Book Review: "The Scorpio Races" by Maggie Stiefvater

I found the cover very attractive,

and I think this paperback edition

fits the feel of the story.

Book: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Young adult, fantasy

Awards: Michael L. Printz Award (2012)

My rating: 5/5 stars
One word description: Enchanting

I was first recommended this book by a professor and later was required to read it for my young adult literature class. The Scorpio Races is probably one of my favorite books I have read in 2014.

An adaptation of the legends of water horses, in this book referred to as the capaill uisce, this fantasy is told from the perspectives of Puck Connolly and Sean Kendrick. The entire book is told from first person, but both Puck and Sean have different, distinguishable voices, and the sections are divided by a clear caption of the character narrator.

“This time of year, I live and breathe the beach. My cheeks feel raw with the wind throwing sand against them. My thighs sting from the friction of the saddle. My arms ache from holding up two thousand pounds of horse. I have forgotten what it is like to be warm and what a full night’s sleep feels like and what my name sounds like spoken instead of shouted across yards of sand. I am so, so alive.” –Sean Kendrick

The writing style is masterful, creating a vivid, mysterious, and foreign setting. This fictional place has a feel of its own, and is so well-developed that it seems like an actual place. The characters are equally well-developed and seem human. None of them are perfect, although they may have good and relatable attributes.

The book may have a slower paces, but it has the capability to draw reader in, such as myself, with its wonderfully rounded characters and beautiful yet terrifying capaill uisce. I have always enjoyed horses, and had one of my own for a short time. However, like Puck, I find that I would probably not be capable with handling a capall uisce.

Because of some of the language in the book and the ceremony during the rider's parade, I would not recommend this book for anybody under 13. The book also contains several dark and violent elements, but they are handled well.

 

I can easily see why this book is an winner of the Printz Award, so I gave it five out of five stars. The book is original, imaginative, and enchanting in its mysterious way. I would recommend this book to young adults who enjoy fantasy and/or horses. Readers do not have to enjoy horses, but it helps. I definitely intend to read this book again.

Have you read The Scorpio Races? If so, what did you think of it?
Which book should I review next? (Remember: no classics) Comment below!

Everybody Lives

Once upon a time, writers used to create stories not just for popular entertainment but also with some sort of message or theme. These writers used to write stories that contained some realistic element, and—believe it or not—characters actually used to die. Today we’ve gotten past all that. Writers recognize the audience’s favorite characters and refuse to kill them off, even after they die. Everybody lives. Shakespeare would be appalled.

Okay, so I am being a little overdramatic (But I’m a writer. That’s a given, right?). Of course there are still writers who don’t just write for the masses and writers who kill off characters. But there is a trend in many franchises where none—or rather most—of the characters die.

If you don’t believe me, take the Marvel movies for example (I actually happen to like these movies; I’m just using it as an example). If I were to rename The Avengers, I would call it Still Not Dead. Seriously though. I would like to motion for a renaming of both Thor movies to Loki “Dies” parts 1 and 2.

This is even the case for some books. For example, despite Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s hatred for Sherlock Holmes, Doyle (reluctantly) brought him back to life because of readers’ demands. And readers today have not changed such demands for characters.

For writers today, this can be very frustrating. Readers get angry when their favorite characters are killed off while other writers are criticized for not killing off characters. Why is this? Because there are generally two kinds of audiences—those who want the “happily ever after” stories and those who want the “Shakespearean ending” (not all Shakespeare plays are tragedies, but for my argument, I will refer to these).

So which kind of audience is right? Is it better to read a book or watch a movie where the characters live or where characters die? I would say both are correct for different reasons. While happily ever after stories are often considered unrealistic, they may reflect some need for justice, love, family, etc., and the fulfilment of these. Other times, audiences want stories that move them not only to think but also to feel through stories that reflect the destitution of our world.

As a writer, I believe in killing off characters and their staying dead. While characters may experience many close calls, it’s not is appropriate to ruin a death scene that could mean development for the other characters. Overall, writers shouldn’t overkill characters but they shouldn’t let them persist like weeds. If fictional characters are to be realistic, they must be mortal too.

Which kind of reader are you? And if you’re a writer—if you dare answer—which kind of writer are you?

Literary References: Shakespeare’s tragedies, Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor, and Thor: The Dark World, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes collection.

The Extinction of Printed Books

There’s nothing quite like setting foot in a library. Especially as a book-lover. Whenever I walk in and see all of the books, I also see all of the stories and possibilities. There are so many books out there I have not read and so many libraries I would like to visit. But I was shocked when I once discovered an article about a bookless library.

