Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever Review

Book: Goodreads
Author: Goodreads

I was very grateful for the fact that the author of this novel gave away free e-book versions of her debut novel on goodreads. This was a first for me and I still hope to receive more of these in the future, though this review is brutal. I first want to start out with saying that writing anything is hard, especially a novel. I give her applause for trying, but in my opinion Believe was the worst novel I've ever read before. It went totally off the charts and not in a good way.

Let's start with the writing. It was difficult to continue to read it because it was so very hard. It felt like a fourth grader wrote it and I'm know way dissing the author. I'm just giving my honest opinion. I have read other reviews on goodreads and was surprised that most people on there loved it. Maybe I was sent a wrong copy? The first draft? I don't know, but the writing was too basic. I don't want to say this, but I could write better than her. I have written way better short stories and am currently working on a long-term project. This novel was... not ideal for me.

There were vampires. Well from the synopsis, but when I started reading it it felt like a very horribly written twilight fanfiction with just different characters. I took some notes while I was reading and found that there were so many similarities with Twilight I'd like to share them with you.

(Reading from my ipod touch on ibooks)

1. "Wow Andrea! That was great!" she says "You're a great cook. Mom would give you a job anytime!" Bella, the cook pg 23
2. My uncle had never tried to spare me from the truth, he'd always been very straight forward with me. Andrea's uncle = Bella's Dad Charlie pg 25
3. "Sky blue, very nice," Every surface that has fabric on it is covered in either sky blue or slat blue, very classy." Bella's room was/is sky blue pg 12

I don't mean to sound rude because this is the worst review I have ever given, but from just those quotes I got from the novel it's plain to see that their wasn't much literature used. I found myself yelling at the author in my head for revising and understanding the use of grammar so many times that I just put the book down. It wasn't a good feeling, but I had to. 

I do give anyone props for trying to write a novel and completing it must have been fulfilling, but because this novel has three or four more sequels and I can't go through another grammar mistake I will not be reading this series. I give Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever a head shakes vigorously, thumb pointing down, mad face for the waste of my time, and disappointed eyes. (1 out of 5)

How I Start to Write a Novel (A Writing to Wednesday)

I've been writing since I was in pre-school and I loved it. I love to learn new words. I'm not that big of a fan with grammar like most people. I have my share of trial and error with trying to start a long project of writing a novel. So I thought I'd like to share some tips and tricks that might help you.

I like to be motivated. The best way to be motivated for me is to set a schedule or deadline to write a chapter or up to a certain part in the novel I want to be. This way I don't lazy and forget about the idea or loose anything that I want to incorporate in the novel. Also this way I don't keep putting it off that I just don't write it.

Know your characters. This one is easy for anyone who starts out with characters and then builds the world around them. That's what I do. I like to have realistic characters that are partially based off of people I know. Some of my characters have multiple traits of many people I know and that makes someone new and also someone you know. This way you stay true to you're characters and don't make them decide to do things when you secretly know that that will never happen.

Write for your characters, not for you. This way you are writing to or for someone. You're not writing because you like to. You write because you have to release these people or characters and ideas you have to ink. My favorite author, Stephanie Meyer (yes Twilight) said once that she had to write Bella's story with Edward. She couldn't just leave these people alone. That might seem strange to an outsider, but if you write  long enough and avidly you know that you write because you think about them in your dreams and right before you fall asleep.

Don't force yourself. If you force yourself I find that all that work and time you spent writing nonsense just to fill in words and have a larger word count is going to be cut when you revise. Write until you can't, breathe until you don't, and rest until you wake. Take that into consideration when you write. Take a walk if you have writer's block, or take a break and have a night out in the town. The only way to write is to live first.

Meet people. Talk to people on the train. Don't go talk to anyone you see, but be friendly and say high or talk about the whether. If the other person want to continue the conversation and seem interested then they know. This way you get a broader sense of mundane or not so mundane people where you live. Don't go asking random people their life story.

Write what you know. I know you heard this many times, but seriously you need to write what you know, or what you will ultimately learn or find out to create this novel or book. Don't go writing about a town in Minnesota when you've never been there. Almost all the books I read the author of the book has lived or been there before and stayed for long periods of time. Again don't go writing about being on a cruise ship when you've never been.

Keep you're mind open. Don't let your mind close up and only limit yourself to read about a certain genre or subject to become an expert in the field. There are many things in the world that connect to other lines of communication and education. Also it's not fun to research about France, when you really want to read about the rainy days of Seattle.

Edit. Edit. Reread. Edit. Reread. Edit. Edit. Edit. I don't think there is much to explain, but being a writer is just that. You have to write and write until you have an idea of everything you want to put in. Then let your mind simmer in the fact that you made a very rough draft of something that could make millions. Next you have to edit like there's no tomorrow. I remember reading somewhere that the author's favorite part of their story is the worst part because it's making it for you not the characters. Rereading can eliminate any errors and second thoughts you might have on a scene or a whole chapter or character.

