The Attitude of the Author

Fancy covers, clever titles, word of mouth – we notice a book and we look into it. Like the blurb, the first page? We read it.

We either like a book or we don’t. Everyone has different literary tastes and some authors’ styles may not sit with you. Sometimes you’ll like one book an author writes but snooze on another. Disappointing…but it happens.

What about the authors themselves? Do they matter to the reader?

Barring the obvious need for the author to write the books their readers love, how many of us care what an author is like as a person or how they conduct themselves? Is an author just an intangible idea to the reader?

I remember a time when authors were just people I envied and loved for writing books that enthralled me. With the internet and social networking, they’ve come to life.

To clarify, I have never had a bad experience with an author. Still, I do hear things in passing from people and my ears prick up.

If I hear something about an author being unfriendly or distant, I don’t feel angry or disgruntled, just a little deflated. After all, they are human and I don’t want to black-mark them on word of mouth but I can’t deny that part of my brain still wishes they were made of cookies and ice cream.

Have I avoided books because of things I’ve heard about an author? No. However, I’ve not rushed to a shelf to buy/read one of their books. The same goes for hearing that an author is the nicest person on the planet. Part of me files that information in a positive region of my brain but I do not dash out to purchase their book based on it.

On the flip side, if I see an author do a vlog or tweet and they seem really nice and awesome, I am compelled to read their book. I feel I have connected with them, even if it is not on a personal or immediate level. Their words have interested me in one way, so I feel that they might do the same in their novel.

Being human (at least I think I am) I say and do stupid things. I can aggravate and be distant and sometimes I just suck. I am sorry to say that I must admit to you all now that I am not made of cookies and ice cream. If I was, I would have made some very delicious attempts at depleting my existence.

Yes, I head-desk for my past and future blunders and apologise to those caught in the cross-fire of my idiocy. I swear I don’t go out of the way to make it happen and I give the benefit of the doubt to authors that they don’t either.

Ultimately, no matter what I hear about the attitude of an author, if their books rock then that is what matters. I want to escape into an awesome story and if a writer allows me to do that then they have done me a service.

This also makes me think about how readers can sometimes judge authors based on the books they write. There are some authors who write books that I do not like. I cannot bring myself to say nice things about the text. Then, I feel awful because I know that the author in question seems awesome.

I have lost count of the number of people who have told me that if they ever met Stephenie Meyer, they would punch her in the face. That – is – horrible. While I don’t reprimand them for disliking Twilight, I’ve had no impression of Meyer but that she is extremely nice. Why would you say that you would do something so horrible to someone because you didn’t like a book they wrote?

Does the attitude of the author matter to the reader or does it all rest on their writing?

I think the answer lies within the individual reader.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

The Leviathan has set its course for Russia but it is not the enemy they seek. Nicola Tesla is no ordinary man and he claims he has a weapon that could stop the war - Goliath.

Alek is fascinated by Tesla and wants him for an ally. Deryn, however, isn't so sure.

When circumstances threaten to reveal Deryn's identity, will she and Alek be pulled apart forever?

The stakes escalate in 'Goliath.' There is now a weapon that boasts nuclear-esque proportions. Alek must choose his priorities for the future. Deryn must decide if she is willing to risk losing Alek or her place on the Leviathan.

All in all, I was riveted. The dynamic between Alek and Deryn is riddled with delicious tension. I was squirming up until the very end, both eager for and dreadful of the trilogy's resolution.

Like the first two installments, I listened to it on audio, narrated by Alan Cumming. He is too good. So good he continued to keep me from Keith Thompson's brilliant illustrations. I sheepishly admit that I was eager to see some of the scenes from the story visually and there were a few moments that, alas, were not illustrated in the printed text. However, the brilliance of the moustache picture trumps all!

I was not disappointed by 'Goliath' and found the conclusion to be utmost satisfactory. I look forward to revisiting the Leviathan trilogy and seeking out more of Westerfeld's novels.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Simon Pulse and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Defacing Books

Have you ever put pen or pencil to a published book? Some would gasp in horror at the notion. I, however, am one of the guilty party.

I've underlined sentences in books (sometimes too fervently) and made odd notes in the margins and between the lines. Oddly enough, I never seem to manage to put pen/pencil to page when there is a genuine typing error in the text. I always catch these mistakes - even in second or third editions of books - and never bother correct them in my own edition, let alone contemplate contacting anyone about fixing it for future ones.

I was in the airport a week or so ago and saw a woman reading 'The Hunger Games.' She was about two chapters in when she dog-eared the page to keep her place. My brain screamed, "THE HORROR! Why can't you just use your boarding pass as a bookmark?" I'm always reprimanding my mum for using the jacket flaps of hardback books to mark her place. She's sure that's what they're for. I am adamant it is not and oft thrust bookmarks at her to keep her from her wicked ways.

Then we have the less-than-common ways of altering or damaging books. My copy of 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' has teeth marks in it because I thought it would be fun to read the Snape parts to my cat, Severus. He seemed to appreciate it, perhaps a little too much because in the midst of smooching the book, he decided he would also like to sink his teeth into it. He was less than kind with another book. My mum was taught a harsh lesson when she left her copy of 'The Devil's Feather' by Minette Walters on the floor. Severus urinated on it out of spite.

Books are gorgeous when they're new. Often, when I'm in a store, I make sure I don't pick the copy furthest to the front, in order to get one in the best condition. However, if books are to be read, we must accept that pages may be creased and spines will wrinkle. Sticky fingers may find their way onto pristine pages. My original copy of 'Howl's Moving Castle' had to be thrown out when it fell apart. It was a sad moment when I binned those pages.

