9 days until National Novel Writing Month
Reading book after book that I've already read is getting extremely boring. After a while, it just starts to drag. So I've opted for a slight change in plans. Instead of reading all the books I own in alphabetical order to make sure I've read all of them, I think I'm just going to read whatever I feel like. If I do feel like reading the next book on the list? Great. If not? That's great, too.
Two days ago, I got three new books, courtesy of my father (this means my book count has gone up to 420!). One of them, Identical by Ellen Hopkins, I have been waiting to read for almost a year. The other two are newer but I want to read them all, and I don't want to have to wait until I get to them on my list. So I decided I will read them (already finished Identical anyway) and I may post a review, or I may wait until I read both of the series over again (in case you were wondering, they're the newest Artemis Fowl book and The Lost Hero, Rick Riordan's new book). It feels amazing to read them and not have to worry over my alphabetical list. ^^
So what's going to happen to the list in the sidebar? I'm just going to put down the books I hope to read, maybe the next one or two on my list, and maybe a few books I'm working on reading. It could be anything. Of course, this isn't happening right now because NaNo is almost here. (We're in the single digits!)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
How You Loved
10 days until National Novel Writing Month
It's Fall Break which means I don't have to go back to school until Monday. Which means I should be doing the various chores that pertain to my pets. Which means I'm doing nothing. So I wrote a poem. Which means I started Poetry Peak a little early. Officially, I guess that means Poetry Peak will be on Thursdays from now on. That's sort of nice as nothing interesting happens on Thursday, well, except my sister's soccer practice. Also, as is probably already evident, it won't be going on during November. Let's get on to the actual poem, shall we?
How You Loved
Rows upon rows of
f l o w e r s
Waving in the April breeze
Bright shades of
yellow, red, blue, purple
They can't
bring you back
Not to me
Not to your family
Not to your country
So why do I stare at them?
The tombstone,
your tombstone,
says the same thing
every single time
I dare to glance at it
The words won't
change with my wishes
taking away that horrible date
April 3, 2010
When you became trapped
So why can I not look away?
Fresh turned dirt
squelches between
my bare toes
The dirt
you died for
Bending down
I pick up a handful
It's cool and warn
and smells nice
Like you used to
So why did I not see how you loved it more?
more...
than me
I got this idea yesterday as I was listening to my radio. Usually, I'm not good at getting inspiration for poems from songs as the song's lyrics are the only lines that come to mind and that just won't do, for obvious reasons. But this one turned out great, and original, so it worked out fine.
It's Fall Break which means I don't have to go back to school until Monday. Which means I should be doing the various chores that pertain to my pets. Which means I'm doing nothing. So I wrote a poem. Which means I started Poetry Peak a little early. Officially, I guess that means Poetry Peak will be on Thursdays from now on. That's sort of nice as nothing interesting happens on Thursday, well, except my sister's soccer practice. Also, as is probably already evident, it won't be going on during November. Let's get on to the actual poem, shall we?
How You Loved
Rows upon rows of
f l o w e r s
Waving in the April breeze
Bright shades of
yellow, red, blue, purple
They can't
bring you back
Not to me
Not to your family
Not to your country
So why do I stare at them?
The tombstone,
your tombstone,
says the same thing
every single time
I dare to glance at it
The words won't
change with my wishes
taking away that horrible date
April 3, 2010
When you became trapped
So why can I not look away?
Fresh turned dirt
squelches between
my bare toes
The dirt
you died for
Bending down
I pick up a handful
It's cool and warn
and smells nice
Like you used to
So why did I not see how you loved it more?
more...
than me
I got this idea yesterday as I was listening to my radio. Usually, I'm not good at getting inspiration for poems from songs as the song's lyrics are the only lines that come to mind and that just won't do, for obvious reasons. But this one turned out great, and original, so it worked out fine.
Monday, October 18, 2010
May Bird Warrior Princess
Pages: 244
So here it is. My last review for the next month because, of course, I won't really be reading during November. I have two other books to read this month but they're pretty short and not really worth reviewing. I've been wondering lately if my reviews are actually helpful. I'm not really sure how good I am at them but I'll keep on writing them anyway. It's good practice.
One thing I love in books is how the characters change so much and just enough happens where it feels like forever since the beginning of the book even if it hasn't taken you that long to read it. It's a great feeling to me, and this book has it. It's an almost magical feeling, as if a great period of time has passed while you've been reading and going on with your life. I don't know exactly how to explain it to you but you probably know what I'm talking about anyway. Many avid readers do.
