Book Review: A Thousand Perfect Notes

Today, I rarely buy books. Especially books I’ve never read before. It’s sooooo hard when I live in a country that doesn’t speak English, and the nearest bookstore that carries new books happens to have a tiny English section only has the occasional book I might pick up but not want to own. Instead, I tend to get most of my books from the library, and even then I’m still picky.

To say that I bought A Thousand Perfect Notes on a whim and thoroughly enjoyed it… Wow. Just wow!

Who am I kidding? I’ve been following Paper Fury’s (C. G. Drews) blog for a while now, so I shouldn’t be a surprise. I like to support debut authors, so I’m proud to have bought a copy. The cover is gorgeous, and the book is even more so!

Book: A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult

My rating: 4/5 stars

Awards: None (yet!)

One-word description: cake

No, I am not reviewing this book in August simply because one of the characters is named August. It just sort of happened. Actually, most of the book takes place in July, so there you have it.

The characters were definitely one of the best aspects of the book. Beck is such a cinnamon roll, and I would definitely give him all the cake! He could use some more sweetness in his life. Seriously, his friend August and her family were so good for him! I wonder how he’d like the German cakes…

Another reason I enjoyed this story so much was the writing style and all the talk of music. Books about music are so fun! I only wish I could listen to some of the songs. This book would make an excellent movie.

To summarize how much I enjoy this story, here’s an actual conversation I had with my sister:

Me: This book is so good!
Sister: *reads opening line*
ATPN: What he wants most in the world is to cut off his own hands.
Sis: Why does he want to cut off his hands?
Me: Because his mother is insane.
Sis: Oh.

Is it weird that she took that as an actual reason? Wow, we read too many books. She doesn’t read nearly as much as I do, but I try to pass on all the best books.

The only thing was that I had only the faintest idea that the book was set in Australia until three fourths of the way through the book. There was more talk about Beck moving to Germany than there was of him actually living in Australia. As somebody who’s never been to the latter and actually lives in the former, I would have liked to know more than it’s cold there in July. Of course, settings don’t tend to be the focus of young adult books.

Some of the plot twists were fairly predictable, but I enjoyed the ending all the same. Sort of? I mean, I almost cried, so there’s that. It was so intense I was definitely fangirling by the end. Definitely qualifies as a well-written ending in my book!

In all, I gave A Thousand Perfect Notes 4/5 stars for relateable characters and an enjoyable story despite any predictable moments. I’d recommend it to any fans of contemporary YA novels, and I look forward to C. G. Drew’s next book!

Interested in A Thousand Perfect Notes? Have you read it yet? You might also enjoy these books: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab, The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims, and Made You Up by Francesca Zappia.

Let’s chat! Has A Thousand Perfect Notes made it to your to-be-read list yet? Anybody out there read it? Have any contemporary YA recommendations?

***

Similar book reviews: The Astonishing Color of After, The Beast of Talesend, and We Were Liars

How to Write What You Know Without Writing Nonfiction

“Write what you know.” This phrase has inspired and haunted writers all at the same time. It’s limiting, yet it helps us work within our experience.

I’ve heard it said that writers who finally wrote what they knew finally knew what it meant to write. At first, I didn’t get it. I tried to write what I knew, but it all sounded like a boring journal entry that was actually worse than my actual journal entries. I usually quit about 1,000 words in, assuming I made it that far. I tried writing a story about transitions and having no friends. Depressing. A story about a dinner party. No plot. A story about living in Hawaii. Too many scattered ideas.

Perhaps that was part of my problem, I started with a concept without a plot or a character without a definitive goal. Whatever the reason, I thought I couldn’t write about my own experiences no matter how I tried.

Until I wrote Origami Swan.

Believe it or not, the initial idea for Origami Swan came from a movie (The Labyrinth) and way too many unrelated emotions. I was just finishing up my master’s degree and had no idea what I was going to do next. Then I started thinking. What if life had a maze for those who didn’t know what they were doing next? What if “life’s choices” wasn’t just a hallway with an open door indicating “THIS IS IT! Go this way!” but rather a series of puzzles that each person has to figure out on their own. Thus, the Labyrinthe de Napoléon was born.