What is your limit for the wear and tear of books?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Warning: Spoilers for 'The Hunger Games' and 'Catching Fire.'

Katniss has been the Capitol's pawn in the Games. Now she has been claimed by the rebels and District 13 to be their face for the revolution - the Mockingjay. What is she willing to risk?

'Mockingjay' is the stunning conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy. I was nervous up until the last moment as to whether I would find the ending satisfactory but I did. It just proves the extent to which I connected with the story and character that I was concerned it would prove to be underwhelming. While I do not think the trilogy is perfect, I am impressed by how the emotional tension is sustained throughout and the stakes continue to escalate until the very end.

This novel allows readers to further see the dynamic between Katniss and Gale. There is something of a splice of the relationship they once had and the events that have torn them in different directions. Gale has never been more prominent than in 'Mockingjay.' While it was interestiong to see more of him, it was too little too late for me to develop any attachment to his character.

Peeta is my favourite character in the trilogy, alongside Katniss.* The stakes escalated for his character - both emotionally and physically - and my hands were shaking in anticipation and nervousness of what was to be his fate.

Johanna and Finnick were hinted in 'Catching Fire' to be more than they originally appeared. There was further insight into their characters in 'Mockingjay.' I particularly felt drawn to Finnick, whose first appearance in the series made him seem egotistic and shallow. He is quite contrary to that original depiction.

We get to see more of Katniss' sister, Prim, in this book. While there is still much of the young girl we have known, there is also the juxtaposition of a new maturity she has. Things have taken their toll on her and she has found strength in her fragility, a strength she can bring out when even her sister looks like she might crumble.

One thing that didn't really hit home for me until 'Mockingjay' was the twisted look at reality television. Strange, since the Games are all about prompting children to kill each other and broadcasting it live but I found the way in which media was used for propaganda by District 13 to be quite startling. Katniss is dolled up and dolled down and given scripts and scenarios to act out - something she isn't cut out for. However, even through all this forced reality, it is only when Katniss speaks her mind and is herself that there is a power behind what she does.

I'm not a sucker for happily ever afters, I prefer satisfying endings. What that means will always differ but I personally found the end of The Hunger Games trilogy to be satisfactory. I can now readily recommend the series as a whole and look forward to reading Suzanne Collins' 'Gregor the Overlander' series.

*Rue is in my top three. ♥

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Scholastic and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Part of Your Literary World

When you find a great book, you are consumed by it. You are pulled into the world of the story and in those moments you read it, you inhabit its reality. When fiction becomes as tangible to us the world outside, it has grabbed us.

Readers yearn to escape to somewhere enticing and fantastical. We want to writhe in adventure and taste the tension of another time. We want to face conflict that doesn’t impact us personally but which we can still connect with.

When readers connect with a book on such a personal level, it becomes part of who we are. Some of us even get a little obsessed…and who says that’s always a bad thing?

I’ve discovered that the more involved I feel in a story, the more engrossed I will be. True, I may not be a character gallivanting through the pages (although some writers do design protagonists so that the reader can insert him/herself in their place) but the more a reader can identify with a character/aspect of the story, the more they sympathise and connect with the stakes.

There are four young adult series which recently used this tactic in their marketing.

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

True, it’s been over a decade since I started reading the series but with public launch of the website Pottermore, fans can now not only see illustrations from every chapter of the book but also learn new information about characters and story elements from the author herself. Not to mention be sorted into a Hogwarts house and learn the wood, core and length and flexibility of their very own wand.

Back in July of 2011 when there was a call for beta testers for the Pottermore website, I was quick to sign up. Who knew I would have access to the site for a whole six months before the rest of the public? Still, I admit that I wasn’t in it for the beta testing (shame on me!) but for the knowledge of knowing which Hogwarts house I belonged to.

Over the years I had taken every fan-made sorting quiz I could get my hands on and the result was always the same – SLYTHERIN! I still identify with this house in many ways but I was not sorted into Slytherin on Pottermore but Ravenclaw and I admit that it is an appropriate allocation.

I may have enjoyed the Harry Potter series for all these years without an official allocation to a Hogwarts house but I enjoy the extra connection. My Ravenclaw pin, robe, luggage tag, scarf, tie, t-shirt, wax seal and cap are a small proof thereof.

2. The Sky Chasers by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Another instance where I had already read and enjoyed the book was 'Glow.' I discovered an event on facebook where you could be assigned to one of the two ships that set the scene for the novel. You just had to answer a few questions and you were a part of the crew of either the Empyrean or the New Horizon.

I was placed on the New Horizon – the more antagonistic although not altogether unsympathetic – ship in the story. It was fun to be able to interact with my other crew members and contemplate what I would do if I were setting out on a similar voyage as the protagonists.

The event on facebook allowed you to earn points to see which ship could earn the most. Also, if you reached a certain amount of points you would be able to read an excerpt from the sequel. I admit that I never did read the excerpt, despite getting the points. I was too sure I would be even itchier to read the next book.


3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

With the impending release of the first film adaptation of the trilogy I realised it was time for me to read my copy of ‘The Hunger Games.’ For the release of the film there was a website where you could be assigned a district and an occupation by logging on through twitter or facebook. Then, you could even get your own district identification card.

Initially I tried to log on through twitter but my information was messed up. I tried again with facebook and was an Irrigator in District 11. I did all this when I was just beginning to read the book. It made me even more interested in the concept of the districts and quite attached to District 11.

In both ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Catching Fire’ there are some wonderful emotional moments connected with my district and I feel closer to the book because in some way I felt a part of it. After falling in love with the trilogy, I’m now very pleased to have my own identification card and District 11 earrings.

4. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Another book I had purchased but was just sitting on my shelf, staring at me. With the hype around 'The Hunger Games' booming because of the film release and a sequel in the near future, there was a huge promotion surrounding 'Divergent.'

Not even having finished reading ‘Catching Fire,’ I dove into 'Divergent.' In the book, when you reach the age of sixteen you choose which faction you want to live in. There is Abnegation – the selfless, Amity – the peaceful, Candor – the honest, Dauntless – the brave and Erudite – the intelligent.

Before an individual chooses their faction, they take an aptitude test to see which faction they are most suited for. Thus, I was pleased to find that they had such a test on facebook. My result was Candor but I did not feel that it suited me. Ultimately, I chose Amity.

I’m super excited to be part of the Amity faction. I’m discovering so many other individuals through twitter and the Amity sites that are from my faction and there are lots of fun activities for the Divergent series as a whole. It’s great to be part of a community of people who connect with a book in a similar way that I do.

I’m no longer just a reader. I’m a Ravenclaw from District 11 who chose Amity, aboard the New Horizon. I think that sounds exciting. Maybe this sort of thing could be seen as a marketing plot but whether it’s for pushing merchandise or just to help sell the book, it works and it’s clever.

What are your thoughts?

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones

When Eric "Cat" Chant and his sister, Gwendolen, almost drown, they are left with no parents and in the arms of the town's charity. Gwendolen, however, has bigger plans in store for herself. She is a witch and she will do whatever she must to make something grand of herself.

Gwendolen writes to the mysterious Chrestomanci and implores him to take him into their care. Soon she and Cat are living in his castle...but there is a muffled eeriness about the place. Gwendolen is disgusted to learn that not only does she not have the reign of the grounds but she is not be permitted to use magic.

Cat is ensnared in his sister's plots and treachery. With everything she does making him feel more and more helpless, who can he turn to? Is Chrestomanci even to be trusted?

I read this book for the first time over a decade ago, in a time when I was not the best of readers. It swept me away and so - with three copies of it on my shelf - I decided to return to it again once more. It was wonderful to re-experience the moments I remembered so well but also to rediscover those I had forgotten and sharpen the details which were blurry in my mind.

This is the kind of book I can wrap myself up in. I love being immersed in the world of Chrestomanci Castle much as Cat is. Unlike Gwendolen, Cat is not a dominating character but he is very sympathetic and likeable. You can't help but connect with Cat as he deals with the situations thrown his way and how loyal he is to Gwendolen - his only remaining family member - regardless of how relentless and rude she can be.

Despite Gwendolen being a rather spoiled little brat, I found myself able to relate to her aggravations. Perhaps that just confirms the cruder side of my own nature - particularly at a younger age - but that sense of being rebutted and refused at every turn is aggravating and Gwendolen does not give up on her goals for one moment. I have to admire her for that, even if she is selfish.

Neither is there a black and white portrayal of which characters are cruel and sympathetic. There are lovely persons like Molly who are hard not to like but then there is Mrs Sharp who cares well enough for Cat and Gwendolen but is ever seeking an opportunity to boost herself in the world. Also, Julia uses her anger at Gwendolen to bring out her own cruel side.

A character that I really liked in the novel is Janet, mostly for her way of speaking. Her turns of phrase and the way she expresses herself through the words she uses is magnificent. Where Chrestomanci is concerned - at least in 'Charmed Life' - I always felt a little torn.

The character of Chrestomanci is eloquent and infuriating. He possesses what I like to think of as the Darcy Factor. He is presented as a stately character who can be irksome and a little clueless with how best to handle Cat and particularly Gwendolen. The reader can't help but be drawn to him, never quite understanding his intentions, questioning his actions.

I loved re-reading 'Charmed Life' and after more than a decade cannot reccomend it enough. I look forward to re-reading 'The Lives of Christopher Chant.'

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Harper Collins and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Rating Books

There are plenty of people who give star ratings to the books they read. They may do so when reviewing or cataloguing their reads, whether online or in their own personal book journal.

Ratings are a funny thing. You can’t always define your enjoyment – or lack there-of – about a specific book in something as simple as a number between 1-5 or 1-10, even if fractions are included. Really, who wants to finish reading a book and then summarise how they felt about it with, well, a sum?

I give star ratings to books I read primarily in my own personal book journal. I’m sure some of them would make people gawp. When I rate a book, it usually goes a little something like this:

★★★★★ I was swept up and well impressed by this book.

★★★★ I liked this book a lot.

★★★ This book was okay. I either liked it but didn’t think it was astounding or I was critical but recognised its positive qualities.

★★ I didn’t like this book. It was probably too dull for my taste.

★ This book was either so bad it was funny or I fell asleep.

I’m not sure whether I rate books with my gut or with my head. I think it is a combination of both. Sometimes books that astound you with how well they are plotted and written are not always the ones you are willing to read again and again, even if you gave them a five-star rating. Whereas those three-star guilty pleasure books, which might not have the greatest finesse, manage to tug you back again and again.

It’s ludicrous! Sometimes I look back at the ratings I gave books I read and think, ‘Was it really that good or was I just estimating?’ or even, ‘I devoured that book, why did I only give it a three-star rating?’

Could I doubt my star-ratings of books because of some non-existent pressure of what other people might think? I hope not.

When I was eleven, our teacher had us star-rate books we read. I remember I had read a book which had swept me up in its wonder and I wanted to give it a five-star rating.* The teacher didn’t make me not give it a five-star rating as it was my choice but he did question me on whether I felt it deserved the rating in such a belittling way that I buckled.