One of the biggest character changes seems to happen to Pumpkin, the house ghost. He is scared and goofy and dramatic, almost to the point of shallowness. Look at these lines from a scene on page 91 where Pumpkin is mad at May and is speaking through another ghost: Pumpkin sighed loudly, then whispered. "He says he's almost been capture by ghouls lots of times and you weren't around to help." May searched for some way to reply, to defend herself. "But he wanted me to go. He said he hoped I'd never come back." Pumpkin seemed to consider this for a long moment, and then another whisper, and Avril turned to May."He says he thought he meant it at the time, but he didn't." He seems pretty snooty here, as if May is just supposed to read his mind. At the end of the book, though, after saving May from Evil Bo Cleevil, The Book of the Dead says this of him (pg. 233): Only slightly more responsible than May Ellen Bird for saving the world. In the end, Pumpkin was brave and loyal. He changed drastically, as all characters should.
This is the third book of the series but there are still some surprises. The astronauts do come to the Ever After as Bertha always predicted they would (pg. 238-241) and though May died she still got to come back to her mom, thanks to a special powder of Bertha's. Legume the long dead pet cat of May's is discovered, as are all the other animals (pg. 153-154). It's really a great end to a story.
Overall, this book tied up all the loose ends. It showed things that prior books hinted to and things that they didn't. It's paced well and just the right amount of spooky. This book is everything it's supposed to be and more. So what are you waiting for? Pick up the May Bird series already.
The next book along the Reading Trail? Vet Volunteers: Fight for Life by Laurie Halse Anderson.
(13 until National Novel Writing Month)
So here it is. My last review for the next month because, of course, I won't really be reading during November. I have two other books to read this month but they're pretty short and not really worth reviewing. I've been wondering lately if my reviews are actually helpful. I'm not really sure how good I am at them but I'll keep on writing them anyway. It's good practice.
One thing I love in books is how the characters change so much and just enough happens where it feels like forever since the beginning of the book even if it hasn't taken you that long to read it. It's a great feeling to me, and this book has it. It's an almost magical feeling, as if a great period of time has passed while you've been reading and going on with your life. I don't know exactly how to explain it to you but you probably know what I'm talking about anyway. Many avid readers do.
One of the biggest character changes seems to happen to Pumpkin, the house ghost. He is scared and goofy and dramatic, almost to the point of shallowness. Look at these lines from a scene on page 91 where Pumpkin is mad at May and is speaking through another ghost: Pumpkin sighed loudly, then whispered. "He says he's almost been capture by ghouls lots of times and you weren't around to help." May searched for some way to reply, to defend herself. "But he wanted me to go. He said he hoped I'd never come back." Pumpkin seemed to consider this for a long moment, and then another whisper, and Avril turned to May."He says he thought he meant it at the time, but he didn't." He seems pretty snooty here, as if May is just supposed to read his mind. At the end of the book, though, after saving May from Evil Bo Cleevil, The Book of the Dead says this of him (pg. 233): Only slightly more responsible than May Ellen Bird for saving the world. In the end, Pumpkin was brave and loyal. He changed drastically, as all characters should.
This is the third book of the series but there are still some surprises. The astronauts do come to the Ever After as Bertha always predicted they would (pg. 238-241) and though May died she still got to come back to her mom, thanks to a special powder of Bertha's. Legume the long dead pet cat of May's is discovered, as are all the other animals (pg. 153-154). It's really a great end to a story.
Overall, this book tied up all the loose ends. It showed things that prior books hinted to and things that they didn't. It's paced well and just the right amount of spooky. This book is everything it's supposed to be and more. So what are you waiting for? Pick up the May Bird series already.
The next book along the Reading Trail? Vet Volunteers: Fight for Life by Laurie Halse Anderson.
(13 until National Novel Writing Month)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Synopsis
14 days until National Novel Writing Month
I haven't done much toward planning, there hasn't really been much I can do. Mostly I've been reading. I finished the first section of No Plot? No Problem! and I'm about halfway through May Bird Warrior Princess. I'm planning to finish the latter pretty soon, originally I meant to do it today but I don't know if I'll be able to now.
Even though planning has pretty much come to a standstill I have accomplished a few things in the past week. I have another character to throw into the mix and I've rewritten my synopsis to be more descriptive of what's actually going on in the novel. I thought I would go ahead and post both of them today. I would like some comments on this because I'm not really that good at writing summaries.
