tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73291321369835582812024-03-05T10:02:16.662-08:00Lana's Write WordsExploring writing, books and the industryLanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-63872027421768320582012-03-02T22:56:00.000-08:002012-03-02T22:56:31.789-08:00January and February reads<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't think I've ever read this many good books in a row. January and February just happened to be great reading months, encouraged by reviews from fellow bloggers and friends. I hope March reading is just as good!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is nothing like a bad book to spoil my reading appetite, and nothing like a good book to keep my obsession going strong.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Harlan Coben - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9838800-shelter">Shelter </a></span></span>(I'm a huge Harlan Coben fan and was so excited to hear that he was publishing a YA book. Was just as suspenseful and riveting as his other books, and I loved that the characters intertwined)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Rachel Cohn & David Levithan - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7741325-dash-lily-s-book-of-dares">Dash and Lily's book of dares</a> </span></span>(took me a while to get into this one but once I did, I absolutely loved it. Such a cute read). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">John Green - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2914097-paper-towns">Paper Towns</a></span> </span>(Read such great reviews of this book and can honestly say that I didn't enjoy it at all. Didn't feel a single thing for either characters.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Angela Morrison - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6586512-sing-me-to-sleep">Sing me to Sleep</a></span> </span>(I really enjoyed this book. I cried so much at the end. Though I was a little unsure about some of the relationships within the book, it was overall a good read) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">John Boyne - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39999.The_Boy_in_the_Striped_Pajamas">The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas</a></span> </span>(I have been meaning to read this for so long and finally got it out at the library. I've read a lot of Holocaust books and this one, despite being a YA book, was no less unsettling. I watched the movie right after. Definitely a must read.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Jeanette Walls - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7445.The_Glass_Castle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The Glass Castle</span> </a></span>(I went through stages with this book. Some parts I loved and some parts I hated. Was definitely interesting to read about that lifestyle and get into the psychology behind it. And was very uplifting in the end, in that the author had such a poor and horrific childhood but still made a good future for herself) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Cat Patrick - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9415951-forgotten">Forgotten</a></span> </span>(Was a very complicated book to write without coming across some loopholes and slips to the plot. I did have some questions unanswered, and felt like the end didn't really related to the rest of the book, but overall it was enjoyable. And a really gorgeous love story.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Gareth Crocker - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10704786-finding-jack">Finding Jack</a></span> </span>(Nothing to say other than I loved this book. It made me smile and made me cry. I read it all in one sitting on an airplane and felt so drained by the end of it. Really incredible story.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Sarah Addison Allen - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5126859-the-girl-who-chased-the-moon">The Girl who Chased the Moon</a> </span></span>(Usually I don't like when fantasy is mixed with real life, but I absolutely adored the magical element to this book. It was such an enjoyable read.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">John Green - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The Fault in our Stars</span> </a></span>(Was so hesitant to read this after Paper Towns... but John Green is redeemed. I loved this book. The writing was... incredible. His characterization was flawless and he had me crying hysterically for the last 60 pages. Adored this book soooooo much)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Cath Crowley - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/search?query=graffiti+moon">Graffiti Moon</a></span> </span>(I was so excited for this book to come out! It wasn't as fantastic as I expected, but I did really enjoy it. I loved the snippets of poetry throughout it, and I loved how it was told from both perspectives.)</span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-3631062662463160802012-02-27T01:49:00.000-08:002012-02-27T01:49:02.952-08:00Mailbox Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeG4Tx2mInxecQlaI5kvz-STePEeot_41Z6CZnAL9n7rs-ucj27EGpLtTPj-wLdSCT5Sifb4qesT59gAMxHG9TzjMtg098au7p8OXLnWDx4sWuwWVH8DAqZgflhugLkp_hJpv12w0fYDW/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeG4Tx2mInxecQlaI5kvz-STePEeot_41Z6CZnAL9n7rs-ucj27EGpLtTPj-wLdSCT5Sifb4qesT59gAMxHG9TzjMtg098au7p8OXLnWDx4sWuwWVH8DAqZgflhugLkp_hJpv12w0fYDW/s400/books.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7664334-amy-and-roger-s-epic-detour">Amy & Roger's Epic Detour</a> </span>- Morgan Matson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7863274-graffiti-moon">Graffiti Moon </a></span>- Cath Crowley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11698943-the-fine-art-of-truth-or-dare">The Fine Art of Truth or Dare</a></span> - Melissa Jenen</div><br />
I'm very excited for some March reading (although I've just about finished Graffiti Moon)Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-71031441084985179882012-02-24T04:04:00.000-08:002012-02-24T04:04:24.930-08:00Polaroid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got a polaroid for my birthday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Unfortunately, neither of the photos below were taken from the polaroid.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I love it. My mum wants to know why I'm going backwards in technology. Why I want a camera that has such expensive film, that if you take a bad photo, you've just wasted $2. Why don't I want to use my digital camera where I can take as many photos as I want without wasting money?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because I love the moment the polaroid keeps. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that I only have one chance to capture whatever it is I want to capture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that I have use it sparingly, because it means that the photos I do take have so much more significance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that that photo can't be taken 10 times in a row, from slightly different angles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the anticipation as you wait for the image to emerge from the whiteness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the way it moulds into my hands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm just pretty much in love right now. Once I've taken a few more photos, I will share them with you all </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G-Z9W0nHRO1mhZPlKmDCyRjEoLrMwbSZfI4csFfcmX__QxmMKoN0TQo2Eht2z4c2ice-Iupx7rdNb1w-YhctsPJQTctv2cs5L9sgtZ0cIJoAt4ZdTNirro3eg8wDXvltfZXLKvRAMazx/s1600/phooot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G-Z9W0nHRO1mhZPlKmDCyRjEoLrMwbSZfI4csFfcmX__QxmMKoN0TQo2Eht2z4c2ice-Iupx7rdNb1w-YhctsPJQTctv2cs5L9sgtZ0cIJoAt4ZdTNirro3eg8wDXvltfZXLKvRAMazx/s400/phooot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-9223039003674035952012-01-30T01:14:00.000-08:002012-01-30T01:14:44.451-08:00A weeping reader<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've read a lot of sad books. Books that have made me tear up, books that make me call the people I love to tell them how much I appreciate them. Books that stay with me for months after reading the last pages.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other night, I was reading <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6586512-sing-me-to-sleep">Sing me to Sleep</a> </span>by Angela Morrison in bed while my boyfriend was on his computer. Next thing he knew, I had thrown the book down and was balling my eyes out. I was inconsolable for hours. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"></span></span><br />
