Monday Musings with Rachelle
Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will have lost the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life.
–David M. Burns
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Book Review Tips
Article for Writers
I’m still compiling my list of books To-Read and since I will be reviewing many of them on my website, I wanted you to see some tips from an expert reviewer, Tristi Pinkston.
I really like Tristi’s method of reviewing because I value her opinions on books and because she’s an awesome person too!
Visit her blog post on Writing Great Book Reviews and read what she has to say. I especially like this part:
“After I’ve written the synopsis, I will make a criticism sandwich. That is to say, I share something I liked about the book, something I felt could have been stronger, and then I close with another thing I liked. I rarely just praise without mentioning something I would have improved – I am a critical reader, and so I spot things.” (Tristi Pinkston)
I get review requests often and it’s so hard for me to offer constructive criticism because, let’s face it–swallowing criticism, no matter how constructive, is hard to do. At the same time, if I’m offering criticism it’s because I truly feel the writer will get better and I’m looking forward to seeing what else they can do in the future with their writing chops. Even if I dislike a book, I can always find something in it that was done well and I also realize that some people may LOVE the same book I hate.
You can read the reviews I’ve done in the past HERE.
So, go read Tristi’s blog if you haven’t already and be prepared for more great book reviews in the future.
Tell me! What do you like to see in a book review?
Visit Rachelle’s For Writers Page to find more resources HERE
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Book Review: Spires of Stone by Annette Lyon
Book Thoughts by Rachelle
Spires of Stone by Annette Lyon had such great romantic tension that I even dreamt about it. If you would like a great story, full of history, romance, humor, and more, then I think you should read this book. Really, it was killing me when I had to stop reading and take care of my children! I think Annette Lyon needs to include a crock-pot recipe in her book so that you can keep reading and not worry about cooking dinner.
I chose this book because the story sounded interesting, but also because of the setting and history it covers. It is set during the time period when the Salt Lake Temple is under construction. I have always loved hearing stories about the amazing pioneers who hauled huge blocks of granites weighing over a ton out of the canyon for this beautiful edifice. Spires of Stone gives a great picture of the actual work involved and what an amazing feat it must have been to complete the beautiful temple, not to mention an excellent story to go along with it.
So go out and pick up this book or any others by Annette Lyon. I’m sure you will enjoy it!
Here’s more about the book:
Bethany Hansen wasn’t sure when or if she would ever see Benjamin Adams again. She also told herself that it didn’t matter. But when Ben and his two brothers come home after more than two years of serving a mission to the Eastern states, her feelings of heartache and anger also return — fiercer than ever. And so do Ben’s feelings for her. Good-naturedly, Ben’s brothers attempt to reunite the two, even as they separately vie for Bethany’s younger sister, Hannah. What follows is a charming historical romance complete with wonderful characters and witty dialogue that explores the redemption and power of finding — and rediscovering — true love.
See also House on the Hill, At the Journey’s End, and Tower of Strength, volumes one, two and four in Annette Lyon’s Temple Series.
Other books you may enjoy:
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Monday Musings #5
Monday Musings with Rachelle
Man’s rise or fall, success or failure, happiness or unhappiness depends on his attitude…a man’s attitude will create the situation he imagines.
–James Lane Allen
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Writing From Your Inner Truth
Article for Writers:
The talented writer, Angela Morrison, has written a guest post on a fabulous topic that I’m excited to share with you. Read on:
Jane Yolen tells writers that if their stories lack “that bit of inner truth” their fiction will be like “rags on a stick masquerading as a living thing (“Touch Magic,” in Literature of Childhood, p. 24). When I tried to take Yolen’s advice, making Leesie, a faithful LDS farm girl the heroine of TAKEN BY STORM, I found myself making huge errors that wrecked my story. I didn’t want rags on a stick, but I didn’t want to be accused of proselytizing or didacticism, either. When I tried to write about my inner truth for a broad audience that didn’t necessarily share those beliefs,
I struggled so much that I devoted my MFA critical thesis to researching how other authors created award-winning fiction from their inner truths.
