What I'm Reading
My reading's been going really well this past week! Last week I read Tim Manley's Alice in Tumblr-Land, which was a lot of fun, and over the weekend I reread Tim Burton's The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories for the Hogwarts House Reading Challenge, then read Mitch Albom's The Time Keeper, which was a fantastic read. Last night I finished Affinity and it broke my heart. I was hoping to finish it last week, but I decided to leave it until this week so that it could be my paranormal read for the Hogwarts House Reading Challenge. Next week the challenge is to read a book with an eccentric character, so I'm thinking of finally reading Derek Landy's Kingdom of the Wicked. That series is full of eccentric characters!
On Monday I also started reading Maria V. Snyder's Scent of Magic, the second book in the Healer trilogy. I reviewed the first book, Touch of Power, on Monday - you can find that review here if you're interested! While I'm on a reading kick I'm hoping to cross a few other YA books off my TBR list: Half Bad by Sally Green, which I found in my local library, Vivian Versus the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle, which I received for Christmas, and The Host by Stephenie Meyer, which I've owned and not finished for far too long. I don't know if I'll read all those books over the next week, but I'd like to at least cross Half Bad off my list so I can return it to the library!
What I'm Writing
Considering it's over a week into Camp NaNoWriMo I'm pretty behind, but I'm not letting it get to me. I'm having such a good reading month, and such a good time just relaxing, that I'm not stressing out too much. Given that my goal is 15,000 words I'm hoping to write three 5,000 word short stories, and when I get into it I can write a short story in an afternoon so there's still plenty of time!
Right now I'm working on an LGBT retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in 17th century Virginia, both for Camp NaNoWriMo and for the competition I mentioned last week!
What Inspires Me Right Now
To be honest all the reading I've been doing is pretty inspirational! Nothing inspires me to write more than reading.
What Else I've Been Up To
Game of Thrones returned on Sunday night and it was amazing! I might be a little bit in love with Oberyn Martell, I still love the dynamic between Jaime and Brienne, and to be honest I'd be happy if Olenna Tyrell ended up on the iron throne. That woman is amazing.
Last week's episode of Hannibal brought with it a few surprises, too, and even though certain aspects of New Worlds annoyed me this week (such as the ridiculous instalove) it looks as though the series is starting to get good. Basically TV is awesome right now!
This Saturday I might be meeting up with one of my friends from university, which will be lovely because I haven't seen him in months. I love going into Cardiff - it's a great place for shopping, and right now I need to try and find myself a jar so I can make myself a TBR jar.
What's new with you?
I've heard good things about Half Bad! And I can't wait for the last Skulduggery Pleasant book. Your short story sounds really interesting! I haven't been able to write a short story for ages - all my ideas either don't work out, or end up turning into novels! :P
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know if it's any good. :) Yeah I really need to catch up with the series, I haven't read Kingdom of the Wicked, The Maleficent Seven or Last Stand of Dead Men yet!
DeleteThanks. :) I haven't been able to write any short stories since I started working on my novel, but I'm hoping I can finish and polish up this one so I can submit it to the anthology.
Reading is SO inspirational. When I'm having an 'ugh' week, reading revitalizes my juices. I also have The Host on my Kindle and haven't gotten to it. I watched the movie and am wondering if it's worth it. Glad you're not letting anything get you down with CampNaNo! I'm sure you'll be back at it soon :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's something really inspiring about reading a good book. Unless I'm having a bad day, if I'm having a bad day then reading a good book makes me feel as though I'll never write anything that good. :P
DeleteI heard fans of the book were pretty disappointed with the film, and for the most part I've heard pretty good things about the book. :) Apparently it's better than Twilight, anyway. Hopefully it's a fun read!
Your WIP sounds really interesting and original. I'd love to read it someday. My nine-greats-grandpap immigrated to the Colony of Virginia in the 17th century. Are your characters settlers, or born in the Colony?
ReplyDeleteThank you! If I finish it and I'm happy with it I'd be more than happy to send it your way if you're still interested in reading it then. :)
DeleteOne of the characters was born in the Colony and is a descendent of English settlers, and the other is a girl of Native American descent who has been raised in the Colony. :)
I'm so excited that GoT is back! It's funny, because I used to detest Jaime Lannister (who actually spells his name the same way I do), but now he's one of my favourite characters. Second only to Tyrion. :-)
ReplyDelete15,000 words for your NaNo goal is a good, manageable goal. I have this tendency to overshoot and then get totally bummed when I don't meet it. Best of luck meeting that goal!
I must admit I didn't like Jaime much at first (plus he looked so much like Prince Charming from Shrek!) but season 3 changed my mind completely. Everyone loves Tyrion, don't they? A few weeks ago I found a little book in Waterstones that was full of just his quotes from the series. :P
DeleteI think Sansa and Margaery are my favourites. Girl power!
I'm the same, which is why I thought 15,000 words was a better goal than the one I originally set myself. Thank you! :)
That's a lot of reading you've managed. I'm very impressed :D Good luck with Camp NaNo. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteHaha it's typical that the one month I should be writing I end up reading lots, especially when last month I actually wrote more than I read. Thank you! :D
DeleteAhhh, Game of Thrones! That was definitely a highlight of this week! I agree completely about the dynamic between Jaime and Brienne.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with Camp NaNo!
I can't wait for next week's episode!
DeleteThank you!
That's a tone of reading! And seeing as reading is an essential part of becoming a good writer, it's actually homework, don't you think? I'm glad to hear your enjoying your relaxation time! Have fun in Cardiff! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's what I like to tell myself! ;) Thank you!
DeleteYou really are having a great reading month! I read THE HOST when it first came out and have been needing a re-read ever since I saw the movie so I can get the bad taste out of my mouth! Have a great weekend and time catching up with your friend.
ReplyDeleteWell it's good to know the book's at least better than the film! :) Thank you!
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