Recommended Reading - April

It was a fantastic month for reading! Three of the six books I read this month are what I consider Standouts. I love when that happens! 

*****

Books Read in April:  6

Total Books Read in 2013:  26

Standouts:

Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie - make a note of this book or reserve it at your library NOW. It doesn't come out until July 2013 but it's going to be big. If you enjoyed Before I Go to Sleep, Into the Darkest Corner and/or Gone Girl, definitely check this one out. I had to suspend belief a little more than I care to in a few spots, but the underlying tension and sweeping suspense carried me through. 

(I received an ARC of this from BookBrowse for an unbiased review.)

***

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell - here's another one to add to your list or to request as soon as possible since it comes out next week. This is historical suspense at its best! The closer I got to the end, the more I wanted to read the pages peeking through my fingers - I had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen but I had to see it through, no matter what. 

(I received an ARC through Goodreads for an unbiased review.)

***

Wool by Hugh Howey - I read the Omnibus (Wool #1-5) and was totally unprepared for how much I enjoyed this and wanted more, more, more! I felt like I was reading a sci-fi Stephen King tale. Even if science fiction isn't usually your thing - it's not really mine, either - I would still thoroughly recommend this. The characters are probably what made me enjoy this as much as I did. 

*****

Has anyone read any of the Standouts? What did you think? Do you plan on reading any or all of them? What are you reading and loving lately?

Recommended Reading - February 2013

Even though I'm behind in my Goodreads Challenge, I'm happy with my progress (12 books read toward the goal of 100), and I am really enjoying the many different books I'm reading.

Unfortunately, though, I've started a handful of books only to stop reading and start feeling disappointed. I took a chance on buying a few hardcovers I'd heard good things about - yeh, gift cards! - only to regret my decision. One of novels became plodding and heavy-handed, while the other started out with a great narrative voice but once the characters started talking to each other, the dialogue came across as stilted and forced. But it's all just my opinion and, even though I was kind of annoyed at using my gift cards, I re-framed it as supporting a couple of debut authors. I didn't care for the books, but I'll pass them on to someone else, someone who might just love them.

*****

Books Read in February:  6

Books Read 2013:  12

Standouts -

Kings of Colorado by David E. Hilton - this coming-of-age novel reads like a cross between Stand By Me (The Body) and Lord of the Flies. It's raw and heartbreaking and bittersweet and if the first sentence doesn't pull you in, the voice will.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - this novel is like a fairytale for adults. I curled up with it and a cup of tea, and I was lost in a different place (the Alaskan wildness) and a different time (the 1920s.) It's a love story about love in its many forms - between an older married couple, for a child, for friends, and for the wild, brutal, beautiful place where the story takes place. If you're looking to lose yourself in a book, this is the one.

*****

Have you read either of the Standouts? What were you thoughts? Think you'll pick up one of them? What have you read and loved lately? 

Winding Down and Revving Up

I've pretty much stopped making official New Year's resolutions. Instead, I choose certain areas of my life and certain things to make priorities, places and activities where I want to put my effort and energy. I tend to do this more around my birthday month - October - although I do find January a good time to re-focus on those plans.

Some of them are concrete and specific:

* Finish yet another draft of my Horror/YA Horror novel by June 

* Read 100 books

Others are more generalized, ones where I have notes to check in with myself to see how I'm progressing:   

* Read and study more books about the craft of writing

* Read  - and reread - more horror

* Continue to be open and ready for more Year of Yes opportunities 

How about you all? Do you make resolutions? Anything in particular you're looking forward to in 2013? Any recommendations for horror novels or Year of Yes activities?