have to mess with a bunch of crap to make calls, screen share, or simply chat.
2. Skype can call anyone
   Is your critique partner in Europe and your agent in New York? Do you want to do a video call with a classroom across the country? With Skype, you can communicate to any device with the application for free.
3. Skype can call anything
   You aren't limited to calling other computers that have Skype installed--you can call anything with a phone number. Charges apply, but it's an awesome alternative when you can't use a normal phone or if you need to make a long distance call.
4. Skype can be free or not
   The free version of Skype is a fantastic value, but the paid version has some great features too. These include group video and screen sharing calls (which would be perfect for critique groups), unlimited calling in the US and Canada, and live tech support.
5. Skype has a huge customer base
   This is because it was pretty much the first mainstream video chat program, and thus, a lot of people use it. If you want to streamline your computer applications, it would be easiest to stick to Skype.

OST Lowdown: X-Men First Class

Some of you might remember when I begged for some new soundtrack suggestions. It was sad and pitiful, but I got some great suggestions. Then I was lucky enough to get one of the early Spotify accounts and it became a whole lot easier to find something good without forking any money over.

So I decided to create a new blog feature: the OST Lowdown. What does that mean? Well, OST is a common acronym for Original Soundtrack. Make more sense? As I listen to new soundtracks, I'm going to be sharing my thoughts on them and how they might work for you guys as writers. I don't have a musical bone in my body, so my opinion is super unprofessional, but it should be fun anyway.

And the X-Men are our first contenders!

Album details--composer, number of songs, etc, etc?
Well, the composer is Henry Jackman, and there are 20 tracks that range anywhere from a minute and half to nearly five minutes long. But I'm not going to list them here. Get the full details on Amazon.

What are your favorite tracks and why?
First Class--Main theme, which means it's suitably epic
Frankenstein's Monster--Dark and a little eerie
X-Training--Dramatic montage sequence music
Rage and Serenity--Love how it slowly builds up
Coup D'état--Eerie and ethereal at the same time

So, from a writing standpoint?
I'd suggest this soundtrack for a story with action and a darker undertone. Mostly because of a recurring piece of music that I think of as the "Magneto Theme." It's predominant in Frankenstein's Monster, but threads of it show up ALL OVER THE PLACE. Even in softer songs. And many of the songs it doesn't show up it--like action sequence tracks--also depend on harsher, electronic sounds.

And your overall impression?
Not my favorite. Probably because of the main themes. They're a powerful combination of orchestral and electronic, and they make the soundtrack, but I can't say they stood out as anything particularly special. It doesn't help that they show up a lot and relatively unaltered. To the point where I felt like I could listen to certain tracks on repeat and get all of the feeling I wanted/needed from the music. That's not to say that many of the pieces aren't lovely, because they are, I just wanted variation.