I don’t share my star-ratings so widely now and we don’t officially have them on Quill Café. I think that it’s far better to express how the book affected me in words. Sure, I may not be able to pin-point everything but I’d rather let readers know that I enjoyed something, regardless of whether it is perfectly written.

What do you think about rating books? Do you do it?

3...★★★

2…★★

1…★

Okay, who started running?

*If I remember correctly we did have to ask if we could give books a five-star rating. The Lord of the Rings was approved.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Warning: Spoilers for 'The Hunger Games.'

The 74th Hunger Games have concluded but the dangers are far from over. The Capitol is angry in the face of defiance and they seek to calm the districts...but what was once a spark has now become a flame, spreading throughout Panem.

Katniss is being paraded throughout the districts in hopes that she will bring calm to the people once again. However, it may already be too late to extinguish the the rebellion she has inspired. With the Quarter Quell approaching, Katniss may be pulled back into the world of the Hunger Games as a mentor. Can she bring herself to face the horrors of the arena once more?

Her entire family and district is at risk. Will she choose to remain subdued or fight and risk everything she loves?

I'd heard from plenty of people that they weren't that impressed by Catching Fire but I loved it. While the book might seem to some like something of a lull in comparison to 'The Hunger Games' it is coursed with a powerful but subtle emotion that is not pushed onto the reader.

Before I started the sequel, I wondered if I would be pulled into the Team Peeta/Team Gale issue but I'm still Team Katniss. If I had to choose, I'll admit that I fail to see the appeal of Gale as a character, let alone a love interest. Peeta is clever and charismatic. Gale is something of a downer.

I was a bit underwhelmed by the title 'Catching Fire' when I first discovered it. All I could think of was someone trying to catch something intangible. I didn't give it much thought, I just found it a lot less striking than the other titles in the trilogy. I feel differently now. It captures the change in Panem so well - a glint of hope igniting into an unstoppable fire, symbolising the passionate movement of the people.

It might be easy to claim that 'The Hunger Games' used high death stakes as an easy out for tension and conflict to provoke a reaction from the reader but 'Catching Fire' is proof that if it weren't for the emotional stakes and the excellent character dynamics, it would have been a shallow failing of a novel.

My favourite moment in 'Catching Fire' is when Katniss visits District 11. I won't try to describe how well it was written or how it affected me as a reader. It is something you must read and experience for yourself.

One thing I can say for sure is that Suzanne Collins proves in 'Catching Fire' that she certainly knows how to work the midpoint of a novel. I've bought my copy of 'Mockingjay' and am intrigued to see how the trilogy ends.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Scholastic and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Dear Translator, Don’t Screw with Me

I’d love to read the original manuscripts of every book that takes my fancy but I can’t. Books are altered, depending on who wrote them, who publishes them and who is going to read them.

‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ was originally several chapters shorter and has some of its content removed and changed in the rewrite by Wilde. The result was still used as evidence to incriminate him and he was sent to prison.

Some American authors write books set in England but their spelling still screams, ‘I’M AMERICAN!’ Publishers change terminology and remove crude language, for the sake of clarification and minimal offence. In French, “Hufflepuff” is translated as “Poufsouffle” and “Tom Marvolo Riddle” is “Tom Elvis Jedusor.”

At different stages during school, I took classes in Arabic, French, Dutch, Spanish and Japanese. All but the last were mandatory. What I learned from all that was I cannot hope to know another language.

There are books I wish to reach which aren’t written in English. Plenty of the classics will have multiple English translations. So, which am I meant to read?

I am intrigued to know more about steampunk, so I thought I would venture to read some of the works by Jules Verne, who helped to inspire the sub-genre. I was thus pleased to discover a free ebook of ‘A Journey to the Center of the Earth.’ Score!

What impressed me was how fluidly the beginning of the book read. I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like in comparison to the original text. Of course, not having a copy of ‘Voyage au Centre de la Terre’ or being able to read French, I could only wonder.

Did I mention I’m inquisitive? I looked up the novel online and discovered that the English version I had begun reading had changed the names of the characters. I was reading about some bloke named Harry when the character’s real name was Axel. How infuriating not to even know the true name of a character you are reading about!

Thus, I wrote a short letter to the translator of the book. Okay, not really. I’m certain the translator is dead. Let’s call it an open letter to translators.

Dear Translator,

I know you aren’t perfect and you are far more accomplished than I could ever be with foreign languages. However, please give me some credit as a reader. I don’t want character names to be anglicised and I would prefer if important terms weren’t changed at all. If it is necessary for the comprehension of the text, it would be great if you could include some note of the alterations that have been made. Enjoyment of the story is important but I don’t want to feel that I am being robbed of any essentials through ignorance.

Sincerest,

Not English, Only Reading It.

I’m going to have to leave ‘A Journey to the Center of the Earth’ alone for the time being. I’m not sure I’d devalue a book the name of its protagonists just to read it for zero dollars.

What do you think about alterations made to books, especially in the process of translating it from one language to another? When is it necessary and when is it nonsensical?



*This post was inspired by Sydnee’s ‘Being Bilingual.’

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

One night, Harold decides he would like to take a walk in the moonlight. With his purple crayon in hand, he sets out on a series of adventures, powered by his imagination.

Where has this book been all my life? My mum seems to know it well but it wasn't until I spotted it in the book store (and promptly purchased it) that I knew it existed.

Apart from Harold himself, everything in the story is illustrated in purple lines. Harold decides where he is going to go and what he is going to do, facing obstacles and consequences at every turn. He is a brave, kind and quick-thinking boy whose imagination is his greatest strength.

