Monday, March 30, 2009

What kind of reader are you?


I read this and loved it. I have plenty of "reality" in my life, that most of the books I read certainly don't qualify as such. I've never been a "what if" person. I don't wonder what my life would be like if . . . . I don't wonder what things would be like if I'd taken another path. I don't live to torture myself. I don't harbor regret. Days come and go. Each one new then old.


So when I read a book, I tend to go towards those things that just really aren't going to happen but have underlying truths. There are a few books out there that I have read simply for the movie that plays in my mind when I read it . . . not because it is some great novel. Frankly, I don't read each word or even every paragraph of those. There is no need . . . the movie plays on. I save reading each word for Walt Whitman, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, or those artful short stories meant to dazzle you with their knowledge of language if you choose to recognize it. - Oddly, Shakespeare is not one of those for me . . . those are movies in my mind. Stories I've seen a million times a piece by now in all modern books and the big screen. It drives my son Jason nuts. He's a "read aloud-er". He reads and enjoys each word, not yet capable of foresight. It will come to him though. He has a great grasp of language. Carly, though struggles with reading, has an incredible grasp of life. I know she doesn't read every word because she can't and yet that doesn't stop her from understanding and enjoying something. Caden has no time to read . . . that would involve sitting still, and that's not happening.


Back to Wicked Lovely. Don't let the synopsis fool you - it isn't this cheesey.


Synopsis
Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.



So then I got this one . . . loved it too, but was disappointed that ______ took off.

Again . . . sounds ridiculous. Who wants to ready about faeries and their power struggles? But that is just so not what its about. Anyone can relate to this who has wondered what their place in this world is . . . or even what their place in the moment is.

Synopsis
Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.
Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.
The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .


Now, I am awaiting my pre-ordered copy of this. I didn't even bother to try Synopsis
and figure out what it was about - I'm sure I will be pleasantly surprised. In the mean time, I have picked up my copy of New Sudden Fiction. More short stories written artfully. Some will suck, others will end abruptly and most will be too realistic. But someone will have such an incredible use of color scent, or surprise that it will be worth weeding through the 60 stories.

Enjoy your literary life - A great children's read -


Synopsis
The brave good bugs march off to save the garden . . .
First, they must fight the evil Spider Queen . . .
Before summoning the Leaf Men to save the day . . .
But what about the mystery of the Long-Lost Toy?
Here is ancient elfin magic, epic adventure, and a bugle salute to the power of memory, loyalty and love as resounding as Robin Hood's call to his Merry Men!
(These synopsis are not mine, they are from the books themselves. My take would be different.)

2 comments:

Patty said...

I don't read every single word either.....not all the time...

Uncle Rob said...

That was a lot of fun and extremely well done, Becky. You made me want to read them.

I love seeing your posts about all of you and wish Carly the best with her braces. Hang tough.

love, uncle Rob