Book talk Tues? Sugar and Ice
Aren't Tuesdays book talk days around here? If so, here goes. If not, well here goes anyway!
I know "Sugar and Ice" by Kate Messner has been reviewed, discussed, etc. a lot by many, but I feel a particular connection to this one and want to share my experience. This is not meant to be a review per se so I'll say this here and now: GO GET THIS BOOK!!!
"Sugar and Ice" is about a figure skater plucked from a local ice show to train in Lake Placid. While I was not "plucked" I was a figure skater who trained in Lake Placid. Kate has nailed the life and emotions of this time very well. The writing (as is true of Kate) is stellar. This was one that I read as a reader, not a writer. I did not study the craft, but enjoyed the story and characters. I find I'm drawn more to character-driven stories. Pick this one up if you are too.
Now more personally, I loved reading along and knowing exactly where Clair was in the arena/town/ area (I used to go to the other locations as well, such as Plattsburgh). I loved the insider knowledge of the actual skating such as exactly what edge to use for each jump and the internal dialog of the skater as she prepares for an element during the competition. Even more fun was that I recently returned to Lake Placid after ~20 years away. I picked up my signed copy of "Sugar and Ice" from the Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid (which is also mentioned in "Sugar and Ice"). It was such fun to read a skating book set in the town where I purchased it and used to live. Lake Placid has changed a lot since I've been there. To read Kate's book there brought back long lost memories.
I know "Sugar and Ice" by Kate Messner has been reviewed, discussed, etc. a lot by many, but I feel a particular connection to this one and want to share my experience. This is not meant to be a review per se so I'll say this here and now: GO GET THIS BOOK!!!
"Sugar and Ice" is about a figure skater plucked from a local ice show to train in Lake Placid. While I was not "plucked" I was a figure skater who trained in Lake Placid. Kate has nailed the life and emotions of this time very well. The writing (as is true of Kate) is stellar. This was one that I read as a reader, not a writer. I did not study the craft, but enjoyed the story and characters. I find I'm drawn more to character-driven stories. Pick this one up if you are too.
Now more personally, I loved reading along and knowing exactly where Clair was in the arena/town/ area (I used to go to the other locations as well, such as Plattsburgh). I loved the insider knowledge of the actual skating such as exactly what edge to use for each jump and the internal dialog of the skater as she prepares for an element during the competition. Even more fun was that I recently returned to Lake Placid after ~20 years away. I picked up my signed copy of "Sugar and Ice" from the Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid (which is also mentioned in "Sugar and Ice"). It was such fun to read a skating book set in the town where I purchased it and used to live. Lake Placid has changed a lot since I've been there. To read Kate's book there brought back long lost memories.