I love this book because it shows that with the aid of imagination you can go anywhere and do anything. There are no adults in the books, telling Harold what he should or should not do or swooping in to save him when he's in trouble. Harold doesn't need any help but his own because imagination cannot harm him, only help him to imagine situations and how he will handle them.

This is a great book for children but I also think it is a brilliant book for creative writers. With fiction, characters face obstacles and we are constantly asking ourselves "what if?" to see how the story can progress in new and interesting ways. Sometimes when we are writing, we come up with an unexpected plot twist and must improvise where the story will go and what the characters will do next.

Purple is my favourite colour and I associate it with creativity and imagination. I think that in future, whenever I am lacking the fuel to motivate my writing, I will look to Harold's exemplary behaviour for inspiration.

'Harold and the Purple Crayon' is a book I would recommend to anyone with young children. It's a book that will ignite their imaginations and yours. It is also a book for anyone who can see imaginative prospects in a purple crayon.

Don’t Blame Apples and Chocolate

Nasty characters exist and they get under a reader’s skin. That doesn’t mean that they’re the most interesting to read about. Antagonists in your writing need to be engaging. Even if they are going to be seen in a negative light, you need to learn to see things from their perspective.

The serpent in Genesis (spoiler alert!) has a very accurate role. Throughout history and around the world, the serpent has been revered as one of the wisest of creatures because its eyes are always open, due to the fact that it has no eyelids. This does not mean that the serpent is always right, only that it is knowledgeable.

To me, the serpent in Genesis is an excellent example of how to approach antagonism in fiction. This is not because the serpent is evil because it isn’t. Its place is in the tree of knowledge because that is what it has become to embody.

Now, imagine the serpent is a pastry chef. He has spent his whole life in the pursuit of creating the best chocolate pie. Only, he will never have any kind of validation of his efforts without someone to taste it.

It doesn’t seem fair that this chef should have his passion banned from all those in the vicinity but alas, it is so. Yet, it is too temping to reach out to someone and coax them into trying his chocolate creations. He needs a taste tester.

Thus, he finds Eve. She has been warned not to eat the pastry chef’s chocolate pies, no matter how good they might smell because she is diabetic. I think we can all agree that the pastry-chef-serpent’s following actions are selfish and very not good…but they aren’t without depth.

Perhaps the tree of knowledge is meant to show you what is good and what is evil but I don’t think it should be so clean-cut in fiction. It’s not as interesting to read about if it is.

What are your thoughts?

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

Finley Jayne is unlike other young women. With her good heart, she has a temper and an unnatural strength. When her most recent actions leave her unemployed, Finley is surprised to be approached soon after by Lady Morton and hired to be a companion for her daughter, Phoebe.

Phoebe is to soon be married but there is something eerie about the engagement. Something sinister is afoot and it is up to Finley’s good heart and abnormal talents to find out what.

Can Finley save Phoebe from her sealed fate?

I snatched up this free novella on Kindle, unaware that it was the prequel to ‘The Girl in The Steel Corset’, which I not only had a copy of but had been signed by the author, who had complimented my eyes. Yes, I have a slight weakness to compliments. Curse my wavering vanity!

‘The Strange Case of Finley Jayne’ was a compelling read. It took me until the midpoint of the novel to understand the eerie mystery of the plot but while it was fascinating to read, the real reason I enjoyed this book was the insight into the protagonist.

Finley is unsuited to the upper class world that Phoebe and her mother live in. She is a free spirit who knows that she has a dark and dangerous side but sometimes knows she must give into it – and wants to – so that she can do what is right and help those she cares for.

There is plenty of humour in Finley, which makes her such a wonderful character to read about. This may be a good read in itself but it works an effective gateway into The Steampunk Chronicles as it connects the reader to the protagonist. After all, without a likeable main character, a series can fall flat.

The novel is set in London and the vernacular is impeccable, spoiled only a little by the American spelling of words like "neighbor" and "pajamas." It really felt like I was encompassed by Victorian England.

I can’t wait to start reading ‘The Girl in the Steel Corset’* since I just spent ages looking through my shelf thinking I had lost it. Thankfully it had just been alphabetised too early under “C.”

*I totally pronounce “corset” as “corsette.”

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book as a free eBook. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Harlequin Teen and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Being Bilingual

Honestly, calling myself "bilingual" is probably a bit of a stretch... Okay, let's face it - calling myself bilingual is like saying I'm a connoisseur of fine Italian just because I've been to Olive Garden a few times. But I've been taking Spanish classes for roughly three or four years now, so when some TV show slips some Spanglish in there, I can always get the gist of what they're talking about (and then translate for my mom, even though she knows already because she read the subtitles).

Although I enjoy learning and using a new language, somehow, it's never occurred to me to read fiction in anything other than English. I could probably read middle to high school books in Spanish with little difficulty, but the idea doesn't seem appealing to me because I still have to translate everything in to English before I can fully comprehend it. In other words, it takes me a lot longer to finish, not to mention that there are a lot of subtle grammar rules in Spanish that just don't translate well. "Hace frío", for example, translates literally to "He made/did a cold." Of course I can recognize that difference easily, but what about the slang and the idioms? I think those are the hardest and the most important parts of any language, and I suck at them.

Not to mention the difference in stress and inflection. Just imagine if you had seen Star Wars in Spanish first, and instead of hearing James Earl Jones say, "No, Luke, I am your father", you hear some random Spanish man say "No, Luke... YO SOY TU PADRE." Would it have the same effect? I mean come on...no one is better than Mufasa.

