Well, the title of this blog post might be a bit misleading. I'm still in China. I've been on the Internet, didn't impose an Internet ban on myself or anything. But it's true that I haven't really been active on book-related stuff in the past month or maybe even two. Yes, work took over nearly all of my waking hours (seriously, I was in the office 12 hours a day during the last two weeks before the Regular Decision college application deadline. I will now severely criticize any and all authors who get any part of the process wrong, or "tweaks" deadlines and notification dates to suit their plot, as I have said many years ago), but it wasn't just that.
Quite frankly, I had a crisis of faith.
It's probably still ongoing. I still catch glimpses of nasty blogger-reader-author-publisher shenanigans on Goodreads, Twitter, on blogs, Facebook... everywhere I turn, something was happening that caused me to lose a little more hope in humanity. That, on top of my "real life" of living in Shanghai, China, set me spiraling into God-knows-what direction. I'm not a city person, and China is currently in a state of trying to figure out its place in the world and in contemporary history, and that apparently involves some moral crises. I seriously contemplated getting rid of a lot of things that I was scared was weighing me down: the social "face" I was trying to keep up on Facebook, Twitter, this blog, even Goodreads. I've barely even answered emails for the past several months. (Sorry about that, everyone who's tried to contact me.)
The trouble is that social media has become such a fixed part of our lives today that it's really hard to remove yourself entirely. So, no, I won't quit the Internet entirely (although that's not completely out of the question at some temporary point in the future), but I've been rethinking my boundaries, what I'm willing and not willing to put out on the Internet, what I'd rather keep to myself. I'm trying to remove as much negativity from my life as possible, and most of the negativity, I've learned, comes from me worrying too much about what others think of me. (Yes, I'm a college graduate and I still feel that way. This is why YA and I will never fully break up.)
This affects--or will affect--my blogging because I am going to take a step back from the networking/negotiations part of it and just do my own thing for a while. I need to get back into the feel of blogging, and I don't want it to become yet again something that stresses me out because of this obligation to this author or that obligation to that publisher. So I'm going to take it slowly. I'll blog when I want, what I want, and I'll stop when I want to also. I'll be online when I want, and I'll not be online when I don't want to. This sort of stuff seems really stupidly basic, but I feel like I've gotten frazzled to the point where I need to lay out these very basic rules for myself in a concrete manner. I'm not looking for acclaim or recognition or notoriety right now, because I'm not in the state of mind where I can take those sorts of expectations, whether external or internal.
So... a tentative wave of hello to you. :)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Books Read in 2012
January
1. Over My Head by Marie Lamba
2. Amplified by Tara Kelly
3. Kowalski Family, Book 1: Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey
4. Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen
5. Dark Swan, Book 1: Storm Born by Richelle Mead
6 (reread). 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter
7. Small Town Sinners by Melissa C. Walker
8. Llharmell, Book 1: Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart
9. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
10. Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott
11. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
12. The Mockingbirds, Book 2: The Rivals by Daisy Whitney
13. Lunar Chronicles, Book 1: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
14. Edge, Book 3: Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
15. The Queen's Thief, Book 1: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
16. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
17. The Returning by Christine Hinwood
18. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
February
19. The Shattering by Karen Healey
20. Wild Swans by Jung Chang
21. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
22. The Queen's Thief, Book 2: The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
23. Lumatere Chronicles, Book 2: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
24. Fools Rush In by Kristan Higgins
25. Icefall by Matthew Kirby
26. The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book 1: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
March
27. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
28. Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner
29. Immortal Beloved, Book 2: Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
30. A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
31. Dark Swan, Book 2: Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead
32. Purity by Jackson Pearce
33. Boy21 by Matthew Quick
April
34. The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
35. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
36. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
37. Among Others by Jo Walton
38. Melody in Lingerie by Imogen Linn
39. Fantasy Heights, Book 1: Help Wanted by Meg Silver
40. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
41. Blood of Eden, Book 1: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
42. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
May
43. Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
44. Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins
45. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
46. Throne of Glass, Book 0.1: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas
47. This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
48. Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins
49. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
50. Newsflesh Trilogy, Book 1: Feed by Mira Grant
51. Ship Breaker, Book 2: The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
June
52. Anna, Book 1: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
53. A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
54. A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
55 (reread). Love by Numbers, Book 1: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah Maclean
56. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
57. WVMP Radio, Book 3.5: Let It Bleed by Jeri Smith-Ready
58. Crossfire, Book 1: Bared to You by Sylvia Day
59 (reread). Crown and Court Duel, Book 1: Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
July
60. Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
61. The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
62. The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 2: The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
63. The Queen's Thief, Book 3: The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
64. Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
65. The Lynburn Legacy, Book 1: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
66. Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
67. A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith
68. This Is Shyness by Leanne Hall
69. The Lotus War, Book 1: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
70. Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