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<blockquote><a href="webkit-fake-url://F616684D-DDC1-4CFF-A035-84D23B8FA5B4/6586512-sing-me-to-sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="6586512-sing-me-to-sleep.jpg" border="0" height="320" src="webkit-fake-url://F616684D-DDC1-4CFF-A035-84D23B8FA5B4/6586512-sing-me-to-sleep.jpg" width="209" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">THE TRANSFORMATION</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Beth has always been "The Beast" - that's what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth's only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she's selected to be her choir's soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">THE LOVE AFFAIR</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When Beth's choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek's untethered passion - for music, and for Beth - leaves her breathless. Because in Derek's eyes? She's not The Beast, she's The Beauty.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">THE HEARTBREAK</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek's been hiding a dark secret from her ...one that could shatter everything.</span></i></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want to give away too much about this book. But I couldn't put it down all weekend. I was just starting to feel a certain way about Derek when the author dropped this huge bomb that changed everything. I admit that I could guess the ending before it happened, but not to the extent that it happens, and the way she wrote just made it all the more shocking.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have never cried over a book but could hardly breathe at this one. I was so distraught. Made worse by the fact that it is based loosely on a true story and there were photos of the real person in the back of the book.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Which books have you made you shed more than just a few tears?</b></span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-91235899090539919682012-01-23T01:16:00.000-08:002012-01-23T01:16:37.852-08:00Mailbox Monday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was just going to make a post on what I got to read this week when I realised it was Mailbox Monday. How convenient! Hosted by <a href="http://athomewithbooks.net/">At Home with Books </a>for the Month of January, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.</span></span><br />
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<h1 class="bookTitle" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name" style="background-color: transparent; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 455px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2728527-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a></h1><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="by smallText" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/63116.Annie_Barrows" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><span itemprop="name">Annie Barrows</span></a>, <span itemprop="name" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1194527.Mary_Ann_Shaffer" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">Mary Ann Shaffer</a></span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend of mine read this book for her book club and apparently it was everyone's favourite book of last year. Definitely sounds intriguing. </span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="bookTitle" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name" style="background-color: transparent; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 455px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6581532-the-sex-diaries">The Sex Diaries</a></h1><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="by smallText" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="name" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/724205.Bettina_Arndt" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">Bettina Arndt</a></span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can't say this doesn't sound interesting. </span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="bookTitle" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name" style="background-color: transparent; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 455px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10704786-finding-jack">Finding Jack: A Novel</a></h1><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="by smallText" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809129.Gareth_Crocker" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><span itemprop="name">Gareth Crocker</span></a> </span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found this at a sale at work (oh the perks of working in a publishing house) and picked it up for $2. SO excited to read it! It combines my love of the military and dogs. Will hopefully get my boyfriend to read this one as well. </span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="bookTitle" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name" style="background-color: transparent; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 455px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5126859-the-girl-who-chased-the-moon">The Girl Who Chased the Moon</a></h1><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="by smallText" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/566874.Sarah_Addison_Allen" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><span itemprop="name">Sarah Addison Allen</span></a> </span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally got this book in the mail after lusting for it for ages. I just think it sounds so beautiful. </span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="bookTitle" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name" style="background-color: transparent; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 455px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9596460-the-end-of-everything">The End of Everything</a></h1><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="by smallText" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="name" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29593.Megan_Abbott" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">Megan Abbott</a></span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Picked this up from work for $2 as well and thought it sounded cute. Doesn't have the best reviews but definitely worth a shot. </span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="bookTitle" id="bookTitle" itemprop="name" style="background-color: transparent; color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 455px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11870085-the-fault-in-our-stars">The Fault in Our Stars</a></h1><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="by smallText" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span itemprop="name" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1406384.John_Green" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">John Green</a></span></span></div><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not going to lie, I'm a little hesitant about this. I've heard such wonderful things about John Green that I had to buy this, and while I waited for it to arrive, I read another one of his books, which was meant to be amazing. And I didn't like it At all. So while the synopsis of this book sounds really great, I do have my hesitations. My copy did arrive signed though, which is pretty cool. </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><div class="stacked" id="bookAuthors" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"><br />