My mom occasionally wanders into my room while I'm watching anime, and it baffles her why I watch it in Japanese with subtitles. "Why would you want to read subtitles?" She says. "You're distracted from the movie." Well, it's because I've tried watching it in English, and it's just not the same. Japanese and English are spoken in completely different ways, and when a English voice is dubbed over an animation that was originally in another language, it looks and sounds sloppy. No, I can't understand a word that they're saying, but it still sounds right, somehow. Even if I have to resort to watching subtitles, having some way of accessing the original language helps me understand the intent better. Whenever I read a book that has been translated into English from Spanish or Portuguese or Swedish, it makes me wonder if I'm really getting the same context, and even if I don't know why, the experience feels deficient somehow.

What about you guys? Are you bilingual or multi-lingual? What is your preferred language when reading for pleasure? Do you think a book translated from one language to the other loses something vital in the process? Why or why not?

Write by Sarah Quigley

Caught procrastinating again? Keep telling yourself that thinking about writing and looking at things is productivity in itself? You need to give yourself a kick in the pants. While you’re at it, why not keep it up for a month? ‘Write’ will help you do just that.

A thirty day guide to writing, this book does something even better than the ones that break down writing into minute steps – it encourages you to write. Sounds silly, yes? After all, aren’t all books on writing aimed at that purpose? The answer is no. You can read a book on writing and when you’ve finished, all you’ve done is read. Fail.

I originally borrowed this book from the library but I’ve since bought my own copy. The idea of the book is to read a chapter every day (yes, the preface counts as a chapter) and mull over the different subjects and complete the writing prompts given. Only, the writing prompts were so deliciously good, I just scoffed them up.

Quigley’s inspires you in each chapter and then pushes you to do something with that built-up inspiration. Instead of just imagining things and playing out fantasies in your head, where you’ve written something amazing, she encourages you to write something. It might not seem like a spectacular feat but believe me, it is.

‘Write’ is a book I’m always keen to return to and would recommend to anyone who finds themselves in a productivity rut.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Penguin and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

There is need... and then there is Fate.

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome -- especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom -- so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do -- and sacrifice -- for her. 

When Daimons infiltrate the Convenants and attack students, the Gods send furies -- lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Convenents and to the Gods, and that includes the Apollyon...and Alex. If that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude...or killing her.

When the Gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout was one of my favorite books of 2011, and the sequel, Pure, which was just released this month, (GO! Buy!) is just as awesome; maybe even more so. It's jam-packed with emotional conflict, romantic tension, suspense, and some very sexy demi-gods that keep my heart fluttering and my stomach twisting through all 329 pages of awesome.

As with the first book, Aiden and Alex's relationship steals the show. I absolutely adore both of them as individual characters - Alex is stubborn and impulsive but she's hilarious and kicks so much butt, and Aiden is sweet and compassionate and the sexiest, most well-rounded YA hero I've ever encountered. The idea of them hooking up (however forbidden it may be) fills me with fangirlish glee, and the awkward sexual tension really carries the book in a surprising way. It's kind of scary how addicted I am to it, but I'm not about to question something that seems to work so well. The writing is simple but just vivid enough to make me feel like I'm right there in the story, which explains all the angry/happy/fangirlish outbursts... let's just pretend those didn't happen, shall we?

The plot doesn't falter either. The various elements interweave together perfectly so that there's never a dull moment. By the end of the novel there are plenty of unanswered questions that keep me excited for the next book, but at the same time enough is resolved to make me feel satisfied with this particular experience. There was one event, though, that broke my soul into several jagged pieces, but it's followed by enough engrossing distractions to keep me from wallowing in the misery.

And honestly, I appreciate that Alex makes a lot of mistakes with serious consequences, because it makes her more 'human' and less of a super-special-mary-sue snowflake. I've seen a lot of heroines like that in YA fiction, so Alex's complete lack of refinement and common sense is refreshing, if not a bit frustrating at times.

The only flaw I find with Pure is the constant bickering between Seth and Alex, as it gets old very quickly. Although I knew a love triangle was about to rear up the moment Seth appeared in Half-Blood, he just doesn't give off the right vibe for me. Sure he's hot in that bad boy kind of way, but he's also a moody, immature slut, and just the thought of him 'winning' Alex makes me want to launch an apple at his nose. Ugh. Team Aiden fo sho.

I definitely recommend this to all the paranormal romance fans out there (and look at that cover! So shiny!) 

The third book, Deity, will be released this fall. (Why so far away? Whyyyy?)

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Spencer Hill Press and is used solely as an aide to the review. The reviewer is presently interning for Spencer Hill Press but the remarks made are her own, prior to the internship and she had no direct correlation to this particular book.

Don’t Pour Chocolate in the Mud Pie

Beginnings, endings, middles… When you start out, everything is a mix of the good, the bad, the brilliant and the traumatic question marks. Yes, no one’s writing starts out perfect. There will be some yawns and cringes and eye twitches involved.

Writers all struggle with different things. Perhaps you’re a superstar at beginning a story but things get sluggish in the middle. Eurgh, slugs! Gross little things, trailing gloppage through your story. These imperfections are things we must face when we write…but then we must salt them out later.

Have you ever read a book or a story that was sluggish in the beginning, only to be told that you had to keep at it because when it picked up, it was spectacular? Well, I’m a little too impatient for that. Why should I have to wade through gloppage to get to the gold? That’s like a parent telling their sick child that if they drink enough medicine, soon it will turn into honey. I smell lies.

I’ll admit it – I’m sceptical when it comes to fiction. The center of your story may be a rich, conflicting, tension ridden, twisting extravaganza...but if I have to chew through bark (and not the yummy cinnamon kind) to get there, I’m wasting my time and fuelling my scepticism.

