♥ Blue ✈: Books

Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Friday, January 28, 2011

Little Bee

There are myriad authors in the world, but comparatively few actual writers. Chris Cleave is a writer.

I found a book entitled Little Bee by British author Chris Cleave on an airplane this week…left by a previous passenger. I started reading it during a transcontinental flight, and then couldn’t put it down to go to sleep when I got home despite major fatigue and the extra late hour.

Not only that, I then forced Doc to listen to my synopsis of it…followed him around reading passages that stuck with me.

I never EVER write in books. But this book seemingly forced me to underscore points that I didn’t want to forget, ideas or thoughts which I wanted to share with others. I hadn't gotten past page 8 before I was moved to do this.

The majority of books I read are kind of like popcorn…you enjoy it while you’re eating it, but it’s not an experience that stays with you or stands out in your memory. Little Bee is is like an extraordinary gourmet meal at a 3-star Michelin restaurant in France. You will never forget it. But it's better than a meal, because it just might change how you view the world, and who you are in it.

Grateful for:
1) People who are good.
2) Hope
3) Grace

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

NaNoWriMo

Yesterday I noticed a status update of a facebook friend about this NaNoWriMo thing. I'm pretty sure I'd heard the phrase in years past, but had some vague notion that it had something to do with Mork and Mindy.

So I asked what it was. Which led me to the official NaNoWriMo website. In a nutshell, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, which runs from November 1-30th and during which participants strive to write a 50,000 (minimum) word novel from scratch.

I've toyed with writing a novel before. Heck, I've toyed with writing anything, but I've had a hard time A) committing. B) feeling like it would be worthwhile. C) coming up with an idea D) sticking with it when I've started. (I've gotten as far as a most excellent title saved in Word a few times...)

But this idea of putting it out there in one month intrigued me. After reading a few pages on the official website, I decided to throw my hat in with the other 172,000 (aspiring) writers and go for it. Nothing to lose for trying!

To complete the goal in 30 days, with my trusty calculator I've concluded that I'll need to put out 1,666 words a day, every day, which is kind of a scary number if you think about it (no, I'm not referring to that 666 thing when I say this, either). Yesterday I only got 207 written by midnight. But at this moment, I have 3,350, so it was a good day.

I'm flying the rest of this week, and it's slated to be a very busy month already, but I am honestly excited about this. So far I'm actually digging my story quite a bit. And I don't think there is any higher compliment than the one Gator gave me as I tucked him into bed tonight. "I can't believe you wrote that story mommy! I mean, it's like a real book!"

Both Bunch and Gator are dying to see what happens next. And so am I, as it turns out! I'm just winging it as I go. The best thing about this is the advice they supply at the website. Things like this are pure genius:

1) It's okay to not know what you're doing. Really. You've read a lot of novels, so you're completely up to the challenge of writing one. If you feel more comfortable outlining your story ahead of time, do so. But it's also fine to just wing it. Write every day, and a book-worthy story will appear, even if you're not sure what that story might be right now.
2) Do not edit as you go. Editing is for December. Think of November as an experiment in pure output. Even if it's hard at first, leave ugly prose and poorly written passages on the page to be cleaned up later. Your inner editor will be very grumpy about this, but your inner editor is a nitpicky jerk who foolishly believes that it is possible to write a brilliant first draft if you write it slowly enough. It isn't. Every book you've ever loved started out as a beautifully flawed first draft. In November, embrace imperfection and see where it takes you.

So that's what I'm going to be up to for the next 27 days. I'll try to check in, but meanwhile, if any of you are also NaNoWriMo'ing, hollar! I'd love to be your buddy so drop me a line. And if any of my friends want to be a rough-draft reader, shoot me an email.

Grateful for:
1) Friends and authors J. Scott Savage and James Dashner, who have both been oddly instrumental in me getting to this point...though they most likely don't realize it.
2) The dream I had last summer that inspired my story
3) A successful first day...with lots of moments where the next idea just came to me right when I needed it. I feel like the God of Inspiration was with me today.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Flying Solo

So as it turns out, according to my health care plan there is a limit to how many visits I can have with my therapist in a year. And apparently I've already hit it, and the insurance company isn't going to pay for any more this year. They sent me a form telling me the last few charges are all my responsibility. Yay!

So I will be paying him for those in full, and taking a 10 week hiatus from the soft tissues and our weekly visits until the new year, at which point I will pace myself so as to avoid a gap on the tail end of 2010. (Of course this is all assuming we are living here all of 2010.) Frank is one of the primary reasons I would like to stay put. Actually.

It might be good, this break. I'll get to work on things by myself, and see how well I pilot my life as a Captainless First Officer, so to speak. Besides, there's always a bestie to talk to if I'm in a hole. Not quite the same, but twill do in a pinch. And if I find myself really going to pieces, he'll still be there for me. And worth every penny.

Grateful for
1) Healthcare Benefits.
2) Almost a year of progress.
3) The book I'm working with. It'll keep me busy and oriented.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Shout Out for Bunch the Writer

Good morning my little Gems,

For today's random topic I shall regale you with BunchkinTales.