</div></span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-64989734110087999872012-01-12T13:18:00.000-08:002012-01-12T13:18:30.470-08:00Falling for a song<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2EIeUlvHAiM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><h1 style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 15px;"><br />
</h1><h1 style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 15px;">Florence And The Machine - Cosmic Love </h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAYGJE8i6b2m42ONTwzqlPM7jVIyoQaS1Wx37Nwkxt83k6q87CuQJcaR8wi0NCPNhUR8iy4VoAQh1pFK5GRFAa0lRaLSELU8ftlGHQ1nqb8DxjjC4dxcdOLGxuc8_O6AbS8kNDezZpCIf/s1600/COSMIC_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAYGJE8i6b2m42ONTwzqlPM7jVIyoQaS1Wx37Nwkxt83k6q87CuQJcaR8wi0NCPNhUR8iy4VoAQh1pFK5GRFAa0lRaLSELU8ftlGHQ1nqb8DxjjC4dxcdOLGxuc8_O6AbS8kNDezZpCIf/s320/COSMIC_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div><div id="lyrics" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal verdana; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKoS3qT_p82mWmpGByF6OfHkKibg2c0mTvmupickvZReoCzvPBntGpxPIysyE1XIFrbWC2ZOfOfAvRp5BP1uN6D9xRJp3VVuUKkM3cEq8ZlPpQYvcQArfd7pUiY9_VGbLEV6vGkBs1H_O/s1600/Florence-Cosmic-Love.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKoS3qT_p82mWmpGByF6OfHkKibg2c0mTvmupickvZReoCzvPBntGpxPIysyE1XIFrbWC2ZOfOfAvRp5BP1uN6D9xRJp3VVuUKkM3cEq8ZlPpQYvcQArfd7pUiY9_VGbLEV6vGkBs1H_O/s320/Florence-Cosmic-Love.png" width="320" /></a>A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes<br />
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it's left me blind<br />
<br />
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out<br />
You left me in the dark<br />
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight<br />
In the shadow of your heart<br />
<br />
And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat<br />
I tried to find the sound<br />
But then, it stopped, and I was in the darkness,<br />
So darkness I became<br />
<br />
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out<br />
You left me in the dark<br />
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight<br />
In the shadow of your heart<br />
<br />
I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map<br />
And knew that somehow I could find my way back<br />
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too<br />
So I stayed in the darkness with you<br />
<br />
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out<br />
You left me in the dark<br />
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight<br />
In the shadow of your heart<br />
<br />
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out<br />
You left me in the dark<br />
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight<br />
In the shadow of your heart</div><div class="ringtone" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px;"><br />
<br />
</span></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-57360549867159001362012-01-03T19:43:00.000-08:002012-01-03T19:43:58.505-08:00finding inspiration in the city<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My boyfriend's mum is here on holidays from New York - or should I say 'mom' - , and I've been playing tour guide all around Melbourne. Today we woke up early and went for breakfast before the heat settled. We went to Degraves Street in the CBD, which is lane-way full of people, cute cafes and boutique stores. After, we went to the State Library and just ventured around the streets. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Melbourne. I've had this idea of moving to London to find literary inspiration but I haven't appreciated what's right in front of me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would love to take a month off work and go every day to a different cafe, in different suburbs, take a few photos and write for a few hours. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="goog_154562690"></span><span id="goog_154562691"></span></span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-58230034705553223672012-01-01T15:51:00.000-08:002012-01-01T15:51:11.548-08:00What's happened since NaNo...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, I have been avoiding my blog.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And not just my blog, but a lot of blogs.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason is that I didn't complete NaNoWriMo (this was the first year I was attempting it) and have been pretty upset about it. I was doing really well and made it to 25 000 words. I was waking up early and writing every morning before work, because that was when I wrote best. Then I had some conferences I had to go to for work and lost 5 days of morning writing time. I lost two weekends because I had weddings, family functions and other occasions. And I panicked because I had research to do and no time to do it, and didn't want to write made-up crap. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another thing I struggled with along the way was that I have never written anything of that length before, and after reading over it now, I realise there is so much room to expand on what I've written.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming on to blogger and seeing everyone who finished NaNo just made me really upset and disappointed with myself. So I avoided all blogs and NaNo reminders for a while. It took a lot of comforting from my friends to cheer me up about it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite failing NaNo - failing is such a harsh word... lets say not-completing instead - I am really happy with the words I've done so far and am definitely going to continue with the story this year. And I will definitely attempt NaNo again next year. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, not that I've got that off my chest, lets see what I read in November and December:</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah Dessen - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just Listen</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dana Reinhardt - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The things a brother knows</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa Schroeder - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Far from you</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suzanna Collins - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Hunger Games</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nina LaCour -<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Hold Still</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lee Child - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Killing Floor</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carol Lynch Williams -<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> The Chosen One</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laini Taylor - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Daughter of Smoke and Bone</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura Harrington - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Alice Bliss</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stephanie Perkins - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lola and the boy next door. </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, on to 2012...</span></div></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-17303704072188941582011-12-31T22:51:00.000-08:002011-12-31T22:51:45.132-08:00The Best of 2011<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>67</o:Words> <o:Characters>383</o:Characters> <o:Company>University of Melbourne</o:Company> <o:Lines>3</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>470</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>great reading year for me. I’ve read a lot of different types of novels and have discovered some real treasures along the way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloLIh4dNvG8R4EnwcLjA5uz6_UOQuK0uLp8NoWtXVddaBel3JLtXgYaN_mHlPl5LjubT9BveXg_M6T4yYbQt4itWdW0KfbtAjkj_BrKgrh9rZ3WEH-H5N4lsFGZgqFYpME34SH0E_mEwM/s1600/2206063695_d9bf329712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloLIh4dNvG8R4EnwcLjA5uz6_UOQuK0uLp8NoWtXVddaBel3JLtXgYaN_mHlPl5LjubT9BveXg_M6T4yYbQt4itWdW0KfbtAjkj_BrKgrh9rZ3WEH-H5N4lsFGZgqFYpME34SH0E_mEwM/s1600/2206063695_d9bf329712.jpg" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">The stats</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young Adult Books: 35<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adult Literary Fiction: 8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crime Writing: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Non Fiction: 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">My favourite books of 2011 </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gayle Forman – If I Stay<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtney Summers – Fall for Anything<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa Schroeder – The Day Before<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Nicholls – One Day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Veronica Roth – Divergent<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jandy Nelson – The Sky is Everywhere</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Anyone read any of these books? Did you love them as much as I did?