Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week, I’m reading Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci. In short:
Rose has given up. She’s given up on friendship, on happiness, on life being anything other than black, black, black. Yrena wants out. She’s a dancer who doesn’t want to dance, a prisoner in her own home, a resident of New York who never gets to see the city. To Rose, Yrena has always been the Russian girl who lives next door, seen through the window but never spoken to.
At least not until Yrena crashes into Rose’s room-and Rose’s life-and sets in motion a night in New York City that none of them will ever forget. From YA superstar Cecil Castellucci, this is the story of cold hearts and cold wars warmed by simple human connection and the liberty of being young and free in the early hours of a new day.
You guys, this book is all 80s, all the time. It has leg warmers, KGB and CIA agents, Dungeons and Dragons, and is so chock full of 80s awesomeness, it’s making me dizzy just thinking about it.
It was difficult to pick a teaser (and mine’s a little long, but really, you need to read all of it–no spoilers, promise), but here it is:
There were perverts in the Bronx. I knew this to be true because my brother, Todd, was a pervert and he lived in Riverdale. I also knew that his dorky friends were perverts, and they were all downstairs in the garage playing Dungeons and Dragons. Right now, my house was Pervert Central.
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
On Monday evening, I entered the last score for the Rita books I’ve been reading and heaved a sigh of relief. Not that reading for the contest is a bad thing. It’s the pressure, the list of books waiting for their score. They look so sad, sitting there, scoreless. But no more!
So, now, back to talking about books!
Currently reading:
On the nightstand: The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell ~ the new release from the wonderfully talented Saundra, one of the 2009 Debs.
In the car: Matched by Ally Condie ~ this is a great book–and audio book–so far. Really enjoying my commute this week.
Just finished reading:
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby ~ Wow, this one was … intense, but I got a lot out of it.
Reading next:
For the nightstand: Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer ~ Sara’s debut and I can’t wait to read it.
For the car: The Girl Who Played with Fire by StiegLarsson ~ the first one was a great commute read, minus scratches on the CDs. I have high hopes for this one.
I am paraphrasing from a friend’s Facebook wall her question:
“How would a teen-age boy who is going to work with his hands ever use Literature of England in his work?”
The age-old “How am I going to use this in real life?” question. How would you answer it?
Participants this week are writing some wonderful answers. For the sake of time, I’m going steal mine. From one of the writing craft books I’m working through (yes, it’s true, the answer to the question about reading is in … a book):
Stories don’t show the audience* the “real world”; they show the story world. The story world isn’t a copy of life as it is. It’s life as human beings imagine it could be. It is human life condensed and heightened so that the audience can gain a better understanding of how life itself works.
*Note: The book is billed as a screenwriting book (hence the use of audience), but it applies to all types of stories.
Books, literature, stories teach us empathy. What’s that old saying? You never really know someone until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. Literature lets us do that. Never mind cultural literacy, I believe reading can make us better people.
Plus, having a passing familiarity with the Western Canon means you don’t have to have people explain song lyrics to you.
What’s the largest, thickest, heaviest book you ever read? Was it because you had to? For pleasure? For school?
Well, I’ve read both War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Anna I’ve read twice, and I think I would like to read again at some point. And yes, it was for school. I did an entire semester of Tolstoy and one of Gogol. I’m pretty well-versed in Tolstoy and Gogol (in fact, my senior paper was on The Church versus the Devil in Gogol’s Ukrainian stories, which is something everyone wants to know about).
I’ve also read Gone With the Wind, which is also pretty hefty. Oh, and let’s throw in some Dickens (Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities). There’s also Leon Uris (Mila 18 and Exodus) not to mention James A. Michener (although, at the moment, I can’t remember what I read, but it probably had a lot of setting).
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Currently reading:
Leaving A Trace: On Keeping a Journal by Alexandra Johnson (Taking a cue from Oh! and going through some of the many writing craft books I own. This one is very low key.)
The Hollow by Jessica Verday (commute book on audio)
An awesome manuscript written by a friend (on the Kindle. Man, I love my Kindle.)
Recently Read:
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Why hadn’t I read this before? It’s utterly charming.)
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (I just finished this … OMG. I. Loved. It. It’s incredible. I’m going to have to do a fangirl post/review of this one.)
Up next:
Rita books. The box has not yet arrived, but I expect it any day now.
Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
From the blog Should be Reading comes Teaser Tuesday. What fun! I’ve seen this one a round for a while and finally decided to give it a try.