Don’t envelope your fantastic story with a cruddy crust. It’s a waste of good literature. If you can write something that is so good in the middle, why can’t you spend your time making it crisp and delicious on the outside too?

Every part of your story is important. It may seem unfair to be held down by a slow beginning, filled with too much description or back story…but to the reader, you’ve dished them up an unsatisfying platter.

Whether it’s chocolate in a mud pie or a crisp pastry full of slug gloppage, it’s not the result you’re anticipating. When you begin writing, you need to experiment! You need to fling words around and make a mess and embrace the gooeyness. Just make sure that when you set out to rewrite and refine, you don’t avoid the parts of your writing that you are least comfortable with.

Which parts of writing do you find the hardest? Do they hinder you when you’re delving into a first draft? Do you find yourself slinking away from them when you should be facing them in rewrites?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

What was once Chicago is now divided into five factions: Amity - the peaceful, Dauntless - the brave, Candor - the truthful, Erudite - the intelligent and Abnegation - the selfless.

Every individual of the age of sixteen must take an aptitude test, which will show to which faction they most belong...but the choice lies with them. Beatrice has to choose whether she will stay with her family or leave them forever.

Before Beatrice can officially join her chosen faction, she and her peers must earn their place. Some will stay. Others will be outcast to become what most dread above death - factionless. Can Beatrice prove herself worthy?

Above all the tests and choices is something Beatrice must hide: a truth that isn't appointed or chosen. The very utterance of the word could have her killed. She is, above all else, Divergent.

With all the hype around the upcoming release of the sequel, ‘Insurgent,’ I felt compelled to read 'Divergent', especially since I owned a copy of the book. It’s quite a solid hard-back book and I’m known for my reluctance to commit to obese novels. Slow reader that I may be, I was third of the way through the book on my first day reading it.

I was fascinated by the idea of the factions. Each of them embraces certain qualities and priorities and once you choose one, those things define who you are. You are enveloped by them and live by their laws. All five are very interesting but each seems to constricting to have to live in.

There is Abnegation, whose selflessness can be viewed as admirable to the point of being masochistic. Candor’s honesty is commendable but crude. Amity seems fun and creative but also a little too mellow. Dauntless breeds heroes and bullies. Erudite values reading and knowledge but is chained down by an air of constant study and a smug cloud of self-righteousness.

When I was reading about the process of choosing a faction, I contemplated which I would be best suited to. Would I be Divergent…or factionless?

There was actually an aptitude test you can take on facebook, just like in the book. However, just like the book, it is ultimately up to you which faction you choose. My test’s result was Candor…but I didn’t think it suited me at all. I chose Amity.

Remember when I said I made it a third of the way through the book on the first day? That was because in my copy of the book, pages 187-218 were bound upside-down. I would have to turn the book upside-down, search for page 187, read until I was back at page 186, turn the book the right-side up and then flip forward to page 219. So, I stopped reading part-way through a chapter (which I prefer not to do) and left it for the day.

Despite that aggravating unfortunate snag, I picked up the book the next day, turned it upside down, read, turned it right side up, read and kept on reading. I was addicted. My hands were shaking by the end.

Beatrice or "Tris" is a spectacular protagonist. She is strong in herself because of the way she handles the situations around her and faces her weaknesses. She is also a very flawed character and does not always take the high ground, although she is self-aware.

I was wary about the prospect of her romantic love interest with Four, a mysterious older member who runs the initiation of her faction. I was more than pleasantly surprised. While Tris has her weaknesses, Four also has plenty of vulnerabilities. He isn't a typical wounded hero in a hard shell.

Tris was the true hero of the novel. Not because she never needed help but because of the way she overcame obstacles. There are other characters in the book who have their own bands of heroism, however. I particularly loved Tris' mother and how she was strong in ways that might not seem so obvious to others.

'Divergent' is not the world of clean-cut factions it would appear to be. Morals waver and characters take action and make choices that in a perfect world they wouldn't. Of course, who wants to read about a perfect world? That would be boring. Instead, the book is riddled with tension and adrenaline. It's not something for the faint of heart or those who need happily ever after endings. It is a book I would recommend to anyone looking for a good dystopian thriller with romantic elements.

I look forward to reading the sequel, ‘Insurgent,’ although I might make sure I flip through the book to see that all the pages are the right way up. In fact, I might be doing that with all books in future.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Katherine Tegen Books and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Hooked by Les Edgerton

If you want to write a story, you have to start it. If you want readers to read your story, you must hook them in. It all begins with one sentence, then a paragraph, then a page. The beginning of your story is important, which is why this book exists and must be read.

I read this book in the bath. That doesn’t sound like the occupation of a book I value the ownership of but it’s what I do. I fear falling asleep in the bath, just as I fear people dozing off when they begin to read something I have written.

From the importance of the first sentence to the no-no of back story, this book will show you the many different ways you can approach and dissect the beginning of a story. Edgerton is precise in his explanations and uses plenty of examples to help the writer comprehend how to tackle them.

Do you have your inciting incident pegged? How is that foreshadowing coming along? I see you writing that prologue. Stop it this instant!

There are plenty of books on writing which you will just dip into and la-de-da the rest because you are too lazy to read the whole thing and you have to get on to your procrastinating writing. This isn’t one of those books. I was gripped and you will be too.

If you’re struggling with writing the beginning of your story or the one you have is just crud, you need to pick up ‘Hooked’ by Les Edgerton. You won’t regret it.

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer purchased this book. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Writers Digest Books and is used solely as an aide to the review.

