February! What are you reading?

[Rowan]

I'm reading Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney and liking it.

I read The Other Woman by Sandie Jones this weekend which was pretty good plus it was a fast read.

[Sílvia]

After 257 samples I think I've finally settled on Verity by Colleen Hoover, which is supposedly dark and gripping. Not light and fluffy at all, but NOTHING was holding my attention last week, and I may be ready to move on.

[Rowan]

There's a LOT of buzz about that book Syl. I'll be curious to hear what you think. It's self published so not in libraries.

[Sílvia]

So far I'm entertained but unimpressed. I'll let you know.

[Sílvia]

Finished Verity. 2 stars. It was gripping and I was going to give it 3 stars, but the twist was ridiculous. Totally unbelievable. I can't believe this book has 63% of readers giving it 5 stars on goodreads.

Then I started the sample of Dumplin' because my 13-year-old student liked it

[Rowan]

I liked Dumplin but I really liked the movie on Netflix.

There's a sequel...Puddin'

[Sílvia]

My student HATED the movie! She said they totally ruined the book, eliminated characters, etc.

I told her about Puddin'. I think we'll read it together.

[Rowan]

For the record, I haven't read Puddin' but I heard it's good although not as good as the original.

[Sílvia]

Ugh, I hated Dumplin'. Ok, maybe hated is a bit too strong, but I found the characters uninspiring and thought there was NO plot. Everything that happens is in the blurb. I hope my student won't want to read Puddin' I told her to read the sample and see what she thinks re: level of difficulty. She's only at a low-intermediate level, but a very smart and interested student.

I started a Beatriz Williams, I think it's A Hundred Summers.

[Sílvia]

My student wants to read Puddin' I hope it's better than Dumplin'. But at least we'll read it slowly (3 chapters a week or so), so even if it sucks, I won't feel it.

Couldn't get into A Hundred Summers. I've picked up a Harlan Coben (Six Years).

[Spudd]

I just finished "Best Day Ever". It started off very promisingly but I felt like it went downhill towards the end.

Now I'm a good ways into "Class Mom", which I feel like you probably need to have kids to enjoy to its fullest. But it's cute and funny. I don't hate it.

[Rowan]

I have 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne next on my pile.

Feb was a light month for me and reading. I did just recently re-read Stephen King's book On Writing. I can't believe it's nearly 20 years old. He doesn't plot at all!

[Spudd]

What does "he doesn't plot" mean in a writing context? You mean he doesn't plan out the plot ahead of time?

I finished Class Mom, it was OK. Now I'm reading a weird semi post-apocalyptic book I can't remember the name of. These people start off living in their car because there was an economic downturn and then they move into this special city.

[Sílvia]

What does "he doesn't plot" mean in a writing context? You mean he doesn't plan out the plot ahead of time?

I finished Class Mom, it was OK. Now I'm reading a weird semi post-apocalyptic book I can't remember the name of. These people start off living in their car because there was an economic downturn and then they move into this special city.

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't know what that means!

Is the semi post-apocalyptic book good weird or bad weird?

[Spudd]

So far it's medium weird. I'm barely started, less than 10% into it so far. I can't really tell if it will be good or bad at this point. But it's definitely weird.

[Rowan]

The way I understood him (and I could be wrong) is that he doesn't outline the plot before or while writing. He just writes. I think it was Misery where he said I thought it would go this way but it went in a totally different way that he wasn't expecting.