Late Nights with Good Books: ready to become a fan of...

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July 17, 2015

Ready to Become a Fan of... Jo Walton

Ready to Become a Fan of... focuses on those authors new and old whose works I have every intention of eventually reading, but haven't been able to devote the time to just yet. By discussing authors and their works that I'm sure I'll love, given the chance, hopefully I can be more easily compelled to take the next step in not simply acquiring one of their books, but actually take the time to read it.

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Jo Walton.

About the author:
Jo Walton has published twelve novels, three poetry collections and an essay collection. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2002, the World Fantasy Award in 2004 for Tooth and Claw, and the Hugo and Nebula awards in 2012 for Among Others. (Source)

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:

Among Others

Raised by a half-mad mother who dabbled in magic, Morwenna Phelps found refuge in two worlds. As a child growing up in Wales, she played among the spirits who made their homes in industrial ruins. But her mind found freedom and promise in the science fiction novels that were her closest companions. Then her mother tried to bend the spirits to dark ends, and Mori was forced to confront her in a magical battle that left her crippled--and her twin sister dead. (WorldCat)

Why This Author & This Work:
The short answer to this question is that I've heard good things about Walton, I own a Kindle edition of this book, and I want to make an effort to start reading more books on my Kindle. I recently decided to publicly shame myself into e-reading more by making a Goodreads list of all my purchased but unread ebooks, which helped me remember I had purchased Among Others.

The longer answer has to do with the fact that recently I've been craving more literary adult novels. I'm not quite at the point of YA or children's lit burnout (hopefully that never happens!), but I have been gravitating towards sophisticated books written for an older, more mature audience. I've decided that, as much as possible, I should embrace my cravings for specific types of stories. After all, I want view reading as both a hobby and a passion, but never as an obligation (with the exception of school and work books, of course).

I believe that Among Others is Walton's most well-known book, and certainly her most critically acclaimed, having won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. And with the recent publication of The Just City, I figured it was time to finally familiarize myself with Walton's stories.

For those of you who've already read some of Jo Walton's works, I'd appreciate hearing what you think about them. For those who also haven't read her works yet, let me know what's been holding you back!

Ready to Become a Fan of... is an original feature of Late Nights with Good Books.

Ready to Become a Fan of... Ellen Hopkins

Ready to Become a Fan of... focuses on those authors new and old whose works I have every intention of eventually reading, but haven't been able to devote the time to just yet. By discussing authors and their works that I'm sure I'll love, given the chance, hopefully I can be more easily compelled to take the next step in not simply acquiring one of their books, but actually take the time to read it.

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Ellen Hopkins.

About the author:
Ellen Hopkins is a poet, freelance writer, and the award-winning author of twenty nonfiction titles and nine NY Times Bestselling young adult novels-in-verse, plus two adult novels. She has published hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from aviation to child abuse to winegrowing. Ellen mentors other writers through her position as a regional adviser for the Nevada chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is a regular speaker at schools, book festivals and writers conferences across the US, and now throughout the world. (Source)

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:

Crank

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter, gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul - her life. (WorldCat)

Why this author & this work:
I've been hearing praise for Hopkins' works since I was in college, if not before. My current class on young adult literature has gotten me thinking about genres/formats such as free verse and the major young adult authors found within those categories (and Hopkins is obviously at the top there).

I'm not sure I'd enjoy any of Hopkins' books, to be quite honest. All their synopses make them sound gritty, hopeless, and uncomfortable, to be quite honest. But I don't read purely to stay within my comfort zone; good readers should want to have their limits tested by great fiction, and from all I've heard of Hopkins' works, I'm pretty sure she can deliver on that front.

NoveList recommends that readers start with Crank as an introduction to Hopkins' works, and as it's also her debut (a highly acclaimed one at that), I wouldn't want to start with any other book. I just got a copy of it from the library yesterday, actually.

For those of you who've already read some of Hopkins' works, I'd appreciate hearing what you think about them. For those who also haven't read his works yet, let me know what's been holding you back!

Ready to Become a Fan of... is an original feature of Late Nights with Good Books.

Ready to Become a Fan of... Sarah Addison Allen

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Sarah Addison Allen.

About the author:

New York Times Bestselling novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction -- a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility. She is the author of Garden Spells (2007) The Sugar Queen (2008) The Girl Who Chased the Moon (2010) The Peach Keeper (2011), Lost Lake (2014), and First Frost (2015). (Modified from Goodreads)

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:

Garden Spells

The women of the Waverley family -- whether they like it or not -- are heirs to an unusual legacy, one that grows in a fenced plot behind their Queen Anne home on Pendland Street in Bascom, North Carolina. There, an apple tree bearing fruit of magical properties looms over a garden filled with herbs and edible flowers that possess the power to affect in curious ways anyone who eats them.