How could anybody build such a thing? What would be the purpose? As it turns out: e-books. The entire library was constructed solely to carry e-books. Today, people here many such stories that the digital world is slowly overtaking the long-held, beloved traditions. Handwriting is replaced with typing and print books are replaced with e-books.

 

Or are they?


Then, one day, it happened—I received an e-reader as a gift.
 

As it turns out, they’re not too terrible. Books are cheaper on it, and I could carry as many books as I want while travelling. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed having an e-reader. But wait? Aren’t they taking eradicating print books entirely? My answer is no. Not really. 

Using my e-reader as a mouse pad.

Print books still and will continue to have their place in the world. There are many reasons why print books will not completely disappear. Here are just a few:

1) Print books are easier to read.

Okay, maybe you happen to know of those e-readers without glare or aren’t hard on the eyes, but many of them are. Sure, there are some people who can hang in there with watery eyes or maybe there is no glare, but one thing is inevitable. There will always come that dreaded notification: “Your device is at 15%. Please plug in or it may shut off.” This may not seem terribly inconvenient, but it is disastrous on a road trip when there is no way to charge the e-reader and the fate of a fictional character hangs in the balance. Print books, however, do not turn off.



2) Printed books are aesthetically pleasing.

My overflowing bookshelf.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Who doesn’t enjoy the feel of an actual book in hand? Or that new/old book smell? Or a well-designed cover? Or the accomplished feeling after finishing a 600+ page novel? Or an impressive shelf overflowing with books? That’s what bookends are for, by the way. Not to keep books from falling into the empty space on a shelf but for putting books on desks, tables, et cetera when the bookshelf has run out of space.

3) People still purchase print books.

There are numerous complaints that e-books will decimate the long held tradition of print books. I’d like to disagree. E-books may be on the rise, but I will continue to buy paperbacks and hardcovers. Sometimes I will read an e-book and want to buy it in print because I enjoyed it so much. Even if publishers ceased production of printed books, the books on my shelves would remain. Print books will not go extinct as long as at least one person continues to own them.

There are many more reasons to enjoy printed books, but I think it would be a disservice to disregard the benefits of e-readers. They both have their pros and cons, but both provide something all readers like: books.

Do you have a favorite quality about printed books or e-books? Does the format of a book affect your reading experience?

Book Review: "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine

This year, as a part of my New Year's resolution, I plan to post more often. These posts may include but will not be limited to book reviews, fictional characters, authors, and writing. What I will do: write posts that (hopefully) spark interest and/or conversation. What I won't do: focus on classics or bestsellers, although I may include some characters from such stories from time to time; summarize books or give spoilers (without warning).

 

***



 

Book: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Genre: Young adult, realistic fiction

Awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2010)

My rating: 5/5 stars

Mockingbird was required reading for my young adult literature class, and I would gladly read it again. First of all, this book gave me perspective: that of an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s dealing with life and grief.

This book really spoke to me, and I could relate to some of the characters, especially since my brother has high-functioning autism. I realize that autism and Asperger’s are not the same, although they have many similarities, but both are often misunderstood in society, especially around people who have not had experience with them before. Mockingbird presents Caitlin not just as a girl with Asperger’s but a person who is human, even though she may appear different.

Not only does the book contain touchy elements not often addressed, but it contains several elements of literary worth. As is implied by the title, there are several allusions to Harpers Lee’s How to Kill a Mockingbird. Although Mockingbird is not as complex in writing style or plot, there are many great lines that made me think, elements that had twofold meaning, and three-dimensional characters.

I gave this book a 5/5 for being incredibly human. Readers get a glimpse of the good and the bad, the sorrow and the joy. I may be biased towards this book because Caitlin has Asperger’s, but it adds to the worth of the book. I would recommend this book to anybody 10+, but would not limit this book to children or young adults. Because there is mention of school shootings, I would caution parents to use discretion, but there are no violent scenes. I appreciate how Erskine handled the difficult topics she approached.

The Greatest Literary Thieves

I’ve always enjoyed coming up with new story ideas and pitching them to my friends. The only downside is none of them are actually new. I sometimes get a response like “That’s been done before.” Technically speaking, every story idea has been done before. Although all writers are told to come up with an original story, there are only so few plots structures (about 7) out there.

 

Given the time, I could point out the similarities between Tangled and Phantom of the Opera. They both contain obsessive parent-figures (Mother Gothel and the Phantom) who kidnap a young girls (Rapunzel and Christine) for their own gain while the handsome young men (Flynn and Roule) comes to the rescue. Have I convinced you yet? I’m not saying that these two stories are by any means identical in plot or in theme, but they have similar elements. There are probably other stories I could list that have these elements as well.

