Literary Escapes – Page 10 – Creative Meanderings

_The Casual Vacancy_ by J.K. Rowling

Mar 022013

The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling

_The Casual Vacancy_ by J.K. Rowling

After the last Harry Potter book came out, it was always a question as to whether or not J.K. Rowling could write another successful novel. With the Harry Potter books I was never convinced that the quality of writing was good, but the storytelling aspect was always effective. Therefore, I had hope that she would be able to publish a good novel.

I saw an interview with J.K. Rowling about this adult fiction novel when it was first published. So, I thought I would try out the book.

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into it. The story is interesting and the last 1/3 of the book was entertaining as the plot thickened and came to a realistic end. Still, I am impressed that the author was able to move out of the young adult fiction genre and be fairly successful in the adult side. There was a lot of realistic elements throughout the story, which I appreciate in a writer.

So, my general opinion is that it was a good read and I look forward to the next one as a true determiner of her place in the adult fiction realm.

-T

_Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life_

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Aug 152012

_Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life_ by Jeff Goins

I cannot seem to pass up 99cent books. Plus, following Jeff Goins on Twitter and Facebook makes it harder to ignore opportunities to read books on sale. It’s a great marketing scheme for him and a bonus for readers like me. 😉

A short two-day read, this is an inspirational, motivational Christian-based book that encourages us to step beyond ourselves to do something significant with our lives within our own context and abilities. At first, I wasn’t really buying into the theme of the book because so many stories are told about changing your life and trying to do something to help others, but offer no real action plan. So, they end up being nice theoretical in an ideal world kind of books. However, as I pressed on in this one, I found that Goins tries to offer tangible ways for someone to make a difference within their own context, at least a little bit.

It did make me think more about what I am doing with my life and where I am going. It is something that I have been thinking about quite a bit lately, actually. I question if I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I wonder if I am living where I should be living. I think about whether or not I am with the person whom I should be with. However, I also realize that sometimes all this thinking is not necessarily all that healthy either….

Anyway, I enjoyed the quick read and a nice follow-up to the heavier sci-fi that I read before. Now, on to the next on the list. 😀

-T

_Eon_ by Greg Bear

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Aug 142012

_Eon_ by Greg Bear

I haven’t had as much time to read as I did early on in the holiday, but I still have been spending time each day with a book. When I was getting low on things to read, I put out a call on Facebook and got some recommendations of different novels. One of them was this one.

_Eon_ is a 1991 science-fiction novel that is rather complex to follow and a little bit hard to imagine to some degree. There are a number of what you might call main characters, but the story mostly centers around Patricia Vasquez. She is considered the mind behind the future technology of an asteroid-like spaceship that some people from our time get stuck on it when the Earth is destroyed by nuclear war amongst all the big nations.

I’d like to explain it in more and better detail, but I really can’t. It’s quite a long novel and while I enjoyed it, I’m not sure I could retell the story…. There are two or three more books in the series and I haven’t yet decided if I want to try reading them, but will wait to decide later. For now, I’m on to some other reads….

More to come…

-T 😀

_Born To Run_ by Christopher McDougall

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Jul 242012

_Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen_ by Christopher McDougall

Apparently, the author of this book was on The Daily Show a while back, but I didn’t remember that until R mentioned it. In any case, I came across this title when someone on Facebook had mentioned that he had just read it and become inspired.

Since I have been reading books as if my life depended on it from a need to escape the realities of my deadlines and discontent at work, I was looking for new titles wherever I could find them. Also, because it seems to be marathon season in the US and I haven’t been able to run/exercise due, first to the change in climate, and second to my leg injury, I thought I would at least read about it and find some inspiration.

When I first started reading, I was was convinced immediately that I don’t need to run anymore because it’s just not that good for me – I enjoy walking. However, as I continued on, I found that I just need to run more. 🙂

The story is both interesting from a scientific and story-telling standpoint. It’s also fascinating from a runner’s perspective. I also found that my practice of walking generally focusing on my posture first is not so strange when it comes to easing into the running process. Also, for some time now, I’ve loved wearing my ‘toe-socks’ that I got into from my former roommate, JM, in Japan.

So, now I’m quite interested in training to run barefoot or at least getting a pair of Vibram FiveFingers shoes to start running in. They also have styles for swimming, yoga, etc. so I am also going to get a pair for traveling or daily use. I wear my socks around the house as slippers a lot of the time and recently found how much they help out on the flights too with circulation and such.

In any case, I’m also considering a serious change in diet along with the new training, but this could be a temporary inspirational fad that doesn’t last long with me… 😉 We’ll see!

A very good read though if you like anthropology, stories and running!!!

_Fat Loss for Beginners_

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Jul 102012

_Fat Loss for Beginners_ by Vic Magary

Okay, so not really my usual kind of reading material. However, a friend of mine from high school posted it on his FB page promoting it for one of his friends. Plus, it was free on Amazon Kindle, so why not, right?