Rebbsie Taylor is one of the most dangerous fugitives in the world according to the United States government. She's the only one who knows about the Waves, because she is one. She's the only one who knows about the teams, because she was in one. She's the only one who knows how the government killed them, because she survived.
But they know about her too. They know how her waves manipulate thoughts, and how to protect themselves from them. They know about her slight mental instability and how to use it to their advantage. What they don't know is what she's planning.
Inside a building called the Enclosure are rooms full of Wave children of all ages. Experiments are performed on them, making some disfigured and handicapped. They are her target.
Getting them out is going to be tough, maybe even impossible. How could they all possibly sneak past the motion detectors and countless guards unseen and undetected? This is her mission.
It could be her last.
I know the last line sounds kind of clique but I couldn't think of anything else to wrap it up. As I said I'm lousy at these. This is actually pretty good for me. I think that's almost pathetic. Good thing I'm better at actual writing or my career might already be down the tubes. And here's my newest darling.
Vincent Nodding:
He manipulates diseases. During one of the experiments performed on him, the scientists caused him to have echoes. He contracted NF which took over his face and other parts of his body. Being very vain, this greatly upset him. He has sworn revenge. He is very bright so who knows what he'll come up with.
I put a link in there so you could check out what NF is. This man's website is very inspiring and very truthful. It's amazing what some people have to go through. I highly suggest checking it out.
I haven't done much toward planning, there hasn't really been much I can do. Mostly I've been reading. I finished the first section of No Plot? No Problem! and I'm about halfway through May Bird Warrior Princess. I'm planning to finish the latter pretty soon, originally I meant to do it today but I don't know if I'll be able to now.
Even though planning has pretty much come to a standstill I have accomplished a few things in the past week. I have another character to throw into the mix and I've rewritten my synopsis to be more descriptive of what's actually going on in the novel. I thought I would go ahead and post both of them today. I would like some comments on this because I'm not really that good at writing summaries.
Rebbsie Taylor is one of the most dangerous fugitives in the world according to the United States government. She's the only one who knows about the Waves, because she is one. She's the only one who knows about the teams, because she was in one. She's the only one who knows how the government killed them, because she survived.
But they know about her too. They know how her waves manipulate thoughts, and how to protect themselves from them. They know about her slight mental instability and how to use it to their advantage. What they don't know is what she's planning.
Inside a building called the Enclosure are rooms full of Wave children of all ages. Experiments are performed on them, making some disfigured and handicapped. They are her target.
Getting them out is going to be tough, maybe even impossible. How could they all possibly sneak past the motion detectors and countless guards unseen and undetected? This is her mission.
It could be her last.
I know the last line sounds kind of clique but I couldn't think of anything else to wrap it up. As I said I'm lousy at these. This is actually pretty good for me. I think that's almost pathetic. Good thing I'm better at actual writing or my career might already be down the tubes. And here's my newest darling.
Vincent Nodding:
He manipulates diseases. During one of the experiments performed on him, the scientists caused him to have echoes. He contracted NF which took over his face and other parts of his body. Being very vain, this greatly upset him. He has sworn revenge. He is very bright so who knows what he'll come up with.
I put a link in there so you could check out what NF is. This man's website is very inspiring and very truthful. It's amazing what some people have to go through. I highly suggest checking it out.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
May Bird Among the Stars
Pages: 260
So four days for this one, though it was slightly shorter. I guess it's not that bad. I have a little more time to read these books now because I went ahead and took one of the books off my list for this month (this is partially because I finally got a copy of No Plot? No Problem! and I really want to read it). With this book, even though I've read it before, I remember nothing. I don't even think I would remember the main characters if I hadn't just read the first book in the series. It was kind of like I was learning everything all over again. It was sort of nice.
In this second installment of the series, a few of the loose ends are tied up. Beatrice finds her mother (pg. 201), May finally makes it to North Farm (pg.113), and Lucius is rescued (chp. 28). There are also some that aren't. May hasn't saved the realm from Evil Bo Cleevil yet. The spirits still expect her to save them as is stated in The Lady of North Farm's letter on the last page. And don't forget, we still need you. Don't forget us. It also may suggest that May is going to go back to the Ever After in the next book. The line: The trees missed it completely. Right then their attention was turned in another direction, upward, toward a star that was growing dim; suggests that the Ever After is in dire trouble. And who is brave enough to save it besides May? It makes you wonder.