</b></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-81125293906374219322011-11-29T02:54:00.000-08:002011-11-29T02:54:10.652-08:00Top Ten Tuesday - TBR list<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow it's amazing how the weeks just loop into the next. It's time for Top Ten Tuesday, with <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>, looking at my top 10 TBR for summer (yup, definitely not Winter in Australia). </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXDQTXKQFCVkr8OJ4Nimf1jNKy5rvKlIgdNkfMXnIh6LFS7TiW8FouxY9bfab4VpyMKxiZ3aT_YQzbPLvBpoY0CS8kevlAfgSJRiZ5hdKJkWCFkf4E9pms4qShJNe1AT3yXdpqS80tj5b/s1600/9757264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXDQTXKQFCVkr8OJ4Nimf1jNKy5rvKlIgdNkfMXnIh6LFS7TiW8FouxY9bfab4VpyMKxiZ3aT_YQzbPLvBpoY0CS8kevlAfgSJRiZ5hdKJkWCFkf4E9pms4qShJNe1AT3yXdpqS80tj5b/s200/9757264.jpg" width="143" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxASA5SwDlHulf_Qbpl25K8xQOYJD4JKrGun-kxPle_fqkmbPZNNVUHzwv_61v6OqjbGz61vjAi-61oRoOdl1xYxjtZuuWbUE6Fa3eSNyTRcL8HcQ3n_i9XCcIIg7hWUlB_9YqTkd0vRWa/s1600/5126859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxASA5SwDlHulf_Qbpl25K8xQOYJD4JKrGun-kxPle_fqkmbPZNNVUHzwv_61v6OqjbGz61vjAi-61oRoOdl1xYxjtZuuWbUE6Fa3eSNyTRcL8HcQ3n_i9XCcIIg7hWUlB_9YqTkd0vRWa/s200/5126859.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkCMikdHa23pjtnr-CJyMCPbd_OuMwHLTV_xiNF7bBct80H4_lZO4K2kDverI3C6CtPJa8UwWvrixxwhnzS7UOidlkzHTFgSPzkDg9q4wtM8NKa__kYeYjG8wNVy1YxK5fi_TTpUwNoor/s1600/9838800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkCMikdHa23pjtnr-CJyMCPbd_OuMwHLTV_xiNF7bBct80H4_lZO4K2kDverI3C6CtPJa8UwWvrixxwhnzS7UOidlkzHTFgSPzkDg9q4wtM8NKa__kYeYjG8wNVy1YxK5fi_TTpUwNoor/s200/9838800.jpg" width="131" /></a></span></div><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9757264-with-or-without-you">Brian Farray - With or Without You</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5126859-the-girl-who-chased-the-moon"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; cursor: pointer;">Sarah Addison Allen</span> - The Girl who Chased the Moon</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9838800-shelter">Harlan Coben - Shelter</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6586512-sing-me-to-sleep"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; cursor: pointer;">Angela Morrison</span> - Sing me to Sleep</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9961796-lola-and-the-boy-next-door">Stephanie Perkins - Lola and the Boy Next Door</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7863274-graffiti-moon"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; cursor: pointer;">Cath Crowley</span> - Graffiti Moon</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9816578-alice-bliss">Laura Harrington - Alice Bliss</a></span></div><div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8490112-daughter-of-smoke-and-bone">Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5303373-the-chosen-one">Carol Lynch Williams - The Chosen One</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9858514-with-a-name-like-love"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; cursor: pointer;">Tess Hilmo</span> - With a name like Love</a></span></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-92082905575936964962011-11-12T00:52:00.000-08:002011-11-12T00:52:59.127-08:00Reading long books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6hX4AXDsLJgBAB1kcDjxs3nKARywJrjix0b-4rwdliCaUJH5q0FDGJjhRnlDexpvbKiSwW53U99zkZ9zgpSy58hxujIaoSSWTheCtkdEVuUOcrVTztEcUzuoNM3f358D7zDFPA51NyQD/s1600/052chu01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6hX4AXDsLJgBAB1kcDjxs3nKARywJrjix0b-4rwdliCaUJH5q0FDGJjhRnlDexpvbKiSwW53U99zkZ9zgpSy58hxujIaoSSWTheCtkdEVuUOcrVTztEcUzuoNM3f358D7zDFPA51NyQD/s320/052chu01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">I’ve always avoided reading long books, and by long books I mean anything more than 400/450 pages. The few I had read when I was younger (besides Harry Potter) seemed to drag on, and because I thought it took too long to reach the climax, I’d lose interest half way through.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDf0mA43e9hP-TTPlEhomCHwC8lgiiKitcgYyjL4JhoCokaSJkxrZgegTAKStTcDQ1vQNfjAoEyPSf0FzcaOnMBZi_Leljj76l77Ney-w95cxWi1e1fIMrHJPNB3aTormhAUtqbTStnmGa/s1600/052chu01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I admit that most of the books on my TBR shelf are larger books. And I have been trying to get through them lately. And my latest discovery is that larger books don’t necessarily take longer to read nor do they all drag on. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">One Day</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;">Of Marriageable Age</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> Afterwards</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">Seven Types of Ambiguity</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Shot in the Heart</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">.</span></span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are all long books that I have read and loved. And that's only naming a few.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With longer books, you spend more time with the characters and get to really know them; you get attached to them. You have longer to spend in a world you're loving. And if you're loving the book, it doesn't really take that much longer to read than a smaller book, because you just can't put it down. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I vow to read all the long books on my shelf. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Anyone else a big-book-phobe?</b></span></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-18216153357275834702011-11-07T03:30:00.000-08:002011-11-07T03:30:42.957-08:007 days down, 23 more to go.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's hard to believe that it's been only been 7 days. A week ago I had nothing and now I have something. Something I'm already feeling proud of. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the beginning, I really struggled with thinking large. I'm so used to writing short stories and keeping things minimal, that I found it hard to expand on things. My first few chapters started pretty short, only 1-2 pages (but the entire novel is written in the form of letters so I wasn't too worried about the length of them). And now they are going up to 3.5 pages. I can feel myself exploring everything more, tapping into my characters head and seeing things how he would see them. When I'm ahead on my word count and can afford to spend some time 'leisurely', I want to go back and re read those first few chapters, because I know there were will be heaps of room to expand them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's at 11,000 words today. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lost the weekend because I was out in the country (which usually would be a great place to write, but not so much when you're on a romantic weekend away). We drove out two hours into a small town called Daylesford. We had a room with a private spa, we went to a cocktail party, to an antique and farmers market, wine tasting and lunching on the mountains. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjLvHqHuaXjCwRVi-TcummW-60EuN_1RxZ6uBY_Oi-qsiEft9SysX0QTRmiUmpE14iYyJY8wzhHw6wl9vXrHivYsWEsbfHDbAHcVCX7iUFYKldBg_gWSGzG5cuJgW1x_BUib2-hUKXgGu/s1600/320210_10150522821258312_512413311_11288343_2055942176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjLvHqHuaXjCwRVi-TcummW-60EuN_1RxZ6uBY_Oi-qsiEft9SysX0QTRmiUmpE14iYyJY8wzhHw6wl9vXrHivYsWEsbfHDbAHcVCX7iUFYKldBg_gWSGzG5cuJgW1x_BUib2-hUKXgGu/s400/320210_10150522821258312_512413311_11288343_2055942176_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy writing everyone</span></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-16377556086134820232011-11-03T05:05:00.000-07:002011-11-03T05:05:34.324-07:00oh uh October<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, October wasn't my best reading month. I read this book that I absolutely loved - The Sky is Everywhere - right at the start of the month, and then I couldn't read anything for a week after because I was so attached to the book. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6604794-the-sky-is-everywhere">Jandy Nelson <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">- The Sky is Everywhere</span></a></span><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11102173-alaska"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sue Saliba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - Alaska</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9216975-afterwards"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosamund Lupton</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - Afterwards</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6084301-nothing-like-you"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lauren Strasnick</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - Nothing Like You</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alaska was beautifully written (and my god what a ridiculously amazing front cover) but I thought the main character was stupid and I hated the way it ended. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Same as Nothing Like you. I really enjoyed the book but the ending ruined it for me completely. Yes, the girl got what she deserved. But after being on a long journey with TWO boys involved, I just wanted her to end up with one of them, and she didn't. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But... The Sky is Everywhere goes into my top books (obviously since I can't stop blogging about how much I love it) and Afterwards was also a fantastic read which I would recommend. </span><br />
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</span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-91425517598144374082011-11-01T23:38:00.000-07:002011-11-01T23:38:46.578-07:00Only day 2 and there have already been tears.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 1 of NaNoWriMo was a lot harder than I thought. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had done so much planning and research. I was excited. Nervous. Totally ready to start NaNo. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But by 2 in the afternoon, 2,100 words later, I had come to the conclusion that the story was told from the wrong perspective and was just all wrong. It was going no where. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I declared failure, teared up in disappointment and curled up in bed all sad. Luckily for me, I have the sweetest, most supportive boyfriend, who told me that he wouldn't let me give up. He brainstormed ideas with me until 1 in the morning (I was thinking a YA with an awesome love story, and he was thinking Navy Seals and government invasion). Finally we found an awesome idea that I was really excited about. (ok, so it's a combination of love and military ... but for all those who have read my blog, you should all know that I have a weird obsession with the army). And since my boyfriend is such an army and history addict, he's pretty much done all the research for me already! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I woke up super early and got to work at 7am so that I could sit in the coffee shop downstairs and write before work started at 8:30. I got 1,500 words done and am REALLY happy with my new story. It was telling itself. Honestly, I hardly had to do any work, just move my fingers. It was the greatest feeling ever and I've been smiling all day since. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">going to write a bit more before bed but will wake up early again and have a repeat of yesterday. I just write better in the morning for some reason. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, here are some hints on my new story. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An excerpt will follow shortly. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not necessarily in that order. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-25327811284525561082011-11-01T03:57:00.000-07:002011-11-01T03:57:47.478-07:00Top Ten Tuesday - Books I had strong emotions over<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I have decided to participate in<a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">the Broke and the Bookish</span></a> Top Ten Tuesday. I started reading some of the entries people had posted and have a good list jotted down of books I'd like to read now. Hopefully my list could inspire some people with some reads. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="webkit-fake-url://F1582A17-1D43-4ABD-9BA4-D9A040E1C82E/TTT3W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="TTT3W.jpg" border="0" src="webkit-fake-url://F1582A17-1D43-4ABD-9BA4-D9A040E1C82E/TTT3W.jpg" /></a></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The Sky is Everywhere</span> by Jandy Nelson</span> - Lyrical. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Fall-in-love-with-main-guy. Seriously, this author knocks everything on the head; writing, characters and plot.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">One day </span>by David Nicholls</span> - I have to admit I cried my eyes out in the movie. But you definitely got a better sense of the relationship in the book. I think it was a combination of both that really made me love One Day. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Dreamland</span> by Sarah Dessen</span> - I'm not going to lie, I definitely had a lot to relate to this book. Just made it all the more raw and emotional for me. There were some inaccuracies I found, but overall a really good psychological exploration into abusive relationships. It's absolutely heart breaking what damage love and manipulation can do. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">If I stay</span> by Gayle Forman</span> - Ok, if you're not crying at some point in this book, you've got to be crazy. What an emotional journey. I was just as lost and confused as the main character. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Afterwards</span> by Rosamund Lupton</span> - I finished the book and had to curl up in my boyfriends arms for comfort hugs. A long book on a harrowing journey. I knew the ending was coming, but it hurt like hell to read. A definite must read. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Stolen </span>by<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> </span>Lucy Christopher </span>- I absolutely love love love this book and thought the author ended it really well. I couldn't stop thinking about the characters after, questioning the ending, and questioning how the psychological issues that were affecting the main character, were affecting me too while reading. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Fall for Anything </span>by Courtney Summers</span> - The girl was just so broken. I didn't cry but it was a hard read. I definitely had to go and give my dad a big hug afterwards. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Sisterhood Everlasting</span> by Anne Brashare</span>s - ok after following the girls through four books, I was definitely attached to the characters. Was not prepared for what happened in this book. Especially the twist at the end. I loved it and hated it. And have decided to pretend I never read it. It's too sad to be true (well, as true as fiction can be). </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The Book Thief </span>by Markus Zusac</span> - War. Family. Prisoners. Death. Books. OBVIOUSLY emotional. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">What it Used to be Like</span> by Maryann Burk Carver</span> - Raymond Carvers life told by his first wife. I finished to book while at work and had to take an extra half an hour lunch break because I couldn't stop crying when I reached the end. </li>