As I think about my own stories and adding what I know, here are just a few things I’ve learned along the way:

Write in the genre you know.

Part of my problem in trying to write what I know was that I was trying to write nonfiction without reading any nonfiction. I didn’t know where to start. I had no plot. How do I add a plot to my own life?

In a sense, I was writing what I didn’t know. I didn’t know nonfiction. I’m trying to read more in this broad genre, but I haven’t yet made it into the realm of memoirs or autobiographies. Maybe I’ll get there one day.

Truth is, I’m more of a fantasy and sci-fi reader. It makes sense that I’d be more of a fantasy and sci-fi writer. I know how the genres work. Give me dragons and spaceships and explosions and intrigue and I’m one happy reader.

That’s not to say you can’t write in a genre you aren’t terribly familiar with. I grew up reading far more fantasy than sci-fi. If anything, the genre is more of a recent addition to my favorites. I’ve had to read a ton of sci-fi novels to catch up with those who were already major sci-fi fans, and I’ll probably have to read even more before I attempt to write another sci-fi novel. (I did try to write one already, but it was terrible. I’m setting that thing on fire.)

It’s okay that if have to do more research if you want to learn about another genre. If you want to write a fantasy novel, read more fantasy novels. If you think the idea of writing a romance novel is fun, read more romance. Reading is awesome! So go for it.

Draw from your own emotions/experiences and research facts.

When you draw from personal experience or emotions, you’re adding something to the story that research cannot possibly provide you. While you can search for a city on Google maps, the internet may not be able to tell you whether or not the local ducks like to sit in the street during rush hour until the cars honk at them. And while research may be able to tell you some of the cultural differences, it cannot tell you how the American Midwest smells different from the South.

No matter how familiar you are with a certain topic, you should still do some research. If I’m going to draw from a setting I’ve lived in, I still have to research it. Especially since I like to write about places I have been instead of wherever I’m currently living. After all, it’s not like I know all the types of trees or birds I want to include, or maybe I spent too much time in Europe and accidentally added a roundabout to an American town. Even if you’re writing about the place you live, research can help give you information that you might see as normal but somebody else might see as unusual, like roundabouts.

Whatever the type of story you’re writing, just remember to do your research. It might not all play into the story, but it helps immensely.

Add what you know as you go along.

Calm down, plotters. You can add this kind of information to your outline. What I mean: don’t start with writing what you know. Start with what you want to write. If you want to write about time travel, start with that. Then you can add your knowledge of jet lag or communicable diseases or foreign language along the way. If what you want to write just happens to be what you know, then great! For example, if you are a time traveler who wants to write about your experiences, then congratulations. *whispers* Tell me your secrets.

Write what you know, but don’t stop there.

Keep learning. Expand upon what you know. Like I mentioned above, experience can only get you so far. Each person has their own perspective, but unless you want all your characters to sound the same, you’ll have to branch out. Learn something new.

Of course, many “writing rules” are more like guidelines. If you happen to write nonfiction and it turns out great, then well done. What works for one writer may not work for another. Play with it. Most of all, have fun!

Let’s chat! How much of what you know do you put in your stories? Have you ever tried your hand at nonfiction? What genre do you like to write?

***

Similar posts: Origami Swan: Novel Title Change and Cinnamon Rolls (Aka Characters), Traveling and Writing: Inspirational or Disastrous?, and Why Writers Should Study Their Craft

Recommended Reading: Military Brat Edition

Military Brat: term commonly used to describe a child of a member of the armed forces, especially the air force, army, coast guard, marines, and navy. Doesn’t always refer to somebody under the age of 18. Typically lives in five or more houses (not to mention states/countries) and moves at least once every three to five years. Also answers to their name, sibling’s name, “military child,” or “ask me where I’m from one more time…”

Here are some works of fiction I’ve enjoyed for the military brats, their friends, and anybody who’s ever wondered what it’s like to move at least once every three years.