The world of the Ever After is very detailed from modes of communication to the types of spirits who happen to be floating about. It's an intriguing place that you might want to visit, during a time when it's not being ruled by an evil dictator, of course. It's a world where noogies scare away evil spirits and goblins love to go shopping. Where your only job is to go to Earth and sit in people's houses and watch, or haunt as they say. It's wonderful and slightly scary. Every kid's wonderland and worst nightmare. How someone thinks up something like this is beyond me, let's hope Ms. Anderson's creativity continues.
The few flaws that were in the first book do not seem to be in the sequel. There are no funny word choices, the story flows smoothly, making it easy to read. Many book series seem to get better as they continue, and this one is no exception. It is always wonderful to see writers improve.
Overall, I continue to recommend this book series. May Bird is a great main character that changes as all good characters should. All the other characters have their own quirks and personalities. The setting is portrayed exactly right and the plot is a steady flow, keeping you interested. A book to be admired.
The next book along the Reading Trail? May Bird Warrior Princess by Jodi Lynn Anderson.
(19 days until National Novel Writing Month)
So four days for this one, though it was slightly shorter. I guess it's not that bad. I have a little more time to read these books now because I went ahead and took one of the books off my list for this month (this is partially because I finally got a copy of No Plot? No Problem! and I really want to read it). With this book, even though I've read it before, I remember nothing. I don't even think I would remember the main characters if I hadn't just read the first book in the series. It was kind of like I was learning everything all over again. It was sort of nice.
In this second installment of the series, a few of the loose ends are tied up. Beatrice finds her mother (pg. 201), May finally makes it to North Farm (pg.113), and Lucius is rescued (chp. 28). There are also some that aren't. May hasn't saved the realm from Evil Bo Cleevil yet. The spirits still expect her to save them as is stated in The Lady of North Farm's letter on the last page. And don't forget, we still need you. Don't forget us. It also may suggest that May is going to go back to the Ever After in the next book. The line: The trees missed it completely. Right then their attention was turned in another direction, upward, toward a star that was growing dim; suggests that the Ever After is in dire trouble. And who is brave enough to save it besides May? It makes you wonder.
The world of the Ever After is very detailed from modes of communication to the types of spirits who happen to be floating about. It's an intriguing place that you might want to visit, during a time when it's not being ruled by an evil dictator, of course. It's a world where noogies scare away evil spirits and goblins love to go shopping. Where your only job is to go to Earth and sit in people's houses and watch, or haunt as they say. It's wonderful and slightly scary. Every kid's wonderland and worst nightmare. How someone thinks up something like this is beyond me, let's hope Ms. Anderson's creativity continues.
The few flaws that were in the first book do not seem to be in the sequel. There are no funny word choices, the story flows smoothly, making it easy to read. Many book series seem to get better as they continue, and this one is no exception. It is always wonderful to see writers improve.
Overall, I continue to recommend this book series. May Bird is a great main character that changes as all good characters should. All the other characters have their own quirks and personalities. The setting is portrayed exactly right and the plot is a steady flow, keeping you interested. A book to be admired.
The next book along the Reading Trail? May Bird Warrior Princess by Jodi Lynn Anderson.
(19 days until National Novel Writing Month)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Characters
21 days until National Novel Writing Month
I've come up with a name for my NaNo novel as well as for each of my characters. The title of this year's novel is Thinking of You. Rebbsie's waves manipulate thought so it's an appropriate title. I've come up with seven characters as well. I wrote a small paragraph for each of them today and thought I'd share them with you, just so you'd get a glimpse of some of the things that are going on in the novel. They aren't the best things in the world, but they're better than nothing.
Rebbsie Taylor:
She was recruited by the government for a Wave team in 2002 at the age of fourteen. A year later the government started killing off the teams. Her team was one of the last to fall, but they too were picked off one by one until, finally, she was the only one left, of any of the teams. She frequently has flashbacks of times with her team. Her waves manipulate thoughts, the reason she was recruited at such a young age. It's also one of the reasons she hasn't been caught yet.
Wayne Patrick:
By the time the government started killing Waves most of his team was already dead. They were the first team of Waves ever recruited. Only he and one other team member were left. The government quickly killed off his team mate but locked him away inside of their building dedicated especially to Waves. This was because of the fact that his waves manipulate time. They couldn't kill him, his body would just respond with waves that sent back time to before he was stabbed or shot or burned. His waves also echo. His organs age and then become young again unpredictably. He could die from organ failure at any time.
