Reading goals
My brain is a muscle that I've admittedly allowed to atrophy. My creative activities last year were not challenging, but they were time-consuming, to the point that I wasn't even reading anything not related to RP tags.
That has to change this year.
My tentative goal is to read 52 books in 2010. I have no definite parameters for my "write moar" resolution, but I trust someone out there will hold me to it-- starting with the people expecting Christmas stories from me! As for the books themselves, I'm going to keep track of them here, along with my impressions. I'd welcome recommendations in turn, if you have any for me. :)
1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I adored this book. Bod is such a relateable protagonist, that even approaching 27 I still remember sharing his thought processes as a child. The tangible realism of a child's POV reminded me of Roald Dahl, distantly. But Gaiman also has a grip on horror, of course. I love the quirky premise of a boy in danger being protected by dead people. And not to spoil, but I love the way Gaiman wrapped up that threat, as well. Definitely going to reread this after I give it a rest. Thanks, maenad!
2. Season of Passage by Christopher Pike *REREAD*
I was absolutely in love with this book a couple years ago. I read it twice in a row after I first bought it. This time, however, it's lost some of its lustre. It's still an impressive and gripping plot, with the story of how the first explorers on Mars discovered an ancient race of vampires interwoven with an allegory about how that ancient race of vampires once tried to conquer the earth. Once I got into it again, I was in the horror-sci-fi-fantasy zone, because Pike writes excellent intrigue. His pacing leaves something to be desired, though. There's too much exposition, down to the here's-the-heroine-and-here-are-her-physical-stats-and-fashion-choices rambling as if he's still writing a shallow YA novel. His dialogue, too, sticks out like a sore thumb. It feels realistic enough at first glance, but it has two flaws: firstly that these adult characters frequently sounded like teenagers, which probably harks back to Pike's YA days; second, that no one ever uses a contraction. Ever. Granted, it is distinctly Pike for everyone to say "I am," but in some spots it's a niggling pacing issue. Still, overall, I totally want to read it again. Yes, Pike is trashy, but he's more highbrow than most trashy novels.
That has to change this year.
My tentative goal is to read 52 books in 2010. I have no definite parameters for my "write moar" resolution, but I trust someone out there will hold me to it-- starting with the people expecting Christmas stories from me! As for the books themselves, I'm going to keep track of them here, along with my impressions. I'd welcome recommendations in turn, if you have any for me. :)
1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I adored this book. Bod is such a relateable protagonist, that even approaching 27 I still remember sharing his thought processes as a child. The tangible realism of a child's POV reminded me of Roald Dahl, distantly. But Gaiman also has a grip on horror, of course. I love the quirky premise of a boy in danger being protected by dead people. And not to spoil, but I love the way Gaiman wrapped up that threat, as well. Definitely going to reread this after I give it a rest. Thanks, maenad!
2. Season of Passage by Christopher Pike *REREAD*
I was absolutely in love with this book a couple years ago. I read it twice in a row after I first bought it. This time, however, it's lost some of its lustre. It's still an impressive and gripping plot, with the story of how the first explorers on Mars discovered an ancient race of vampires interwoven with an allegory about how that ancient race of vampires once tried to conquer the earth. Once I got into it again, I was in the horror-sci-fi-fantasy zone, because Pike writes excellent intrigue. His pacing leaves something to be desired, though. There's too much exposition, down to the here's-the-heroine-and-here-are-her-physical-stats-and-fashion-choices rambling as if he's still writing a shallow YA novel. His dialogue, too, sticks out like a sore thumb. It feels realistic enough at first glance, but it has two flaws: firstly that these adult characters frequently sounded like teenagers, which probably harks back to Pike's YA days; second, that no one ever uses a contraction. Ever. Granted, it is distinctly Pike for everyone to say "I am," but in some spots it's a niggling pacing issue. Still, overall, I totally want to read it again. Yes, Pike is trashy, but he's more highbrow than most trashy novels.