These are just some main points that I keep in mind when I'm writing. There are many more little tips and tricks and if you'd like I could make another one more detailed. If there is anything big that I didn't mention please comment below and I hope you are successful at writing.

Best of luck,
Clara

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson Review

Reading level: Ages 12 and up

Hardcover: 384 pages

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; First Edition (September 29, 2011)

Language: English


Author: Website Twitter Goodreads
Book: Amazon Website Goodreads B&N

I think it's time to write a review on this book. On my goodreads account it says that I've started reading this book at least a month ago, but personally I don't see anything special about it. I'm on page 176 and there 's not much that keeps me going. The characters are mundane and the setting is the main focus of the novel. Even though that's awesome, I love character driven novels. NOT ohh let's put this person in this situation and see how they react. That to me is some what equal to animal testing if you understand where I'm coming form. 

The main character Rori or Aurora is only interesting from where she comes from and why she moves to London and there's a new ripper in the city. She's very mundane to other characters I've read. Although mundane is good for supernatural and fantasy stories telling the world, as for historical fiction you want the leading protagonist to be strong and independent or lost and finding themselves. I felt that Rori was in the middle. She was just riding along on this roller coaster her parents put her on. Only positive thing I can say about her is that I love her name. It's the name of one of the Gilmore Girls and that was my favorite show growing up. 

Wistful Monday

I've been making a list that I'd like to buy to read and ultimately review because my birthday is coming up. Some books have not come out yet, but some are just out of reach that my fingers itch for. Here's my list:

Book Reviewed

The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Common Criminals by Ally Carter
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Envy by Gregg Olsen
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever
Uglies by David Westerfield

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Playlist

So it's been a while since I did a playlist and this novel has many emotions that were lovely to find songs to match and play with:

Go to this link to listen to the whole playlist

Writing to Wednesday

This is a poem I wrote back in march

Hem of my Dress

You don't know my fears

You can't listen with my ears

My hands shake back and forth

You look at me like I'm from 1941

Take a step too close

Don't move a muscle

Make eye contact 

With my hand on the hem of my dress

Make your self at home

Leave me standing at the door

Sneak up behind me

Let me cough on nothing

Let me hold your hand

I never done anything like this before

You should've known 

The consequences leading up to

This part, leading up to now

Is just a fabrication, let alone real 

Your hair curls around your face

My eyes dart to your eyes in a daze

Faintly out of reach

Nothing seems to matter 

I never done anything like this before

You should've known 

The consequences leading up to

This part, leading up to now

Is just a fabrication, let alone real 

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Review

Laini Taylor has to be one of my favorite fantasy authors because she is just amazing like that. Her style of writing is nothing I found queer, but the way she set ups her world is magnificent. I love the way she describes the places where the main character Karou goes and her world is just magical.

I especially loved Brimstone. Brimstone is Karou's "father" you can say and he's nothing what you would imagine going into this novel. He screams like something that would be in Lord of the Rings or Narnia. I found that Taylor writes a blend and equal amount of mundane and fantasy scene through the book. I much enjoyed both, and sometimes even the mundane seemed fantasy because all these experiences that Karou took were all around the world.

Study Tips!

These few months are the time where most of us, students are taking big exams or assessments and it could be very stressful. You may be like me, and don't like to study until the very last minute, cramming, and I have to agree with everyone else that is not how you study. I made up some tips and tricks that might help you:

If you learn best by hearing:

• record yourself and play it back many times- be your own lecturer 
• have a read-out-load session with friends- study with friends, but remember to stay on task
• pay close attention during lectures- you might like lectures because you learn best by hearing

If you learn best by seeing:

• look at the board or teacher more than your notes- don't hide behind your papers looking down all the time
• make pictures or photos that remind you of the gist- flashcards with pictures or a powerpoint slideshow of pictures 
• look up people by their images- when you research someone you don't know, don't just look up their birthplace and career choice look up their pictures throughout their life too

Disclaimer and Rating System

I think it was about time that I have a disclaimer, so here it is. This blog is my own thoughts and my own thoughts only, unless stated differently. The books and stories I read are all in the hands of the author and/or publisher I do not own any of them(well the physical copies that I buy, but copy writes, no). Though my own writing that I do on most Wednesdays are my own free writing that I try to get myself into the habit of. Those are all my imagination and copy writes are by me. All other mentions of books or stories or people or organizations/companies are use of pop culture references.