Relic Barren:
He is a Prism employed by the government. His job is to find Waves and identify their power and strength. He enjoys his job, under the impression that he is doing something useful for his country, as his father and grandfather did before him, serving in the army. He is not a man of physical skill and prefers to read and solve problems then run and climb. He is being deceived by the government.
Jamie Mathews:
Her firstborn son was stolen in 2005. She was frantic, doing everything she could to find him. On her website dedicated to the search for her son, a comment was posted by an anonymous person with a link to a private site and a password. She checked it out to see a site dedicated to the dead Waves with information on how the government took the children. Four years later she had her second son and noticed some strange signs. She is determined to protect her son and find her other one.
Ray Mathews:
He was taken at the age of nine by government officials. He has the ability to manipulate natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. The leader of the taken children, he is determined to get them all out and plans for it night and day.
Carson Mathews:
Almost a year old, he is extremely powerful, his waves manipulating life and death. He can not control his waves though they are few and far between.
Brelee Thomas:
Taken at the age of eight, she manipulates the senses of both animals and people. She can no longer walk due to an experiment gone wrong. She has a suspension that the scientists could fix her but they won't. She works the rest of her body as much as possible, trying to make up for her useless legs.
Like I said, not the best written paragraphs you've ever seen, but this ends my planning for NaNo. I have characters, a title, and events. I think I'm set. I'm not really one of those people that has to plan out every little detail. Now, I can't wait for next month, when I get to actually start writing.
I've come up with a name for my NaNo novel as well as for each of my characters. The title of this year's novel is Thinking of You. Rebbsie's waves manipulate thought so it's an appropriate title. I've come up with seven characters as well. I wrote a small paragraph for each of them today and thought I'd share them with you, just so you'd get a glimpse of some of the things that are going on in the novel. They aren't the best things in the world, but they're better than nothing.
Rebbsie Taylor:
She was recruited by the government for a Wave team in 2002 at the age of fourteen. A year later the government started killing off the teams. Her team was one of the last to fall, but they too were picked off one by one until, finally, she was the only one left, of any of the teams. She frequently has flashbacks of times with her team. Her waves manipulate thoughts, the reason she was recruited at such a young age. It's also one of the reasons she hasn't been caught yet.
Wayne Patrick:
By the time the government started killing Waves most of his team was already dead. They were the first team of Waves ever recruited. Only he and one other team member were left. The government quickly killed off his team mate but locked him away inside of their building dedicated especially to Waves. This was because of the fact that his waves manipulate time. They couldn't kill him, his body would just respond with waves that sent back time to before he was stabbed or shot or burned. His waves also echo. His organs age and then become young again unpredictably. He could die from organ failure at any time.
Relic Barren:
He is a Prism employed by the government. His job is to find Waves and identify their power and strength. He enjoys his job, under the impression that he is doing something useful for his country, as his father and grandfather did before him, serving in the army. He is not a man of physical skill and prefers to read and solve problems then run and climb. He is being deceived by the government.
Jamie Mathews:
Her firstborn son was stolen in 2005. She was frantic, doing everything she could to find him. On her website dedicated to the search for her son, a comment was posted by an anonymous person with a link to a private site and a password. She checked it out to see a site dedicated to the dead Waves with information on how the government took the children. Four years later she had her second son and noticed some strange signs. She is determined to protect her son and find her other one.
Ray Mathews:
He was taken at the age of nine by government officials. He has the ability to manipulate natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. The leader of the taken children, he is determined to get them all out and plans for it night and day.
Carson Mathews:
Almost a year old, he is extremely powerful, his waves manipulating life and death. He can not control his waves though they are few and far between.
Brelee Thomas:
Taken at the age of eight, she manipulates the senses of both animals and people. She can no longer walk due to an experiment gone wrong. She has a suspension that the scientists could fix her but they won't. She works the rest of her body as much as possible, trying to make up for her useless legs.
Like I said, not the best written paragraphs you've ever seen, but this ends my planning for NaNo. I have characters, a title, and events. I think I'm set. I'm not really one of those people that has to plan out every little detail. Now, I can't wait for next month, when I get to actually start writing.
Friday, October 08, 2010
May Bird and the Ever After
Pages: 317
Wow, it took me eight whole days to read this book at only 317 pages. I am definitely slacking. This is not good. I still have five other books to read this month (two of which are actually sequels to this book). However, I did enjoy it. I got to rediscover most of the characters and events in this book since it's been quite a while since I have read it (of course, I've read it already XD).
