Story Genius by Lisa Cron

Genre: Language/Writing
288 p.
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Published: 8/9/16
Source: Blogging for Books for review

Story Genius is a foolproof program that saves writers from penning hundreds of pages only to realize that something's not working and they have to start again. Informed by story consultant Lisa Cron's science-based insights into how story structure is built into the architecture of the brain, this guide shows writers how to plumb the nitty-gritty details of their raw idea to organically generate a story scene by scene. Once writers reach the end of Cron's program, they will have both a blueprint that works and plenty of compelling writing suitable for their finished novel--allowing them to write forward with confidence.

My thoughts:

While I don't think there is a lot of "brain science" (aka neuroscience) within the book, it does give a small introduction to the concept. This was the main reason I picked it up, but I was still not disappointed. I think she would have lost people with more science, but I still feel there needed to be a bit more.

I did like how she took a look at your average creative writing class and took apart what we have all been taught. She states that we are taught language but not storytelling. I have to say she is not wrong on that aspect. For example, story prompts are often "what if" examples (I remember these in grade school and high school) but the story doesn't often start there. With no background, no knowledge of what is motivating the character the story often lags and goes nowhere. In fact, it often skips the point of the story. As I was reading this section I saw that in reviewing books I do look for the point and not the "what if" aspect of the story. So, I think she was right on in this emphasis.

She did provide several story examples of what she was teaching but I found myself skimming these. They were often boring and just belabored the point rather than emphasized it. Still, I did like that she gave examples within the book.

I give this book 4 stars. While I wouldn't say it fixes the problems people have with writing a novel, it does fix some elements in creative writing that doesn't work. I think it really helps someone with an idea to start in developing a story. I highly recommend it to those that want to write or, like me, wanted a greater understanding of the process.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

Series: Outlander #3
870 p.
Publisher: Delta
Published: 12, 1, 1993
Source: TBR pile

From the author of the breathtaking bestsellers Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber, the extraordinary saga continues. 

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams. 

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.

My thoughts:

I have absolutely loved the first book. I will recommend that book to everyone. I had a lukewarm feeling with the second book but still liked it despite the plot holes. Um... this one. Well, let me say it took me FOREVER to finish the book and even when I liked it more toward the end I was sort of tired of it but refused to not finish it. Now don't let me discourage you as I was in a bit of a reading slump and I also suspect that this played a part in how I felt. So, do take what I have to say with that in mind.

THIS WILL HAVE SPOILERS as I didn't know how else to talk about it. Knowing this, and you are okay with it proceed... otherwise skip to the last paragraph.

I was giddy trying to figure out how Claire and Jamie would get back together. You go from what they figured out happened to Jamie and then you get details of that in the past. Everything was a bit slow but all worked for me. Then they got back together and I thought it would really take off from there. The action didn't quite work for me, but I cannot say it was slow. Suddenly our Jaime who lives by his moral code has no problems becoming a smuggler which would be fine if there was no other choice to feed his family and tenants. However, even though this was suggested, it really didn't quite make it no other choice for me. It was still a minor niggle for me however.

Skipping to them going back to Lallybroch and this is where I have my biggest problem. In fact I almost stopped reading it. Here is the big spoiler: He married Laoghaire! Okay, I would actually have understood if he slept with her because he was lonely and grieving and she was still after him... but married? Um... no. This makes no sense to me even with the weak explanations given as to why. It would have made more sense that he was like a father to her girls because they needed someone rather than marrying Laoghaire. This does not make sense with the Jaimie we knew in the last 2 books. Besides he couldn't even stand the sight of her previous to Culloden. Even if he didn't know how she tried to have Claire killed, he knew she had a hand in making her life miserable (and I don't buy that he didn't have a clue that she tried to kill Claire since he acted otherwise). How he handles it is even worse and I was upset at how easily Claire forgives him. *sigh*

Things proceeded from there and started settling me down. However, the plot holes didn't end for me and when they were in Jamaica some of the characters they introduced were quite interesting but just didn't get as fleshed out as I would have liked. How they suddenly fit into the scheme of things became too convenient and the reintroduction of a character we thought was dead just didn't quite make sense either. This part wasn't horrible but it just felt like a plot twist that was just didn't quite work for me. Also things ended in a much too easy manner but I will say at least it felt complete despite the cliffie-like ending.

I give this book 2 stars. I will continue with the series as I didn't hate the ending and even though I didn't love how the characters were portrayed, it felt like it was trying to get back on track to what I previously enjoyed about the series.

On My Wishlist: The Awakening by Amanda Stevens

The Awakening 
by Amanda Stevens
Publisher: Mira
Published: 2017

Shush…lest she awaken…

My name is Amelia Gray, a cemetery restorer who lives with the dead. An anonymous donor has hired me to restore Woodbine Cemetery, a place where the rich and powerful bury their secrets. Forty years ago, a child disappeared without a trace and now her ghost has awakened, demanding that I find out the truth about her death. Only I know that she was murdered. Only I can bring her killer to justice. But the clues that I follow—a haunting melody and an unnamed baby's grave—lead me to a series of disturbing suspects.