Rating System:
5 out of 5 stars=head nods, thumbs up, and smiling like there's no tomorrow
4 our of 5 stars=head nods, thumbs up
3 out of 5 stars= head moves back and forth, thumb moving towards the middle or down
2 out of 5 stars=head shakes, thumb down, shoulders shrug
1 out of 5 stars=head shakes vigorously, thumb pointing down, mad face for the waste of my time, and disappointed eyes
0 out of 5 stars= I'm not that harsh! That's just sadistic and NO book deserves a 0.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Review

Speak Website Amazon Goodreads

Laurie Halse Anderson Website Facebook Twitter Youtube

Laurie Halse Anderson is one of my favorite authors of all time. She's with there with the nerdfighteria co-leader, John Green. Anderson has a way with guiding her readers into key plot points and her writing style is magnificent to say the least. I love the way that she finds to communicate these largely unspoken problems in a comedic and understandable manner. Laurie Halse Anderson's writing style to how she constructs the way the narratar would view a conversation and write it down (or print it out with ink). I loved how she added pop culture to Speak, as it is a contemporary novel, it deserves as much attention as the era it was published.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly Review

I've been trying to post books that I read in the past, that are still very popular(also not so popular), but I just wanted to get all the books that I've read in the past half year out of the way, before I got into really big present books.

 Summary

Andy Alpers is on the edge. She's angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and angry at the world for taking her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And her father has determined that Andi's accompanying him to Paris over winter break is the solution to everything.

But Paris a city of ghosts for Andi. And when she finds a centuries-old diary, the ghosts begin to walk off the page. Alexandrine, the owner of the journal, knew heartbreak also, and Andi finds comfort in the girl's words. Until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Writing to Wednesday

So I've been trying to come up with memes and I came up with a weekly writing day on Wednesdays. I only wrote this very short scene in half an hour at most, so it's not the best quality there is. It's something that I'm proud of though and I'm willing to share this. This scene is absolutely FICTION, not true at all. All characters are made up and so are the actions. I hope you enjoy it.

Pigeon Bound

“Pst”, he sounded like a broken steam pipe.

“Hmm?” I nodded my head up, but still reading my book.

“You see that over there?” he hushed.

I looked over. Andrew, an outwardly known unpleasant guy in our grade was having his face smushed on to the left wing window of our school’s library. He was short for his age and so it looked like his head was flying into the window, like a pigeon would.

I sighed,” Same old, same old. Why? Have you not seen it done before?”

Eric looked straight out the window where Andrew was and said,” No I have. It’s just this time the guy has a gun.”

My eyes widen and I intentionally didn’t look over because I wasn’t sure if he was playing a trick on me or if Eric was telling the truth. The trick wasn’t a big deal he did it all the time, but if it was real than why isn’t someone else seeing it? I looked at Eric and he was a statue now because the gun was pointed straight into Andrew’s head. I know that kid that’s pointing the gun. I know his name. I know his life. I know his wants and dreams. I know the way he thinks, and still this is what comes out of knowing someone for their whole life.

He fired.                                                                                                                          

 I shut my eyes and let the shrieks and rummaging drown my thoughts as I sat there motionless and lightheaded.

Eric looked away and rested his hand on my back drawing smooth circle to calm me down. It didn’t work.

He made me breathe deep breathes. It didn’t work.

Then he started whispering incoherent words in my ears, but I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t hear the sounds he made when he picked me up and carried me out the library. It didn’t work.

My brother was a murderer. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. It felt like a giant earthquake was in the middle of your body and your brain was literally a rubix cube being broken apart by a toddler.

I blacked out after that. 

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare Review

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel Review Link

Clockwork Prince:  Website Amazon GoodReads B&N
Cassandra Clare: Website Flickr Facebook Twitter Tumblr

Its been a while since I read this book.(I read it in December and my memory is not the best it could), so I've decided to not have a summary on this review. You may go on goodreads or amazon, or any of the links above to understand the synopsis of the book. As most may know Clockwork Prince is the second installment of the Infernal Devices series.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth Review

Summary

Tris and the gang head to Amity as expected from the end of the first novel, Divergent. There Amity decides that they don't want to be in the war, but will support both sides as a peace keeping area. With the ghost of her kills haunting her in broad daylight, Tris finds herself told time and time again that she should not get involved in anymore than she has for her mental stabability. When the Erudite charge into Amity headquarters all the Abnegation and Dautless can do is run. As a result they find themselves on a train to the factionless with weapons. Stories unravel and secrets are kept hidden from most and Veronica Roth tells a wonderfully twisted book. 

Divergent Playlist

Anyone that read my review of Divergent may tell that I'm obsessed and I am currently reading Insurgent. All I have to say about Insurgent is I have mixed feelings so far. So I wanted to put something up and maybe do this weekly as a playlist Friday kind of deal when I find songs that go with a book. Today I'm going to show you a playlist about Divergent. This may contain spoilers if you haven't read the novel. Leave a comment below or a suggestion that you think should be added to the list. P.S I did make this for a friend at first and just copy and pasted it on here, so sorry if the white background on the post throws you off. I made this completely by myself with the music I currently listen to.