The mood and style of this book is hard to pull off. I probably couldn't do it, though I've thought about it once or twice. For instance, one of the character's name is Somber Kitty. It's simple, naming exactly what the cat is and what he's like where most names are just, well, names. Yet it completely fits in this novel. Look at this sentence from page 17: At the edges of the grass, the trees watcher her. They knew better. Or this one from page 24: The truth was, nobody had ever said they needed her. "Mew," was all she got in reply from someone who needed her very much. If a cat-to-English dictionary had been handy, and May had looked up "mew," it would have translated into something like "curiosity killed the cat." They show the mood of the story pretty well. I love reading things like this. I don't really know why, it just seems so writerly (using one of Madeline's words) to me.
I did notice a few bumps in the writing flow. Example, pg. 226-227: And all around them stood a horde of stunned spirits, frozen in their activities of moments ago-pushing baby carriages, driving carriages, selling soul cakes from gleaming carts. There are about two or three other instances like this.Where the sentence structure is great but there is just one or two words that just don't fit in right. I know this can seem kind of nitpicky but people (especially me) notice these things and for a split second it throws off the story. Some people really get into a book and it's little things like that that jar them unexpectedly back into reality.
I love those books that have their own little things that make them 'tick', for lack of a better word. For instance, in Somber Kitty's search for May he periodically says, in his own little cat language, "Meay?" as if he is calling for her. The author picked a name for her main character than a cat could pronounce. Little things that are interwoven into the story like that just stick out to me (they give me a nice feeling, kind of like all things happen for a reason, but not exactly). There are quite a few little things like that in this book, but I won't give away any more.
Overall, the characters are believable though ghosts and spirits and specters aren't real (that's been proven anyway), there is always something happening within the plot, and it's not incredibly freaky like some life-after-death books can be. I suggest reading it and it's successors (which my next two reviews will be based upon).
The next book along the Reading Trail? May Bird Among the Stars by Jodi Lynn Anderson.
(Oh, and, 23 days until National Novel Writing Month.)
Wow, it took me eight whole days to read this book at only 317 pages. I am definitely slacking. This is not good. I still have five other books to read this month (two of which are actually sequels to this book). However, I did enjoy it. I got to rediscover most of the characters and events in this book since it's been quite a while since I have read it (of course, I've read it already XD).
The mood and style of this book is hard to pull off. I probably couldn't do it, though I've thought about it once or twice. For instance, one of the character's name is Somber Kitty. It's simple, naming exactly what the cat is and what he's like where most names are just, well, names. Yet it completely fits in this novel. Look at this sentence from page 17: At the edges of the grass, the trees watcher her. They knew better. Or this one from page 24: The truth was, nobody had ever said they needed her. "Mew," was all she got in reply from someone who needed her very much. If a cat-to-English dictionary had been handy, and May had looked up "mew," it would have translated into something like "curiosity killed the cat." They show the mood of the story pretty well. I love reading things like this. I don't really know why, it just seems so writerly (using one of Madeline's words) to me.
I did notice a few bumps in the writing flow. Example, pg. 226-227: And all around them stood a horde of stunned spirits, frozen in their activities of moments ago-pushing baby carriages, driving carriages, selling soul cakes from gleaming carts. There are about two or three other instances like this.Where the sentence structure is great but there is just one or two words that just don't fit in right. I know this can seem kind of nitpicky but people (especially me) notice these things and for a split second it throws off the story. Some people really get into a book and it's little things like that that jar them unexpectedly back into reality.
I love those books that have their own little things that make them 'tick', for lack of a better word. For instance, in Somber Kitty's search for May he periodically says, in his own little cat language, "Meay?" as if he is calling for her. The author picked a name for her main character than a cat could pronounce. Little things that are interwoven into the story like that just stick out to me (they give me a nice feeling, kind of like all things happen for a reason, but not exactly). There are quite a few little things like that in this book, but I won't give away any more.
Overall, the characters are believable though ghosts and spirits and specters aren't real (that's been proven anyway), there is always something happening within the plot, and it's not incredibly freaky like some life-after-death books can be. I suggest reading it and it's successors (which my next two reviews will be based upon).
The next book along the Reading Trail? May Bird Among the Stars by Jodi Lynn Anderson.
(Oh, and, 23 days until National Novel Writing Month.)
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