This post is not about books that accurately represent the lifestyle of the contemporary military brat. Rather, these books are a collection of books that I, as a military brat, have been able to relate to because of some element or another. I have yet to find a fictional book that actually describes this kind of lifestyle.

Books are listed in alphabetical order according to the author’s last name.

Ender’s Saga by Orson Scott Card (sci-fi)

Ender’s Game is good if you want to understand military tactics and psychology more, but the rest of the series is great. I actually enjoyed the later books more than the first one. The stories go on to explore the different mindsets between different cultures and what it’s like to move from place to place, actually showing different places, and how it changes family dynamics. Ender and Valentine are close as siblings, like my own sister and I are.

A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole (YA sci-fi)

With the mind of a talented scientist, Octavia wants to better understand the world in which she lives and those who lived there long before humans. I particularly like the way the story explores several generations of humankind living on the planet, which is also rather odd because I usually enjoy the whole initial discovery process. I found I could relate to Octavia as I have lived in foreign countries, though unlike her, I wasn’t born in them.

Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu (MG historical fiction & novel in verse)

This book is among the few that addresses the difficulties that come with different time zones, and not just jet lag that comes with arrival but also the continual time difference that comes with living overseas. While Ema and her parents are living with her dad’s parents in Japan, they keep in touch with her mom’s parents back in the United States. As I have spent considerable time living in Europe, I have to mentally compensate for the time differences for my friends back in the States. Hint: It’s seven hours difference between Central European Time and Central (American) Time, so I typically have to wait until noon my time before any of my friends are awake.

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton (MG historical fiction & novel in verse)

I relate to a lot of characters in novels in verse. This novel in particular explores what it is like for a family to move to a town where nobody quite understands them. As a military brat, I have no idea what it’s like to live in the same house for more than three years, but there are plenty of people who have never left their own state.

While my parents come from the same country and the same town, this book is great for those whose parents do not.

The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla (MG contemporary)

Road trip! It’s so hard to find a good road trip book. There are plenty of books that have road trips, but this one doesn’t just focus on the places, it also focuses on the characters. That and it explores the differences between sleeping at home, in a strange hotel, a stranger’s house, or in an RV. All of which I have done at one time or other on road trips of my own whenever my family moved across the country.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (fantasy)

Many fantasy novels are about journeys. But this one is among the few about an actual nomad. Kvothe was born and raised among a group of traveling bards, so he never fits in just one place. Kinda like a military brat.

This book is also an epic fantasy novel, so of course I enjoyed it!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (YA historical fiction)

This book made me cry. Later, I teared up while watching the film, not when certain characters died, but when Papa had to leave. As a military child, I know how rough it can be when a parent is deployed and not knowing whether or not they’ll come back home safely.

There you have it! I hope you enjoy the recommendations.

Let’s chat! Have any of these books made it to your To-Be-Read List yet? Have you read any of them? My fellow military brats, what books could you relate with? To all the readers, what’s the last book a friend gave you that helped you understand them better?

***

Book Reviews: A Conspiracy of Stars and Full Cicada Moon

Similar posts: 7 Reasons I Enjoy Fantasy Novels, 7 Reasons I Enjoy Sci-Fi, 7 Reasons I Enjoy Historical Fiction, and 7 Reasons I Enjoy Novels in Verse

Poem: Biking to Work

I didn’t used to like biking. Before I found a decent bicycle that fit me right. Before I had to rely on biking as my only means of transportation. Before I became accustomed to the sheen of sweat that coated my arms afterwards.

Now, I don’t mind it so much. I enjoy it actually. Back when I was living in England, I had to bike everywhere. It was either that or walk (sloooooooow) or take the bus (muggy and wasting money better spent on books). Now, I don’t need to bike. Even though I’m still living in Europe, I have my international license and can drive wherever I want.