</ol>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-6644420285581045052011-10-31T15:08:00.000-07:002011-10-31T15:08:30.409-07:00NaNoWriMo Day 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I'm about to start writing! Pretty lucky that November 1st fell on a public holiday in Melbourne. I don't have to work today and want to get in with at least 5,000 words. Then after today I want to write around 2,000 a day. Wish me luck! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm so anxious!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually I write short stories, and edit as I go. This will be a huge learning experience. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I don't have a title for my story yet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's about:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A Girl called Holly whose training in competitive Martial Arts</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A Boy called Jae who turns up in her classes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And his secrets of a previous life.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is this new kid? Why does he have to be so handsome? And why can't he even tell Holly his full name?</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone else doing NaNo? </span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-69616070446989370942011-10-24T00:41:00.000-07:002011-11-01T03:14:25.195-07:00the.best.book.ever<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBtcO_PTR9t7pefS7oHfYtXMdy9rJqJiiXNzB1VW_ML4X4C4gPimFupNlZxkzz8QBsKwEiwwqf2z7b_bVp8ok6RyZJMvuKUICpdz8SnM1JBukggVMKBNq2a8GyNrSyQXZZTmnYYzcZMgu/s1600/sky-is-everywhere-jandy-nelson-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBtcO_PTR9t7pefS7oHfYtXMdy9rJqJiiXNzB1VW_ML4X4C4gPimFupNlZxkzz8QBsKwEiwwqf2z7b_bVp8ok6RyZJMvuKUICpdz8SnM1JBukggVMKBNq2a8GyNrSyQXZZTmnYYzcZMgu/s1600/sky-is-everywhere-jandy-nelson-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
I am about to make a very radical statement.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I discovered my favourite book of all time. (ok, well, it's in the top three)</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The book that makes me want to quit writing because I know I can’t write like that.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The book I couldn’t put down, but never wanted to read because I wanted it to last forever.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The book that wouldn’t let me read another book for a week after because it was still resonating.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The book where I started marking my favourite lines, but realised there were way too many of them to ever keep track of.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The book I wanted to reread IMMEDIATELY after finishing it.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The book I WISH I wrote myself.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The book I love so much, that I don’t want anyone else to read because I want it to just be mine. But at the same time, I want everyone to read it because it’s. just. so. fabulous.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Honestly, I have no critique of this book. It hit all the right spots. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Has anyone read a book like this??</b></span></span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Goodreads says about The Sky is Everywhere:</span></div><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"</span></span></span></blockquote><div style="color: #454545; display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-77913637073887309062011-10-21T14:57:00.000-07:002011-10-21T14:57:08.850-07:00I have returned<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Blog! How I’ve missed you!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth is that life has taken my sleep and my words and has left me almost robotic, studying and working. (oh, and I moved houses!)</span><br />
<br />
<div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact now is that uni has finished for the year (half way to being a qualified publisher/editor), I’m settled into my new home – photos to come – and I’m returning to blogging.</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NaNoWriMo is coming up in just over a week and I’m frantically planning my novel so that I’m ready to write my little heart out. My characters have started having conversations in my head at the most awkward times. I’ve been in the shower, driving my car or watching a movie, and have had to stop, pull over or jump out and write their conversation out. It’s taking on a world of it’s own.</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve been doing a lot of research lately, too, however I’m a bit worried that the company I need to research won’t help me with information, which could throw me off slightly, but hopefully isn’t too detrimental.</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what I’ve read in August and September. Not as much as I’d hope but I was overseas, had exams and was moving houses… I have 8 books in the mail from Book Depository though, which is exciting.</span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simone Elkeles - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Perfect Chemistry</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simone Elkeles - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">How to Ruin a Summer Vacation</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtney Summers - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Cracked up to be</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah Dessen - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Dreamland</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah Ochler - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Twenty Boy Summer</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Nicholls - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">One Day</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenny Han - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">It's Not Summer Without You</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Veronica Roth - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Divergent</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenny Han - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">We'll Always have Summer</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a quote I found recently, from one of my favourite writers of all time, Etgar Keret. </span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><blockquote><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">(interviewer) DH:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">Last night at the reading you said something very interesting. You said you were interested in “creating something out of something” as opposed to “creating something out of nothing.” You said, “Anyone can create something out of nothing.” First of all, am I interpreting this correctly, is this directed against the Judeo-Christian creation myth? Did you even have that in mind?</span></span></span> </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803178" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">(Etgar Keret) EK:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;"> I was talking about the artistic mechanism. Creating something out of nothing means making something up. But when you make something out of something, you take things that are already there, like an emotion, and you turn it into a narrative. The nature of literature is not to invent things, but to articulate what is already there. When you read a good book you don’t think that the author is making up lies, but you say, “Oh, yes, I know what he is talking about.” The fact that you know this means that it isn’t made up.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span></blockquote><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319233190803137" style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-9526280101205862192011-08-18T06:16:00.000-07:002011-08-18T06:16:16.984-07:00I explain a few things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do apologise for my absence. I miss blogging desperately but life has been insane the past few weeks. