• They shoot authors, don’t they?

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    I did something last night that I’m not particularly proud of. I decided to put aside the book I was reading — without finishing it.

    It was a paranormal romance, and I just didn’t get it. Didn’t understand how the magic worked, and didn’t really care about the characters. I worked my way up to page 90 before I decided to call it quits.

    Normally, when I start a book, I finish it. No matter how absurd or outlandish or unbelievable the plot might be. No matter how stupid the heroine is. No matter how bad and cliched I think the writing is. But I just couldn’t get through or into this one, try as I might.

    So, I’m going to take it back to the library, furtively drop it in the return box, and slink away before the Book Police come and put me away.

    What about you? Do you always finish reading what you start? Or do you put it aside after a few chapters? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • 796 and counting …

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    Enchanted, Inc.Finished Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson this weekend.

    It’s about Katie Chandler, a woman from a small Texas town who heads to New York to find fame and fortune — or at least a decent job. Katie is an ordinary woman — so ordinary that she’s immune to magic. Naturally, Katie gets a job seeing through illusions for a magic-based company. There’s a talking gargoyle, a cute wizard named Owen, and frog kissing in Central Park, among other things.

    It’s a nice, fun read with good world-building. If you like chick-lit with a twist (like I do), you’ll probably enjoy this book. My only quibble was that Katie’s aw-shucks-I’m-just-a-simple-Texas-girl-what-do-I-know? routine seemed a little forced towards the end after she’s been promoted to Merlin’s right-hand woman. Obviously, she knows something or she wouldn’t have scored that particular job.

    But what caught my attention most was the following passage on page 130. Katie has just witnessed Owen perform some major mojo to save her from an intruder: 

    I understood why heroines in superhero movies were always swooning into their unitard-wearing heartthrobs’ arms after being rescued. It wasn’t that they were shrinking violets or weak girly-girls. It was just that seeing a man do something so extraordinary and supernatural to save you has a way of making your knees go weak in a very pleasant way. I’d always heard power was an aphrodisiac …

    As someone who writes about superheroes, I found this passage to be particularly interesting — and right on the money. It’s not so much the costume and secret identities that make superheroes appealing — it’s how they selflessly use their powers to help others, especially the people they love. And that tight leather and buff bodies certainly don’t hurt anything. 😉

    What about you? Do you ever find yourself rereading a bit of dialogue? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • Sleeping in …

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    It’s Black Friday. Where were you at 5 a.m.?

    Me? I was at home in bed. And not one of the thousands of people who got up at the crack of dawn to go shopping.

    I’ve never really understood the whole Black Friday thing. I like to shop as much as the next woman (okay, maybe more), but there’s nothing that I want or need bad enough to get out of bed at 4 a.m. No matter how on sale it is.

    What about you? Do you get up at 4 a.m. to go shopping? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • Giving thanks …

    Things I have to be grateful for this Thanksgiving:

    1. My family, significant other, and friends.

    2. My health and general well-being, and that of those I love.

    3. The kindness, generosity, and valor of others, whether it’s the troops overseas, police and firemen here at home, or the woman at the mall who holds the door open for you when your arms are full of bags.

    4. The fact that my dream of being a published author came true this year. Well, sort of. The book won’t be out until May 2007, but it’s in the works right now. 

    Realizing a dream is a wonderful thing. I hope everyone gets to experience it in their lifetime, especially if you’re a writer. There’s nothing better than getting that call when an agent or editor tells you that you sold your first book. Here’s to my agent, Kelly, for believing in Karma Girl and making it happen.

    5. The little things in life, from sleeping late to finding an extra $20 in my jeans’ pocket to eating Mom’s turkey on Thanksgiving. Little things mean more than you think.

    What about you? What are you grateful for this year? Inquiring minds want to know …

  • 795 and counting …

    Finished Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas. It’s the last book in her “Wallflower” series.

    It’s about Daisy Bowman, the last unmarried wallflower. She’s a whimsical, fun-loving woman, so you can imagine her horror when her father decides to marry her off to Matthew Swift, his business associate. But Matthew has secretly been in love with Daisy for years, and she soon realizes that there’s more to him than just business …

    It was an entertaining read, but not as good as the third book (and best) book in the series, Devil in Winter. I just didn’t feel there was enough focus on Daisy in Scandal in Spring. There are lots of long passages that aren’t told from either Daisy or Matthew’s point of view, and the main conflict is resolved “off-page.” Plus, the last chapter ends from the point of view of another character.

    Still, it’s a good, solid series, and if you like historical romance, you’ll really enjoy it.

    One thing I liked about the “Wallflower” series is that it didn’t drag on forever, unlike Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time” books. Kleypas set out in the first book with four characters, she stuck to her plan, and she delivered in every one of the books. That’s what a series should really be. I might reread the “Wallflower” series one day, but I doubt that I’ll slog through Jordan’s thousands of pages of overdone description once I finish it the first time.

    What about you? Are you sad when a series end? Relieved that it didn’t go on longer? Inquiring minds want to know …