 

David Bevington's The Complete Works of Shakespeare

Overall, it’s not the originality of the story but rather how the story is told. Many of the greatest thieves masters of all literature even borrowed from other works when they created their well-known stories. Many of Shakespeare’s plays were based off other plays or works, including As You Like It, Macbeth, and many of his history plays, just to name a few. Other writers such as C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien were influenced by medieval writings or ancient legends in their fiction. Even Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy had some influences from Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

 

While it may appear that book and film adaptations are merely a recent trend, they are not. Classics borrowed from previous literature and previous literature borrowed from legends and legends borrowed from people. Ultimately, there may be “nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9), and nearly every writer is a thief in some way, whether it be in plot structures, genres, or characters.

 

So what does this all mean for writers today? No work of fiction can ever be 100 percent original, but some pieces may be stellar, even if they do draw from other works. While writer’s shouldn’t copy all the writing trends or create nothing but fan-fictions hoping to be the next Shakespeare, they may retell a story or make references to past works of literature. No writer is the same, and it is his or her voice and writing style that ultimately determines a lasting piece of literature.
 

What are some of your favorite classics that have influence on or are influenced by other works? Are there any recent books you have read that have a well-written, distinct voice?

 

Literary references: David Bevington’s The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Disney’s Tangled, Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, William Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Macbeth, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the Holy Bible.

More than Just a Name

Picture of From Aaron to Zoe by Daniel A. Richman

Whether people acknowledge it or not, names still have great significance in culture today. If somebody’s name is “like Mud” or if a person is “no Sherlock,” often times, people may understand the meaning of such phrases even if they do not fully understand the source. In fiction, characters may have names with meanings that may reinforce or contradict their personalities or significance.

 

Many great books out there, not just Pilgrim’s Progress, have characters with significant names. In The Naming and in The Messenger, the protagonists receive new names that embody their roles in their societies. In The Kingdom Series, many of the characters’ names represent biblical characters. Even many of the characters in The Hunger Games are representational, and the places may be historical references. Most recently, some of characters in the Allegiance books have names that either reflect their personalities or names that the characters rise above.

 

In my own stories, I may spend days or even months trying to give a particular character a name with meaning. Villains are perhaps the most difficult characters to name, not necessarily because they are underdeveloped but because they are so vitally important. I can’t just name one of the most important characters John Smith, so my antagonist might go through half a draft with a name like (VN)—for Villain Name—or simply X. A successful writing day is one when I can name one character, and it's a superb day when I can name two.

 

Throughout Scripture, names have great significance both for God and for people. Abram, Sarai, and Jacob’s names were changed to Abraham, Sarah, and Israel. Naomi asked to be called Mara because she felt that her life was bitter. One of the apostles, Simon, was also called Peter. The list goes on.

 

Although not every writer may select names for a particular meaning, characters tend to embody a name and can even be memorable for them. Those characters with meaning in their names add layers of quality and depth to literature, which may be interesting to study when examining certain texts. Meaning behind a character name is not always necessary, but such names can hold power in both classical and contemporary literature.

 

Are there any characters whose names hold meaning that you view as significant? Do you think it is important for writers to give their characters’ names meaning?

 

Literary references: Daniel A. Richman's From Aaron to Zoe: 15,000 Great Baby Names, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Alison Croggon’s The Naming, Lois Lowry’s The Messenger, Chuck Black’s The Kingdom Series, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, L. Nicodemus Lyon’s Allegiance Series, and the Holy Bible.

"The List"--Splickety Magazine 3.4 Release

 

Today marks the release date of my most recent publication "The List" featured in Splickety Prime 3.4. This marks the second work I have had published through Splickety. You can view a short description of my first story on my Works Published page.

 

Splickety Prime 3.4

Perhaps one of the most dreadful questions a reader can ask is "What is your story about?" Before you ask, it’s about Christmas. Because the story is flash fiction—less than 1,000 words—I will refrain from describing the entire story. Instead, I will address a few things related to writing this story.

 

I first came up with the idea for this story a few years ago, but the story didn’t actually develop until this past summer. I was tired of all the trite Christmas stories that all seem to tell the same story, so I decided to write something different.

 

One story that served as inspiration, although it may not directly influence my story, is Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Although families may watch the film version to the point of quoting it word-for-word, the story still portrays the realistic importance of life and death through fantastical means.

 

On the other hand, my intention of writing “The List” is not to deemphasize the importance of the church or of the nativity story. For those of you who have already read my story, this might make more sense. To me, the best Christmas story will always be the nativity story.

 

Have a warm, merry Christmas!

 

What are some of your favorite Christmas stories? Do you have any questions concerning “The List”? I'd like to hear your thoughts!

 

Literary references: Splickety Magazine, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and the Holy Bible.