But I still like to bike. I used to bike to the library once a week because it was less stressful than driving. Recently, I started a new job that requires me to leave the house, and I still like to bike there. Sure, there are hills. But it’s mostly downhill on the way home. Sure, I’ll take the car on days when it’s 94 degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t want to pass out. But I enjoy the feel of biking overall.

Biking to Work

on a week that’s not “official”

            is what I do regularly,

even if it’s not typical.

            I like the feel of wind-blown hair,

the smell of wooded, damp bike paths,

            the flutter of a butterfly,

the blue-tinged wings of a dragon,

            the way my heart pounds as I race

down the hillside or climb another.

           

“Don’t you want to take the car?” —or—

“I admire your tenacity.”—

these words I hear as I snatch up

my helmet, secure my sunglasses.

Why would I want to take the car?—

gas emitter, rusted machine,

air-conditioned environment

where I have to remember not

to lose my calm, to breath normal,

not to talk to other drivers

who cannot hear me anyway.

Why would I want to feel the stress?—

                        peak

and ebb

like sea waves, ruled by mistress moon—

stop and go and stop—STOP.

Why not weave along the bike path

            with the occasional walker?

Why not wait at a crosswalk,

            heart beating away today’s stress?

Maybe for an audio book,

I might drive.

***

Let’s chat! What did you think of the poem? How do you get to work, or do you work from home? Do you enjoy riding a bike?

Similar poems: Still Life in Spring, Ether, and The Crow and the Heron

First Book You've Ever Read Challenge

I was unofficially tagged by S. M. Metzler on her blog Tea with Tumnus. At first, I wasn’t sure where I would fit it into my schedule, but then I realized July has five Sundays this year. One extra blog post coming right up!

I’ve read so many books, I’m sure Goodreads doesn’t have them all listed. According to the site, since I first started tracking the books back in 2011, I’ve read 471 books. The first book I kept track of the dates from start to finish was A Study in Scarlet, but it’s far from the first book I’ve never read.

Let me think.

Hahaha!

What is this madness?

Challenge rules:

• Challenge at least one person.
• Share the first book you’ve ever read.
• Why did you read it in the first place?
• How did it inspire you to become a writer?

From reading The Stinky Cheese Man and The Roly Poly Spider to Amelia Bedelia and listening to White Fang and The Chronicles of Narnia, I remember reading many children’s books. But if we’re talking about the first novel I ever read, well, I’d probably have to say Methuselah’s Gift.

Anthropomorphic animals. Forest fires and traps. “Uprights” aka humans. A story of redemption. What’s not to like? (Maybe the traps and fire?)

My third-grade teacher had the class read this particular treasure. I remember being read to in class, but I also remember reading this one silently. I went on to read the sequel, Methuselah’s Heart. Then my teacher took our class to go meet the author, and she talked to us about stories and the racoon under her porch who inspired her to write the novel and how to craft a plot.

That’s when I knew I wanted to become a writer.

I had taken interest in writing stories before, the first ever story I remember writing being a paragraph about an octopus with shoes. Don’t judge. Writing prompts for children are weird.

When I met my first ever author, my teacher encouraged me to write. Even when I wrote a story for class about a guy biking into outer space to meet space penguins (wait a second…), she encouraged me. Even though I went on to write many more awkward stories and to try reading above my grade level, I was determined to become a published author.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve read Methuselah’s Gift. Time for a reread!

As for the tagging, I challenge the following bloggers:

Faith René Boggus (A Boggus Life)

Melissa Gravitis (Quill Pen Writer)

And you! (Mwuahaha! Thought I’d cover you all.)

Let’s chat! If you don’t have a blog and/or don’t want to write a post, what’s the first novel you’ve read? Have you read Methuselah’s Gift before? If so, what did you think of it?