For generations, The Devlins have been members of Charleston's elite. John Devlin once turned his back on the traditions and expectations that came with his birthright, but now he has seemingly accepted his rightful place. His family's secrets make him a questionable ally. When my investigation brings me to the gates of his family's palatial home, I have to wonder if he is about to become my mortal enemy.

Oh yes, I need this now. 2017? Jan 1, 2017? LOL One can wish. :D

What are you wishing for this week?

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Standalone
272 p.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: Nov. 1, 16
Source: From publisher and NetGalley for review

Growing up on Long Island, Shelby Richmond is an ordinary girl until one night an extraordinary tragedy changes her fate. Her best friend’s future is destroyed in an accident, while Shelby walks away with the burden of guilt. 

What happens when a life is turned inside out? When love is something so distant it may as well be a star in the sky? Faithful is the story of a survivor, filled with emotion—from dark suffering to true happiness—a moving portrait of a young woman finding her way in the modern world. A fan of Chinese food, dogs, bookstores, and men she should stay away from, Shelby has to fight her way back to her own future. In New York City she finds a circle of lost and found souls—including an angel who’s been watching over her ever since that fateful icy night. 

Here is a character you will fall in love with, so believable and real and endearing, that she captures both the ache of loneliness and the joy of finding yourself at last. For anyone who’s ever been a hurt teenager, for every mother of a daughter who has lost her way, Faithful is a roadmap.

First... Happy Halloween! Not a part of the review, but wanted everyone to have a fun and safe time. :)

My thoughts:

I wasn't sure if this was going to have an element of magical realism in it or not and in the beginning of the book I was certain it would be more magical. It, in fact, is not and is more about Shelby and how one moment in time can devastate a person and how we harm ourselves more than what anyone else can do to you. As dark as this is, it is also the story to the road back to oneself and figuring out how to value oneself. It isn't a sappy story at all, but one where a woman finds pieces of her self and slowly puts them together.

All characters in the story have a purpose. Even the mysterious ones who you aren't at first sure aren't magical. However, the magic fades but that is a good thing as real life takes over and Shelby find that it isn't others who save her but she who saves herself even though others had a big part to play in it. I think the secondary characters were mostly there so she wouldn't slip further into the dark but to hold her head up until she could do it herself.

If you are an animal lover and love stories where animals get saved, than this book is for you. One of the things that helps Shelby is taking care of a motley crew of mutts she has saved throughout the tale. In saving them she is saving herself and eventually finds a calling though it all.

My biggest problem with the book would be the romance at the end. I think there is so much more to tell there and we get the barest mentions about this relationship. I would have loved that part to be much longer and it really needed to be longer. There were aspects of the boyfriend which mirrored her own and I think it would have enhanced the story further.

Now I will give this book 4 stars but toyed with the idea of knocking off a star for every time this book made me cry. I hate to cry and I had 3 times toward the end where I was crying and needing a tissue. This both makes me love it and hate the book for it. Okay, so I loved the compassion and love through those scenes so I'll be good and leave the rest of the stars up there for the book. *sigh* I do recommend it to those that love a journey story where a character hits close to bottom but finds away to her own redemption. It is also a story filled with rescue animals and humans as well as a bit of art around the edges. I did enjoy my time in the book despite the tissues I needed to get through it.

Audiobook Review: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Series: The Raven Cycle #4
Ending book
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Narrator: Will Patton
Unabridged
11 hrs. 53 min.
Source: Hoopla/Library

The fourth and final installment in the spellbinding series from the irrepressible, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater. 

All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

My thoughts:

This one was surprising. All of the books did seem to lead up to this one and the writing followed through beautifully. In one way it felt like stream of consciousness writing where things seem disjointed and pulled together at once, but in a closer look, it fits the story of finding a mythical king in a mythical forest surrounded by his magicians. Did we find the king? No and then yes. Did he grant the wish. No and then yes. All things flowed in this direction gave you the answer you didn't want and then find that it was the only answer you could have gotten. Curious? I hope so.

This is a series that must be read in order. You need that order to get to know all the characters in the book. Not everyone gets an HEA but then there was no way a mythic journey could grant all HEAs in a story. Some sacrifices were made and some were taken. You also find unexpected twists that you didn't know you wanted until it happened. I loved the romantic twists in the end and it just felt right even though it took you (and the characters) by surprise. This is one dream that you weren't sure you wanted it to end even though you know how you wanted it to end.

Will Patton also does an exceptional job voicing all the characters and setting the tone of the story. I really enjoyed listening to him tell this tale. This was a good story on audio.

I give this last installment 4 stars. Despite what I said above I would have liked a bit more coherence in some of the aspects of the story. I did like the dream-like state of the characters world, but they also had to function somewhat in ours and that is where I would have liked it to come together a bit better. However, this really is a small niggle and one series I do think ended well. I highly recommend it to those that enjoy YA stories of mythic proportions.