It’s a very short read and a compilation of Vic Magary’s blog posts (a new trend in Kindle books). However, it reads well enough and has some good tips for people who are new to the weight loss realm. His main points are to eat simply and well cutting out dairy and carbs, plus having a regular circuit training program, which is not really very strenuous even for those who are ‘allergic’ to exercise. 😉

Anyway, if you’re looking for a quick and easy read with some pretty practical tips, check it out. 🙂

_The Lost Years_

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Jul 092012

_The Lost Years_ by Mary Higgins Clark

It’s been quite a while since I’ve read a Mary Higgins Clark novel and I can’t recall liking the last one so much, but I continue to give my favorite authors a chance when new novels come out.

Since I’m still on vacation mode and can’t work on my dissertation 24/7, I am still going through books like a crazy person. 🙂

So, this story was more interesting and engaging with the murder of an archaeologist, historian. His wife is the prime suspect although she has advanced Alzheimer’s disease and the daughter is confused since the family had been somewhat estranged since learning that her father (the murder victim) had been having an affair with another woman. The plot thickens by incorporating a jewelry robbery from a neighbor’s house and the thief happens to be there when the murderer flees from the house. Of course, there’s a love story mingled in and a few twists and turns as the real culprit is discovered.

As Mary Higgins Clark has gotten older so have her characters, it seems. She continues to try to have young-ish characters mixed in, but it is interesting to note that it must be easier to write characters who are more around her own age group. The main problem I have with the stories lately is that they are incomplete and conveniently formulaic. Of course, it is easy to be a critic and as I’ve not published anything on my own, I can’t be too critical. Still, I would enjoy a bit more depth and breadth of the story development…; however, I should remember the kind of book I am reading and the main purpose really is to pass time, which it did. With that said, I’m talking in circles and will end here.

Overall, it was a decent read. I’m starting to run out of books…. 🙁

_Cross Fire (Alex Cross)_ by James Patterson

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Jul 042012

_Cross Fire (Alex Cross)_ by James Patterson

Well, I downloaded this book a while ago and wasn’t sure if I had already read it or not. Then, I did a search of my posts (comes in handy!) and found that I HAD already read it….

So, no need to rewrite about the synopsis. Since I hadn’t recalled reading it the first time, I guess I didn’t like it that much the first round. However, when on vacation and it is raining outside, it reads well enough. 😀

On to other books now….

-T 😀

_11th Hour_ by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

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Jul 012012

_11th Hour_ by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

So, it’s possible that I may have to return my attentions back to work or something as I’m plowing through books like there is no tomorrow. Or, I should read more challenging books… 🙂

In any case, this was one of the better books in the Women’s Murder Club series. All the relationships are mostly settled with a bit of drama here and there. Patterson seems to have gotten down the art of running two crime stories at the same time and making them intertwine nicely. I won’t give a summary as it’s not really worth it. However, I will say it was a good read. 😀

Now, what will I read next…?

-T 😀

_Kill Alex Cross_ by James Patterson

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Jun 302012

_Kill Alex Cross_ by James Patterson

When on holiday, there’s nothing better to read than a James Patterson novel. It’s quick, mindless and entertaining. I have been disappointed with some of his novels, but I do like the Alex Cross series.

This one centered around two stories that ran parallel and periodically seemed to have connection to keep interest alive. The main storyline was the kidnapping of the president’s two children. Alex Cross is called in to work on the kidnapping case due to his experience in previous similar cases. It was good to not have so much of the story focused on the president’s side and more about the solving of the case. The second story related to jihad cells and terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and the survival of one of the successful jihadis. Although both stories were still about Cross’s role and ability to solve cases, they still had life of their own.

Again, Patterson has developed a formula that he has mastered. Almost all of his stories now are pattern-based, but the lack of complexity is good when reading for that purpose. 😉

-T 😀

_You Are A Writer: So Start Acting Like One_ by Jeff Goins

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Jun 282012

_You Are A Writer: So Start Acting Like One_ by Jeff Goins

A friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to this book and the writer in me decided I should read it! Lucky for me, it also happened to be free on Kindle and after about two short hours of reading, I completed it feeling inspired.

One of the first and most important steps that Goins impresses upon the reading is to say “I am a writer” and then to ensure that one writes every day until it becomes a habit that happens without thought or effort. He explains how fear is such a great factor in a writer’s decision to ‘dream’ of writing rather than actually writing. Goins goes on to further explain ways to get yourself out there as a writer and then to eventually get published. It makes the possibility of being a successful writer who contributes something to the artistic, literary and greater worlds a reality rather than a pipe dream.

The truth is that I’ve always been a ‘dreamer’ and less of a writer. I go through phases where I really focus on my writing and take the proper steps to move forward toward the ‘dream’, but then I am easily distracted or demotivated, so that it remains just a ‘dream’. However, I hate it when people complain or wish for things that are fully within their means to do something about. I recall my friend telling me sometime last year that being a writer is something that I can do and so I should just do it. That motivation lasted a bit of time, but again I got distracted and it was pushed to the sidelines. Now that it is holiday time again and I force myself to take a step back from all other distractions, I find my heart winding its way back to writing.

So, I have joined a new travel blog and agreed to start contributing to the site with my travel stories. Also, I have entered the Twitter world of writers under my pseudonym and will try to start making a presence in the world of writers in hopes of making this attainable dream come true!

😀 -T

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