My daughter Bunch is a writer. Even though she's never taken a writing course beyond your basic elementary school curriculum, we are constantly amazed at the stories, poems, songs, and ideas she comes up with. It's Doc's opinion that of all her many talents, writing is her greatest innate ability, and I'd have to agree.

When she was eleven, Bunch wrote a song. It wasn't the first one she's written, but this particular song has a catchy little tune and a great message. She's been working on piano accompaniment for it recently.

Right before bed last night we were chatting about making a music video of her song, and then I dreamed that we actually did! It starred lots of the kids at her school, and because of that she decided to enter it in the school talent show (which will be held before the end of the school year). It was a big hit with everyone. At least in my dream. Maybe we'll have to find a way to do it as a project. That'd be fun. Any of you have mad video skills?Also when she was eleven, Bunch started writing a novel based on an imaginative game she and Gator made up and play together. In their game, they are both elves, and have various powers which they use during their assorted adventures. Her ideas for the book are drawn from their play sessions, and for this reason she's dedicated the book to her brother.

This week she finished writing Part One of the book, which is called Conquest. There is an optional program in the 6th grade here called University of Learning in which the students who participate can earn any of the four degrees (Associates, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate). Bunch decided to earn a Ph.D. with a focus on writing fiction. Students can do their degree on any subject they like, and have various requirements for each degree. For the Ph.D., a "product" is required, and she's submitting Part One of her book.

The entire project is due tomorrow, and she's worked really hard to finish all the various components of this degree. She volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House for the community service component, did online research, interviewed one of her favorite published authors, read books on writing, and wrote and wrote and wrote. Part One of Conquest is nearly 10,000 words long.

Though it wasn't required for the school project, I designed a cover for her book tonight. Once she's finished writing the other parts, we'll have to print some up for gifts to her fan base. I know at least one boy who would be very excited to get a copy! ☺

(PS: Her name isn't actually Bunch Kin...but "Bunch" looked kind of odd all by itself so I added "Kin" just for my blog version of the cover. Also, as it turns out, my last name isn't actually Jeuls, but wouldn't that be cool if it was?!)

Blessings from today:
1) Talents
2) Walks with Doc for Slurpees at 11:00 pm cause 7-11 never closes
3) Six weeks left till Doc finishes 3rd year!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Four Books

This past week I read four different books which, in keeping with my new resolve to document, I will note here. My rating system will be a 1-5 ♥ scale...with 5 being the highest recommendation. If I ever give something more than 5♥, that means it utterly rocked my world. Don't hold your breath!

Saturday by Ian McEwan. ♥♥♥
This story got off to a slow start for me. I brought it on our trip to read, and I swear I read the first page about 8 times before I finally managed to focus in and get my head in the story...which I finally did. The whole book transpires in one day, so there is a ton of introspection and internal dialogue. It's not a fast read. I gave it 3 hearts because I enjoy medical stories, but if you don't, your mileage may vary.
Loved Like That by Julie Wright ♥♥♥♥♥
I was running on very little sleep from our travels home, but decided to just read the first few pages of this book by my friend Julie Wright before I went to bed. At 5:30 a.m. I turned the last page and finished the thing. I paid for it all the next day, but I guess I'm a sap for stories like this one. Thanks Julie! I'll never recoup that night of lost sleep, but I enjoyed your story greatly. I should note that it's LDS Fic. But if you're the intended audience, then you'll definitely enjoy Loved Like That.
To Catch a Falling Star by Julie Wright ♥♥♥♥♥
So you'd think I'd have learned my lesson. But Noooo! I woke up after my all-nighter and dove right into this next Julie Wright book and perpetuated the sleep deprivation. Again, she's a delightful story teller. Maybe I'm biased, because I happen to like the author so much and she's a friend of mine. But I think any LDS'r would enjoy this one without reservation.
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock ♥♥♥♥
This book just reached in, grabbed my heart, squeezed hard and twisted it right around. It was a tough subject matter for me to read about. You can read the bit on Amazon if you'd like the summary. Only four hearts because the subject matter isn't for everyone. But it really worked itself under my skin.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Books I've read lately

I have decided to start a log on here of the books I've read because I think it will be fun to have a record of them. Several friends have done this on their blogs, and I have frequently "shopped" their lists for suggestions before heading to the library.

On a go-forward basis, I'll try to note whether I liked it or not, give it a thumbs up or down etc. But for this post, I'm just going to compile a list of all the books I've read during 2008 that I can recall. Even though each of these titles is linked to Amazon.com, I borrowed almost all of them from friends or my local library. I own #33 (my kids and I read from it every day), and #1 which I purchased after reading it, because I ♥ Jeanette Walls and just wanted to own a copy of it. She changed my life by sharing hers.

If I compiled a list of the books I read last year, it would look vastly different than this one. Last year I was into non-fiction big-time, and a few classics such as Ayn Rand. But I was inducted into a really cool book group this year, and they only read fiction, sci-fi & fantasy. So I have a ton of that on here so far. Another benefit of keeping track will be that I can round out my literary diet a little better...and make sure my brain isn't just shriveling up on a smorgasbord of fluff. Fluff is fun, but it doesn't really change me. It's like cotton candy...tastes great, but is quickly consumed and forgotten.

So without further ado, may I present Blue's 2008 Reading List. Brought to you by the letter B and the number 4!