August
71. Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans
72. Saltwater Vampires by Kirsty Eagar
73. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
74. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
75. Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
76. Kate Daniels World, Book 1: Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews
77. Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han and Julia Kuo
78. The List by Siobhan Vivian
79. One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
80. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
81. Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool
82. Wonder by R. J. Palacio
83. Speechless by Hannah Harrington
84. Shadowfell, Book 1: Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
September
85. Dublin Murder Squad, Book 1: In the Woods by Tana French
86. Ironskin, Book 1: Ironskin by Tina Connolly
87. Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Fanny Merkin
88. The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan
89. Butter by Erin Jade Lange
90. The Diviners, Book 1: The Diviners by Libba Bray
91. Fire and Thorns, Book 0.5: The Shadow Cats by Rae Carson
92. Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt
93. Tales of the Otori, Book 1: Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
94. Adaptation by Malinda Lo
95. The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
96. Samaria, Book 1: Archangel by Sharon Shinn
97. The Lotus War, Book 1.5: Praying for Rain by Jay Kristoff
October
98. Small Change, Book 1: Farthing by Jo Walton
99. Dublin Murder Squad, Book 2: The Likeness by Tana French
100. Diverse Energies edited by Tobias S. Bucknell and Joe Monti
101. Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
102. Crossfire, Book 2: Reflected in You by Sylvia Day
103. Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharonn Shinn
104. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
105. Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster
106. Crown and Court, Book 2.5: Remalna’s Children by Sherwood Smith
107. Dark Swan, Book 3: Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead
108. Graceling Realm, Book 3: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
November
109 (reread). Graceling Realm, Book 1: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
110. A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith
111. Samaria, Book 2: Jovah’s Angel by Sharon Shinn
112. Sevenwaters, Book 3: Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier
113. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
114. Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins
115. My One and Only by Kristan Higgins
December
116 (reread). Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
117. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Book 2: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
118. No and Me by Delphine de Vigan
119 (reread). Graceling Realm, Book 2: Fire by Kristin Cashore
120. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
121. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth
122. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Review: East by Edith Pattou
EAST is the tale of Rose, who sacrifices her freedom to save her sister, grows to care for the cursed white bear who is her “captor,” unwittingly betrays him, then goes beyond the ends of the earth to make things right. It’s a classic folktale that never fails to move me, but Edith Pattou’s retelling of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” went above and beyond, astounding me with its magical rendering of a traditional story and simple literary elements.
EAST is not extraordinarily sophisticated in writing style: narration alters between several different voices, and none of them particularly stand out as individual examples of great literariness. However, the magic of EAST lies in how these common elements—straightforward prose, a retelling—fit together. The multiple narrators adds a unique rhythm and scope to the story that makes the whole so much more than the sum of its parts.
Edith Pattou sets EAST in historical Europe, and the story traverses lands, cultures, seas, and languages for an astonishing and engrossing read. This is the second retelling of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and I’m astonished at the different directions in which each author took this folktale. I’m no history buff, but I was mesmerized by Edith Pattou’s description of the various people that Rose meets on her journey, by the variety of people and cultures that existed over great distances at the same time.
Words fail me when I try to describe an extraordinary book; indeed, there is no part of this book that was not amazing, and thus there is no part that I can describe well. There is a reason I still see this book in bookstores: it has the rare lasting power that only the most accomplished of fantasy reads possess.
Cover discussion: It's quite unique and memorable. A loving artistic rendering of a lovely book.
Graphia / May 1, 2005 / Paperback (reprint) / 528pp. / $8.95
Personal copy.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Review: Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Tags: fantasy, retelling, family, sorcery, Ireland
Summary
Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of a seventh son who is constantly at tensions with his neighbors over land. Sorcha spends most of her days playing and being loved by her six older brothers, but when an evil sorceress bewitches her father and puts her brothers under a terrible spell, only Sorcha can break it—though it might be the death of her.
Review
I was one of those kids (I’m sure you’ve known a few of us) who read our Complete Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales cover to cover until the book was in tatters. Among the hundreds of extraordinary—and, admittedly, some not-so-extraordinary—tales, however, the one about the girl who must endure great travails to free her six older brothers who have been turned into swans has always been one of my favorites, because it’s just so emotional, and the girl is so admirable. Happily, Juliet Marillier keeps my favorite aspects of the original fairy tale, and dresses it up in an astounding world of Irish historical culture and intricate political relationships.
Unlike other retellings that may push aside the original for the sake of setting, DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST stays true to the tale at its core. Sorcha endures almost unimaginable sufferings in her quest to free her brothers, gets unwillingly pulled into social politics, and is wrongly accused of things that were not her intention. She is a strong protagonist not because she’s very active, but simply because she endures. The first 150 pages or so feel a little slow, but once the book moves into the frameworks of the original tale, I couldn’t put it down.
This is a book I would’ve loved to death back when I first started reading fantasy in middle school, alongside lifetime favorites like Robin McKinley and other admirable fantasies by authors like Garth Nix. As it is, DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST is still an incredible book, full of the richness of my favorite kind of high fantasy. I’m glad I chose this one as my first Marillier book, and look forward to reading her other books in the future.
Tor Books / Feb. 18, 2002 / Mass market paperback (reprint) / 560pp. / $7.99
Personal copy.
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