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-work is really busy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Uni has started back up again two nights a week after work,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-assignments are piling up</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-mum is away and suddenly it's a lot harder for the house to stay clean, and</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-I'm going overseas next week and have lots of preparing to do. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do have a list of the blog posts I want to write, and the list is building, which is a good thing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to get some writing and blogging done while I'm away - I'm going skiing in NZ. Yay!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other news, I won a blogging award! Julie's blo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">g</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://thebookmemoirs.blogspot.com/2011/08/liebster-blog.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Pen to Paper</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is such a creative, thoughtful and inspiring blog about writing, reading, life and the industry. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I love the website </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><a href="http://www.postsecret.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">postsecret.com </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and thought I'd post some of my favourite postcards. They're great story inspirations, too. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-58973282807006346282011-08-05T18:50:00.000-07:002011-08-18T05:52:57.039-07:00July - Winters inspiration.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July has been a convoluted mess of early mornings, late nights reading, sitting by the fireplace or curling in bed with my sweetie. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wrote the first draft of my new short story called </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not The Usual</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which, in a nutshell, is about a woman who becomes obsessed with taking furniture that she finds on side walks. It was a strange story to write, not my usual style, but I really enjoyed the process. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have another writing project in mind, which will be a gift to my boyfriend. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine a little book, folded and sown by moi. Gorgeous paper throughout - I found this incredible paper shop the other day - and every page with a haiku that portrays a favourite or significant moment in our relationship. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also FINALLY figured out a way to start the story I've been trying to write for almost two years. So I'm just going to force myself to sit down and write it. No more procrastination and not being able to start writing because I don't know the first paragraph. I'm just going to do it!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, another story of mine got published in a very cute little zine called Hands Like Mirrors, published by Susie and Stacey whose blog you can follow <a href="http://vehementoolbox.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">here</span></a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Books I read in July:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Ann Brashares - </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9461872-sisterhood-everlasting"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sisterhood Everlasting</span></span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Lisa Schroeder - </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8922087-the-day-before"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day before</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (which you can read my thoughts on </span><a href="http://lanaswritewords.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-beautiful-beautiful-book.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Loretta Ellsworth -</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6696420-in-a-heartbeat"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In a heartbeat</span></span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jenny Han - </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5821978-the-summer-i-turned-pretty"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Summer I Turned Pretty</span></span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Harlen Cobem </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8437667-live-wire"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Live Wire</span></a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jessi Kirby -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8535449-moonglass"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Moonglass</span></a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Martin Lukes - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/954312.Who_Moved_My_Blackberry_"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Who moved my blackberry?</span></a></span></span><br />
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</span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-51356935497304610162011-07-31T06:10:00.000-07:002011-07-31T06:10:31.902-07:00We all love bookshelves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I'm moving out of home in the next few months and the most exciting part of that is thinking about where I'm going to put my books. I used to want a book room, where all the walls were covered in books, and in the centre was a desk to write. But I also like having my books in constant view. I think the right bookshelf is like a piece of art. As soon as I find a bookshelf as cool as the ones below, I'm going to invest in it. Alternatively, I love the look of books just coming out of everywhere. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">What kind of bookshelf do you want?</span></span></span></span></b></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-24445044268536875882011-07-24T03:56:00.000-07:002011-07-24T03:56:55.805-07:00How I write<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Planning</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve always been a big story planner. I can’t start writing until I know the beginning and end, and I like to know the main events and conflicts that happen in the middle. In terms of characters, I only tend to start writing knowing their names - the rest of them comes with the story. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes, though, it’s the character that comes to me, already pretty developed. I write down everything about them and build a story from that; from knowing who they are and putting them in a situation that I’d like to see them deal with. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Planning involves pages full of notes, snippets of dialogue and sentences, words that I like for the story, and the tone of voice of the piece.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Writing</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve been trying different writing methods. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past, I used to write a couple of paragraphs, read over them and have to ‘perfect’ them before writing on. If I wasn’t happy, I couldn’t continue. This writing technique got me into a lot of trouble: lots of unfinished stories and wasted time. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately, I’ve been writing writing writing and not editing anything until the end. The only reading over I will do is of the last few paragraphs, just to capture the tone and moment before continuing on. Sometimes, I will make some small tweaks and fix obvious spelling or grammar issues, but nothing more. And that’s been working really well for me. The story I just finished, I sat down in three different sessions over a week and wrote the whole thing out. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of the time I write on my laptop but sometimes I do enjoy writing by hand. I just find that my hand doesn't write as fast as I'm thinking. Often, I'll be writing on the computer with a notebook next to me so I can jot down words and events as I think of them. </span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Editing</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to leave stories after they’ve been written for at least a week, usually two weeks, without me reading it. That way, I can look over it with a clear mind and pick up a lot more issues with it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I print it off and go over it with a coloured pen, marking all the spelling and grammar that needs fixing, plot parts to watch out for, words that need switching and areas that need re- working. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For paragraphs that I’m not 100% happy with, I will open a new document on my computer, and re-write that paragraph, sometimes with the other one next to it, sometimes just working from scratch. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes, if there are issues with where to start or with the flow, I will print out the story, cut it up into chapters and shuffle it around on the floor. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Editing usually involves a lot of cutting and adding. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it usually results in quite a few drafts. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How much do you plan before writing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you write in sections and edit, or get it all out before editing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any particular methods of editing?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><!--EndFragment-->Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-82784775873376809722011-07-19T21:07:00.000-07:002011-07-19T21:07:43.924-07:00The excitement of a new story<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You ever get this feeling? When you’re going about life as usual and suddenly the excitement of something hits you – maybe a new love interest, a holiday coming up, or for me, the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">buzz</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of new clothes or books – and you get butterflies in your stomach?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8D9nkwpxCAFTHYIh8zD4PorAtZF0nLxQSgkONHvdnXj3CDhZgfTJsbF6yqvX-uyhcwn8ki1ON8F0h-pKaUrCUzF__ByX15uRekWRu4RjkiK6_dLrt8L6gIYnPTBIEUd4i5GSRgd9fdKB/s1600/butterflies_in_my_stomach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8D9nkwpxCAFTHYIh8zD4PorAtZF0nLxQSgkONHvdnXj3CDhZgfTJsbF6yqvX-uyhcwn8ki1ON8F0h-pKaUrCUzF__ByX15uRekWRu4RjkiK6_dLrt8L6gIYnPTBIEUd4i5GSRgd9fdKB/s1600/butterflies_in_my_stomach.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get that with new story ideas. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve decided to write a <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">NaNoWriMo</span></a> this year (I finish uni in October so no excuses of assignments being due). I’m kinda nervous and excited because I’ve never written anything that long before. I usually write short stories and the longest one has only been 15 000 words. So this will be a challenge. But I’m definitely ready. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have 4 months to plan the story and get myself ready for writing. No pressure and no looming deadlines. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slowly, things keep revealing themselves to me: characters are developing, and events and dialogue come in to mind. T</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hese skeletons of characters are growing skin and muscle and personality. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ll be at work or driving and suddenly something new hits me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My story just keeps falling into place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have constant (excited) butterflies in my stomach. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not going to say too much about my idea, only that</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have to talk to the police and the Australian defense force for research,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I know it will be YA,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It will involve letters from one character to another</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And a mysterious older boy named Cade. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Anyone else get butterflies in their stomach when they have a new idea bubbling away? Anyone plan on doing NaNoWriMo?</b></span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-3626206422752768892011-07-15T23:11:00.000-07:002011-07-15T23:11:08.887-07:00What a beautiful, beautiful book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VA3ldyvZ87CeZykupa5R19lNR3yRdXw_dO4WhYkNz2LdVDz1JeAFBhmfCqea9BTp6-EK2dMBwBzQq7ymPBIu470uAiU4yBmB26ZBfsg_3udQb2iop-6r3S-n0zb6W7Iz3uWl1JVeSEtD/s1600/The-Day-Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VA3ldyvZ87CeZykupa5R19lNR3yRdXw_dO4WhYkNz2LdVDz1JeAFBhmfCqea9BTp6-EK2dMBwBzQq7ymPBIu470uAiU4yBmB26ZBfsg_3udQb2iop-6r3S-n0zb6W7Iz3uWl1JVeSEtD/s320/The-Day-Before.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just finished one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8922087-the-day-before"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Day Before</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> by Lisa Schroeder is a YA about a girl called Amber, who wants to spend the day alone on the beach. She meets Cade there, a boy who is doing the same thing. The reader doesn't know right away why the two characters want to spend the day alone, but their reasons are slowly revealed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No 'blurb' can do this book justice. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Day Before is a verse novel, written up entirely in joining poems. I read <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3824832-el-dorado"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">El Dorado</span></a>, by Dorothy Porter a few years back, which was also a verse novel, and I loved the idea of it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It worked so beautifully for this story and I really felt like every word was contemplated and perfectly placed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story was thought-provoking, and powerful. The characters were so real, the conversation so natural, that I never doubted anything for a second. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book made me smile and cry. It was one of those books I loved so much that I never wanted to put down, but at the same time I loved it so much, I didn't want to read because I wanted it to last forever. Which is a feeling Lisa describes in the book itself, making a parallel between reading, and the way Amber felt about Cade.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recommend it to everyone.</span>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329132136983558281.post-19584573703659403912011-07-13T17:12:00.000-07:002011-07-13T17:12:56.788-07:00Second poem for the poetry shmoetry blogfest<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yare'ackh *</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I chased the moon <br />
in my car that night; <br />
it was large in the sky, <br />
almost surreal<br />
and I tried to catch it<br />
as a child would a lost <br />
floating balloon. <br />
I thought of us. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Yare'ackh means moon in Hebrew</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy88IkBtpgmSlGfNPf_bXyWOl8MJzRWGrB-McpRemLY37ndCJYVimeg6i1-1TwrxgP13WJtg0RDtj_20JJReSuCLYyPgeczEziH1FkUWtaC5Wj_dyuA0NYwwEU1TQfO5Ewd5B3UiK8CQIJ/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy88IkBtpgmSlGfNPf_bXyWOl8MJzRWGrB-McpRemLY37ndCJYVimeg6i1-1TwrxgP13WJtg0RDtj_20JJReSuCLYyPgeczEziH1FkUWtaC5Wj_dyuA0NYwwEU1TQfO5Ewd5B3UiK8CQIJ/s400/Picture+6.png" width="400" /></a></div>Lanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896976446359910431noreply@blogger.com8