The rules:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Judging by his car, which is about a third of the size of Nana Dottie’s and looks like it only drives one speed–fast–Papa Harry must’ve been very fun. Momma’s never really talked about him, and whenever I ask any questions, she simply kisses my head, says that sometimes grown-ups do very silly things, and offers to make me a double-decker grilled cheese sandwich.
(Side note: I used the new link helper in WordPress. Why it only found some books and not others, I don’t know. But there you have it.)
1. Favorite childhood book?
I’m not sure how to define “childhood” re: reading. Do I answer The Lonely Doll? The Secret Seven? Trixie Belden? The Chronicles of Narnia? Jane Eyre, which I (first) read when I was twelve or so. See? This list is endless.
2. What are you reading right now?
Insatiable by Meg Cabot (audio book in the car)
The Road Home by Ellen Emerson White (on the nightstand)
3. What books do you have on request at the library?
7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
I usually have two going at a time, one in the car and one for elsewhere.
8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
No, they’ve changed since I started writing. I read a little less (a girl needs time to write after all) and I read more carefully, not to mention slowly.
9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
Probably one (or two/three) books I judged for the Rita. And because I judged them for the Rita, I can’t tell you what they are. (You’re consumed with curiosity, aren’t you?)
Yes, I tend toward those that promise to make me smarter or a better writer. It’s a never-ending quest, really.
26. Favorite cookbook?
Bwhahahaha. That’s all I’m going to say.
27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
Nonfiction: Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity was short and fun, with some good advice. I like a book with attitude. Outliers also had some interesting information. (See #25 where I’m trying to be smarter and a better writer.)
Fiction: See favorite books.
28. Favorite reading snack?
Tea.
29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Ruined? Maybe When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, which I enjoyed very much and think it deserves all the awards it has received. But by the time I read it, I was expecting it to also clean my house and make me coffee in the morning.
30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Meh. Totally depends. Many times I wonder if we’ve read the same book.
31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I don’t. Give them, that is. I do read books that simply aren’t for me, since I try to read widely (I think that’s important as a writer.) And I do analyze why a book didn’t work for me, but I generally keep those conclusions to myself.
32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
I’d love to get back up to speed and read in Russian.
33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
Anna Karenina–in Russian.
34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
All those big fat historical nonfiction books I have.
35. Favorite Poet?
Pushkin.
36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
A handful.
37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
For audio books if I cannot stand actor’s voice, I hit eject and back it goes. Commuting is bad enough. Commuting with someone whose voice grates on you? No thanks.
38. Favorite fictional character?
Elizabeth Bennet
39. Favorite fictional villain?
Um, I can’t think of one. Maybe because I tend to think villain = moustache-twirling bad guy, and I like books with antagonists who: 1) are often redeemed, 2) relatable and human, if tragically flawed.
40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Whatever is next in the queue.
41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
I don’t know. I’m drawing a blank on this one. Probably when I was deployed to the Gulf, during that window of time when things were happening. I don’t think I read then.
42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Le Divorce. I got bored. I actually put it down at the 3/4 mark, right before the murder. That’s how much I didn’t care.
43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Kids’ TV programs. Oy.
44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. Really, how can you not love this:
On a related note, I also think that Bridget Jones’s Diary is a better movie than book (especially the last act, structure-wise).
45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
I’m sure there are many, but I often avoid movies made from books I love. My son would probably say The Lightning Thief.
46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
A lot, especially around the holidays.
47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Not often. Plus, it’s really hard to skim an audio book.
48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Boredom.
49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Since they’re not organized, I’m going with: no.
50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I do have books that are keepers, but I also like giving them away, especially if someone really wants a book.
51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Like doubling back the way I came when I see them on the street … oh, wait. No. I don’t think I have. Except those exceptionally long historical nonfiction ones, that is.
52. Name a book that made you angry.
The Dark Side by Jane Mayer (Actually, I think this was an excellent book, it’s the subject matter that made me angry.)
53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Interestingly enough, this one wasn’t working for me until the last fourth or so. I’m glad I listened to this one on audio, otherwise I might not have hung in there with it, but I’m glad I did.
54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
The last in a YA trilogy I was reading. I really wanted to like it, but it felt off to me from the first chapters. I finally hit eject and went to read a spoiler-y review and realized I’d figured everything (pretty much) without having to read the last book. Sigh.
55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
YA and now middle grade. I’ve been reading a lot in the Aladdin imprint of Simon and Schuster (market research). These are sweet, fun, fast-paced books and I’ve really enjoyed them.
This week, I’m reading Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci. In short:
Writing Wrongs 