Make Up Your Literary Mind

When you aspire to be a publisher writer, plenty of people will look at you with disbelief. They may tell you that you that there is a high probability you are going to fail. If you are not an adult, then they might feel it is their right to speak to you in the most patronising manner ever. After all, you’re just a young idiot who must be writing a vampire romance novel.

I’m here to tell young writers that one day when you are an official adult and have embraced your self-esteem, you will pity those pessimistic individuals and will have the decency not to be as patronising about their career aspirations.

It’s easy to let people’s scepticism get to you. I left high school early because everything washed through me and I had no motivation to do anything. When my peers learned that I was leaving, plenty of them gave me that look that says you’re a nutter.

My situation ate away at me and I felt that I needed to do something since I was no longer at school. I was enticed by a course in make up artistry. It’s easy to get sucked in by something that interests you. Of course, you can love acting but that doesn’t mean that you are cut out to be a professional actor. I know that makes me sound like the people who patronised me over wanting to be an author…but I was not cut out to be a make up artist.

Still, I joined the course. It didn’t help that they offered me a $50 gift card to a book store if I joined then and there. I know it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal but to me it was like saying, ‘Sign up for our rehabilitation center and we’ll give you a plentiful helping of your drug of choice.’

It was horrifying. Instead of having two classes, they had merged them so that the atmosphere was hectic and individual attention was practically non-existent. Also, my fellow students (almost all girls) were catty and gossiped about each other to no end…and I associated with the nicer people.

Make up artistry is like story writing, only the deadline is now and there are no rewrites. There are also several better stories being written all around you and sometimes yours will say snarky, patronising things to you that are not just a figment of your imagination.

I don’t want to say that all make up artists are horrible and rude. They aren’t. In fact, we were all told not to be gossipy and such. I just happened to attend a huge make up artistry course with those who did.

The reason I hated the course wasn’t the people. It was the way I felt stressed all the time, while doing something which I admired but didn’t love. I liked make up artistry but I did not like being a make up artist. While working on the World of Wearable Arts I did two regrettable things with the use of mascara. One – I put mascara on the auburn eyelashes of gorgeous young girl, which I’m positive is a criminal offense. Two – I was working the mascara station with my epically shaking hands and brought a little girl to tears when I got some in her eye. Shamefully, I feel worse about the former.

I’m not going to even get into how I felt when I had to work back stage on that show with the models needing touch-ups now, now, now. Who knew that so many little boys dressed as soldiers needed lip gloss and how tall models really are when you’re on your toes to touch-up their eye make up?

Spoiler Alert: I didn’t make it to the end of the course. There was a test which involved working on models (regular volunteers) we didn’t know which was practically impossible to repeat if we didn’t pass. I didn’t even start. I had managed to clean all my brushes perfectly only to forget them at home. I spent the day chilling with my friend (who was to be the model I contributed) in a book store and talking about things like Twilight and the probability of Voldemort’s asexuality.

To some I may seem like a quitter…but in the end I decided to screw the patronising voices in my head and just focus on what I really wanted to do. While trying to prove myself to nobody, I had stressed myself out, wasted valuable writing time and read only one book – ‘Breaking Dawn’ by Stephanie Meyer.

I’m certain there are some of my fellow students from that course now working on ‘The Hobbit’ movies but I could never envision myself among them. I’m a writer and I’ve embraced my literary mojo.

Do you find other people’s scepticism over your writing getting to you? How do you stay focused on what really matters to you?

P.S. You are literarily awesome.

Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger

Script writing is a befuddling thing. Whether you're new to it all or have written a few scripts in your time, everyone is looking for a way to make their writing even grander.

This book was recommended to me by a family friend before I'd even begun to contemplate script writing. So, first off, 'Thank you, John!'

I'd like to clarify before I go any further that although "script" is in the title, the main focus of the book is on writing screenplays. Even so, the writing process for scripts is so very different than prose that I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of their script type preferences.

Why?

There are plenty of things this book zooms in on that multiple script formats require.

1. Structure

The Three Act Structure is most prominent in film script writing but I've found it helpful when structuring any plot. In fact, I don't believe I had ever heard of it until I opened this book.

2. Visuals

With the exception of audio scripts, you're writing something that will be viewed more than read. In every case, your writing is destined to transcend off the page into a different medium. You must keep in mind that you are writing something which will possibly (unless you produce it) be taken out of your hands and interpreted in ways you might not have contemplated.

3. Dialogue

Unless you're writing a silent movie, there will be dialogue. All your characters are deaf? There's still dialogue, regardless of whether it's audible. You can kiss paragraphs and pages of description goodbye. Dialogue is the raft which is going to propel your script where it needs to go.

4. Character Dynamics

If your characters haven't got a lot of conflict going on, your script is going to get flattened by a steamroller...because yes, that's how slow it's going. Plot is important - particularly in scripts - but if your characters aren't driving it, you're stuffed.

5. Marketability

Write something that can be made. That means setting fire to your dream Avataresque big buck budget. You also need to write something that people will want to see/read/listen to. Might sound like a shallow thing to think about but it's realistic.

'Making a Good Script Great' discusses so much more than these five things. It will help you to get into the mind frame of a script writer and push the limits on your writing abilities.

Warning: You may never look at films in the same light ever again.

I would say that I'd recommend this book but I think I already did. Now it's up to you to read the thing. ♥

In accordance with the FTC, Quill Café would like to disclose that the reviewer received this book as a gift. The opinions expressed are hers alone and no monetary compensation was offered to her by the author or publisher. Cover art is copyright of Silman-James and is used solely as an aide to the review.