***

Similar posts: The Bookish Q&A Tag, 5 Fantastic Children’s Books That Broke My Heart, and Treasured Books

Literary references: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, John Scieszka and Lane Smith’s The Stinky Cheese Man, Jill Sardenga’s The Roly Poly Spider, Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia, Jack London’s White Fang, C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, and Mary Elizabeth Edgren’s Methuselah’s Gift and Methuselah’s Heart.

Book Review: A Conspiracy of Stars

This book is one of my new favorite sci-fi novels! Just saying. It’s amazing.

I devoured the book in one sitting and not just because I was stuck on an airplane. If I wanted to read or do something else, I would have. Nine-hour flights tend to provide movies and music, but I couldn’t get enough of A Conspiracy of Stars. I was actually sad when it ended.

Book: A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole

Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Young Adult

My rating: 4/5 stars

Awards: None (yet!)

One-word description: science!

“But home isn’t just a memory, I’ve decided: it’s knowledge, knowing where you belong and where you fit in. [...] This is home.”

Wow, so I haven’t related to a fictional character in a while. (Pfft! I totally did three books ago.) Perhaps what I mean to say is that the exploration of the concept of home was refreshing. When most people ask me where I’m from, what they really mean is “Where is home?” But having moved around my whole life, for me it’s not always that simple. Home for me is where my suitcase is. In that sense, I relate with Octavia, the narrator. This, too, is my home.

The plot was a little more slow-paced than some books, but I actually like it that way. Slower books can be pretty enjoyable, especially when they focus on excellent character development like this one. Perhaps one of my favorite themes no matter the book was also featured in this one: empathy is a gift, not a weakness.

And the world-building was amazing! At first, the author, Cole, seems to throw terms at me, and I felt like I got tossed into a hailstorm with no context. Then the characters took me by the hand and guided me along, explaining things like the well-informed scientists they were. For the most part, the characters were well-developed. There’s bound to be at least one mad scientist, right? *sigh* Oh, well. I did like how smart the Octavia and her friends were.

When the title finally made sense, I was immensely pleased.

My main complaint was the book’s predictability. I was hoping for at least one twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. But when I was right, I silently cheered, then the book ended and how dare it! I. Need. More.

In all, I gave A Conspiracy of Stars 4/5 stars for excellent world building, themes, and character but some predictable elements. I’d recommend it to sci-fi fans, especially those who liked Ender’s Saga and the Divergent trilogy. I know I said this already, but I can’t wait for the next one!

Interested in A Conspiracy of Stars? Have you read it yet? You might also enjoy these books: The Shifter by Chris T. Acadian, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, and Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Let’s chat! Has A Conspiracy of Stars made it to your to-be-read list yet? Anybody out there read it? Have any sci-fi book recommendations?

***

Similar book reviews: Season of Wonder, The Shifter, and A World Without You

Happy 4th Blogiversary! (Featuring a Giveaway)

Around four years ago, I sat down and decided I wanted to start another blog. A blog where I could write about my thoughts on books, inspired by discussions I had on literature while I was attending university. The word blog is a weird in and of itself. Then we have the word blogiversary. What has the English language come to?

I decided to ask the internet, yes, the internet, if anybody had any questions about my writing or blogging process. Here are the questions and my answers. Stick around because I’m running a giveaway at the end!

Why did you start Word Storm? And why a blog and not any other social media?

I started Word Storm because bookish discussions make me excited. When I was in college, I wanted to continue to talk about books outside of classes. Now that I’ve graduated with my degrees in English and English Literature, I’m glad I started my blog when I did.

I picked a blog because I’m not very outgoing when it comes to other forms of social media. I have a Twitter and an Instagram account, but I’m chattier in the blogisphere. Also, I prefer writing over talking, so you probably won’t hear/see me on YouTube anytime soon.

Read more about Why Word Storm? on my About page.

What inspired you to write blog posts?

It all depends on the blog post. When I started blogging, college classroom discussions inspired me. Now, I draw inspiration from the books I read, trends I see, you name it. My last blog post, A Guide to Getting Lost in Your Local Library, was inspired by my constant visits to my library where I like to volunteer and bring home one too many books.