I found loads and loads of great material, but I boiled it down to looking at Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terebithia, Jacob have I Loved), who spent her formative childhood years as a missionary’s daughter in China, is married to a Presbyterian minister, and has advanced degrees in divinity. She won the Newberry twice and so many other awards I lose track. And I love her novels. If you haven’t read Of Nightingales that Weep, put it on your TBR right away. Her first publications were for Sunday School curriculum. Her example and advice proved invaluable.
She made the issue of didacticism easy to understand. Katherine explains that story has always been an effective way to teach religious doctrine. Parables–modern and ancient–are masterful tools. But, stories designed to teach a certain principle will have little to say outside a writer’s faith community. If you want to write to a broader audience, you need to approach your work differently. She says that if we start with the ANSWERS, we’re writing propaganda. Paterson doesn’t condemn propaganda–it has its place–but if you want to write fiction, you must begin what QUESTIONS. (See “The Spiritual Reading Life of Children,” US Catholic, April 2001 and Terebithia,com, “Questions” 2.)
ANSWERS equal propaganda. QUESTIONS yield fiction.
I learned to eradicate from my brain statements like,
“I’m writing this book for . . . ,”
“My novel will show . . . ,”
“The message I want this book to impart is . . . ” or
“The theme of my books is . . . ”
Sam Goldwyn quipped messages are for telegrams–and we could add, Sunday School lessons. This was a big challenge because I’ve spent my life devoted to and blessed by the ANSWERS my inner truth is built on.
I learned to replace ANSWERS with QUESTIONS.
“What if?”
“What would happen next?”
“How would he feel if that happened?”
“Then what would she do?”
Using story questions revolutionized how I write. They freed me to give Leesie flaws and allow her to make lots of mistakes. They helped me dig deep into her emotional world and follow her and Michael rather than dictate to them. They helped me balance how much religious detail and experience I needed to include to effectively illustrate Leesie’s story. They led me to writing as authentically and honestly as I could about truths that are precious, even sacred, to me.
Katherine Paterson taught me not to settle for creating effective propaganda. She inspired me to reach for fiction that functions as art. I want to leave you with one of my favorite Paterson quotes:
“Are you afraid that deep down inside you are really shallow? That when you take that dark voyage deep within yourself, you will find no treasure to share? Trust me. There is. Don’t let your fear stop you. . . . Like a child, pour out what is inside you, not listening to anything but the stream of life within you.” (“The Journey Inward,” The Writer, August 1995.)
See why I love her so much? Your inner truth–whatever form or shape it takes–is not rags on a stick. It’s a rich treasure that will invest your stories with power to move and touch people in ways propaganda can’t come close to.
For a more in depth post on inner truth, please visit “From Faith to Fiction,” on my liv2writ blog on my website.
You can find more about Angela’s books and her website here http://web.me.com/angelamorrison/Angela_Morrison/Welcome.html
Visit Rachelle’s For Writers Page to find more resources HERE
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Book Review: My Fair Gentleman by Nancy Campbell Allen
Book Thoughts by Rachelle
The characters of Ivy and Jack were equally developed and entertaining. I loved reading from each of their perspectives. The Regency era had so many rules and made it so difficult for people to make “love matches” so Ivy had resigned herself to an arranged marriage of sorts. It was wonderful to see how the romance developed and how she worked so hard to keep herself from falling in love with Jack, the roguish sailor turned earl.
The surprising twists, turns, accidents, and betrayals in this story, made it a very fast read. I’m sure if you’re lucky enough to snag an afternoon of reading that you’ll devour this book!
I hope that Allen will write another story that explores more of Jack’s sister, Sophia as her character was wonderfully developed as well and I would like to see what happens with her future.
Here’s more about the book:
Jack would rather be at sea than fixing the mistakes of his grandfather, the late Earl of Stansworth. Instead, he finds that inheriting his grandfather’s wealth and title and securing the welfare of his sister and mother means joining the ranks of high society and living with the aristocracy. Luckily, Ivy Carslisle, the granddaughter of a dear friend of Jack’s late grandmother, is willing to teach him etiquette and properly introduce him into society. Jack soon learns that his challenge isn’t surviving his new lifestyle but surviving the conspiracies against him as well as keeping himself from falling madly in love with his new tutor.
Other books you may enjoy:
Visit Rachelle’s Book Review Page to see all reviews HERE.
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