New in the stacks:
Nothing. I have too many books to read! (For now!)
Wishlisted:
The Sapphire Flute (The Wolfchild Saga book 1) by Karen E. Hoover.
(I saw this recommended at Melissa’s Bookshelf.)
“It has been 3,000 years since a white mage has been seen upon Rasann.
In the midst of a volcanic eruption miles outside of her village, Ember discovers she can see magic and change the appearance of things at will. Against her mother’s wishes, she leaves for the mage trials only to be kidnapped before arriving. In trying to escape, she discovers she has inherited her father’s secret – a secret that places her in direct conflict with her father’s greatest enemy.
At the same time, Kayla is given guardianship of the sapphire flute and told not to play it. The evil mage C’Tan has been searching for it for decades and the sound alone is enough to call her. For the flute to be truly safe, Kayla must find its birthplace in the mountains high above Javak. The girls’ paths are set on a collision course…a course that C’Tan is determined to prevent at all costs.”
Corrine, or Italy by Madame de Staël.
“Corrine, or Italy, is both the story of a love affair between Oswald, Lord Nelvil, and a beautiful poetess, and an homage to the landscape, literature and art of Italy. Stael, the subject of recent feminist rediscovery, weaves discreet political allusion into her romance, and upon its publication Napoleon renewed her order of exile. Sylvia Raphel’s new translation preserves the natural character of the French original, while the notes and introduction place this extraordinary work of European Romanticism in its historical and political context.”
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer.
I am honestly not sure I want to read this, but I admit it sounds a bit interesting. Maybe Meyer will decide to get real about vampires? I hated the way she gave Bella a free pass to vampire super-powers without any suffering or temptation. I’m just curious, I guess.
“Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.”
Making a Literary Life: Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers by Carolyn See.
“As Carolyn See says, writing guides are like preachers on Sunday—there may be a lot of them, but you can’t have too many, and there’s always an audience of the faithful. And while Making a Literary Life is ostensibly a book that teaches you how to write, it really teaches you how to make your interior life into your exterior life, how to find and join that community of like-minded souls you’re sure is out there somewhere.
Carolyn See distills a lifetime of experience as novelist, memoirist, critic, and creative-writing professor into this marvelously engaging how-to book. Partly the nuts and bolts of writing (plot, point of view, character, voice) and partly an inspirational guide to living the life you dream of, Making a Literary Life takes you from the decision to ‘become’ a writer to three months after the publication of your first book. A combination of writing and life strategies (do not tell everyone around you how you yearn to be a writer; send a ‘charming note’ to someone you admire in the industry five days a week, every week, for the rest of your life; find the perfect characters right in front of you), Making a Literary Life is for people not usually considered part of the literary loop: the non–East Coasters, the secret scribblers.
With sagacity, a magical sense of humor, and an abiding belief in the possibilities offered to ‘ordinary’ people living ‘ordinary’ lives, Carolyn See has summed up her life’s work in a book so beguiling, irreverent, and giddily inspiring that you won’t even realize it’s changing your life until it already has.”
Word Painting: A Guide to Writing More Descriptively by Rebecca McClanahan.
“In Word Painting, Rebecca McClanahan guides readers through an intriguing examination of description in its many forms. Through her thoughtful instruction and engaging exercises, readers will learn to tap into their senses, develop their powers of observation, and uncover the rich evocative words that accurately portray the images in their mindis eye. She includes dozens of descriptive passages written by master poets and authors to help readers develop their own descriptive writing style, and she also teaches how to weave writing together using description as a unifying thread.”
The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great by Donald Maass.
“How do widely published authors keep their stories burning hot? Learn how to supercharge every story with deep conviction and, conversely, turn fiery passion into effective story. The Fire in the Fiction shows you not only how to write compelling stories filled with interesting settings and vivid characters, but how to do it over and over again. With examples drawn from current novels, this inspiring guide shows you how to infuse your writing with life.”
What I’m Watching:
YouTube videos of medieval musical instruments like this . . .
What I’m Reading:
Le Rêve (The Dream) by Émile Zola.
“A love idyll between a poor embroideress and the son of a wealthy aristocratic family set against the background of a town in Northern France.”
I’m reading this for the Émile Zola Classics Circuit Tour. I chose it because it sounded most like the one I’d like, and it’s set in Picardy, where a novel of mine is set (though mine is in a much earlier era).
What I’m Writing:
I’ve been reading a lot lately and so the writing has stopped temporarily, but oddly enough, I’ve started work on Cinquefoil again. Just jotting down notes and scenes, fully intended to put it down when I lose steam. Foxglove is still my main WiP, and no, I didn’t run into into trouble or run out of ideas. I’ve just been missing the main character of Cinquefoil and want to spend some time with him. I think maybe it’s ready, so I’m tentatively giving it the opportunity to blossom. I’m writing about the hero’s childhood, which everyone says you shouldn’t do, but as long as I’ve been working on this, my Muse has been nudging me, whispering in my ear about his fascinating life, so I’m just letting myself go all out. I can always ditch it later.
What I’m Revising:
Nothing right now, haha. Poor Dogwood!
Around the House:
It’s been snowing, believe it or not! Snowing off and on for three or four days now, I think. I’m just trying to stay warm. Today was pretty sunny, though.
Cooking:
I made the famous Cereal Potatoes on Sunday for Easter Brunch with friends. Not totally thrilled with how it turned out, but it was okay.
Spirituality:
I’m just trying to trust God and not make such a stressful event out of evening prayers. That’s all for right now.
Napoleon renewed Madame de Staël’s banishment after the publication of that story? Hmm, I wonder what he didn’t like about it?
It seems Mme. de Staël had a longstanding feud or rivalry with Napoleon due to her public influence, and she put politics in her books along with thinly disguised versions of real persons at the time. I’m curious to learn more about her. :)