Actually, I’d say fewer of my blog posts come from inspiration than hard work. Inspiration is a term that’s way overused. Maybe 1% of writing is inspiration and 99% is actual writing. And that inspiration? Its name is coffee.

Did your family play a role in your interest in writing?

Yes and no. Both my parents gave me a passion for stories and reading. My mom especially used to tell me many outlandish stories when I was a kid, so like Hiccup, at least I know where I get my dramatic flair from. But most of my interest in writing came from other writers like C. S. Lewis, who wrote fantastical tales, and Mary Elizabeth Edgren, whom I got to meet as a kid, and teachers who encouraged me to craft stories of my own.

What role does God play in your blogging?

Whatever I write, I do it for the glory of God. As such, I try to write without being overly preachy. Growing up as a chaplain’s kid, I know what a sermon sounds like. Still, I aim to prompt thought and discussion from readers, regardless of their background.

As a Christian, I like to talk about wholesome stories that uplift and encourage. I try to keep my blog PG, even if some of the books I read are not. All the same, I try not to shy away from topics that may be controversial. In fact, I wrote a whole series of posts entitled “Controversy in Fiction,” addressing topics like Racial Diversity, Feminism and Female Characters, Magic, and Christian Fiction.

Are you ever going to write more about the Memory Keepers?

Maaaaaaybe. I have some ideas. While I haven’t settled on a particular story line, if I were to write more in the Memory Keepers’ world, the story would most likely involve trains, explosions, and journalism vs. academic writing.

First I’d need more reviews for Last of the Memory Keepers. If you’ve read any of the stories, please consider writing a review and posting it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. It doesn’t have to be long, and I welcome honest feedback. Did you know more reviews means more exposure? So, if you like a book, leave a review!

When you start plotting a story, where do you prefer starting? Characters, settings, storyline, something else?

Ideas can come from anywhere. Sometimes they come in the form of characters, sometimes in the form of witty quotes. But my plotting is a little more structured. Before I start, I’ll give it a rough name, which can be anything from Story Idea 11 to Just Breathe (original title for Origami Swan). Then or simultaneously, I’ll pick a genre and a target audience. Both are vital for understanding how long the story will be and how much research I’ll need to do.

When I write my basic outline (inciting incident, turning point, climax), I’ll typically start with the characters. I need to know my main players. Who they are. What they want. How they influence the plot. I’ll write this bit in a notebook so it’s portable and so I can add details wherever I go.

Once that’s done, and sometimes even before then, I’ll put some meat on the bones by writing a complete synopsis. That’s when I figure out how the plot influences the characters. I write this part on my computer so I can rearrange, change, or add details if necessary. And that’s about it. I used to write chapter-by-chapter, but later found it was too tedious.

See 3 Methods for Outlining Your Novel.

Slight side-note: I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo this year, camp or otherwise.

Why, you might ask? Well, it’s a great tool to establish discipline and to actually finish writing a book. But that’s the thing. I’ve written… eight? Nine? I don’t know. I lost count. Guys, I’m obsessed with writing. So much so that I have to be dragged away from my computer screaming, “You can’t turn it on and off like a tap!”

So… I’m taking July to do #31DaysofBunnies instead! That’s right. I’ve been trying to take up drawing for a while now, and I haven’t really sat down long enough to draw, unless you count during class once a month. As my next novel may include bunnies, I’m thinking of doing some of my own illustrations. That and they’re just fun to draw.

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Giveaway time!

Please keep in mind that because of shipping expenses, I will only be giving away a print copy to a person with a US address. If you happen to live outside the States, you may still enter for the chance to win a Kindle/Nook edition of the first three novelettes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let’s chat! Any other questions you might have about Word Storm or my stories? What’s been your top book(s) of 2018 so far?

***

Similar posts: Origami Swan: Novel Title Change and Cinnamon Rolls (Aka Characters), 3 Methods for Outlining Your Novel, and Controversy in Fiction: Christian Fiction