For nearly a decade, 34-year-old Claire Waverley, at peace with her family inheritance, has lived in the house alone, embracing the spirit of the grandmother who raised her, ruing her mother's unfortunate destiny and seemingly unconcerned about the fate of her rebellious sister, Sydney, who freed herself long ago from their small town's constraints. Using her grandmother's mystical culinary traditions, Claire has built a successful catering business -- and a carefully controlled, utterly predictable life -- upon the family's peculiar gift for making life-altering delicacies: lilac jelly to engender humility, for instance, or rose geranium wine to call up fond memories. Garden Spells reveals what happens when Sydney returns to Bascom with her young daughter, turning Claire's routine existence upside down. With Sydney's homecoming, the magic that the quiet caterer has measured into recipes to shape the thoughts and moods of others begins to influence Claire's own emotions in terrifying and delightful ways.

As the sisters reconnect and learn to support one another, each finds romance where she least expects it, while Sydney's child, Bay, discovers both the safe home she has longed for and her own surprising gifts. With the help of their elderly cousin Evanelle, endowed with her own uncanny skills, the Waverley women redeem the past, embrace the present, and take a joyful leap into the future. (Goodreads)

Ready to Become a Fan of... Katherine Longshore

Gilt

In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head. (Goodreads)

Ready to Become a Fan of... Patrick Ness

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Patrick Ness.

About the Author:
Patrick Ness, an award-winning novelist, has written for England’s Radio 4 and Sunday Telegraph and is a literary critic for The Guardian. He has written many books, including the Chaos Walking Trilogy, The Crash of Hennington, Topics About Which I Know Nothing, and A Monster Calls.

He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London. (source)

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought? (Goodreads)

Ready to Become a Fan of... E. Lockhart

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of E. Lockhart.

About the author:

E. Lockhart is the author of We Were Liars, Fly on the Wall, Dramarama, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and the Ruby Oliver quartet: The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, The Treasure Map of Boys, and Real Live Boyfriends. How to Be Bad was co-written with Lauren Myracle and Sarah Mlynowski.

Disreputable History was a Printz Award honor book, a finalist for the National Book Award, and recipient of the Cybils Award for best young adult novel. We Were Liars is a New York Times bestseller. (Taken from http://www.emilylockhart.com/bio)

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:
Debate Club.
Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Laundau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.
Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.
Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way. (Goodreads)

Ready to Become a Fan of...Leila Sales

Ready to Become a Fan of... focuses on those authors new and old whose works I have every intention of eventually reading, but haven't been able to devote the time to just yet. By discussing authors and their works that I'm sure I'll love, given the chance, hopefully I can be more easily compelled to take the next step in not simply acquiring one of their books, but actually take the time to read it.

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Leila Sales.

About the author:
Leila Sales is the author of three YA contemporary novels, most recently This Song Will Save Your Life. According to her Goodreads profile, Leila Sales grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 2006. Now she lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works in the mostly glamorous world of children's book publishing. Leila spends most of her time thinking about sleeping, kittens, dance parties, and stories that she wants to write.

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:
Past Perfect

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it…. (Goodreads)

Why this author & this work:
I might be exposing even more of my nerdy qualities here, but I used to be quite obsessed with the idea of historical reenactment villages. There are a number of other historical reenactment villages I’ve been to over the years, as well as many places without the actors necessarily, but whose purpose still is giving modern-day people a glimpse of how life would have been during an earlier era.

Of the places I’ve been with a bend towards the historical, my favorites have been the colonial section of Philadelphia, the colonial section of Boston, and the colonial section of Williamsburg. Williamsburg in particular had a strong impact upon me. Felicity was my favorite American Girl doll, and after reading her stories it was almost a surreal experience to be able to see what her life would have been like.

On the not-so-historically-accurate side, I also loved going to a Renaissance Faire a few years ago.

Basically, I enjoy learning about history, but I love it even more if I can actually apply what I’ve learned and witness things first-hand. For me, historical places (with reenactments or not), are a perfect way to do so. And they’re just fascinating.

So I anticipate a little bit of wish-fulfillment going on when I read Past Perfect. Beyond that, though, this does sound like a cute, light-hearted read. Here’s hoping I’m right on this one.

For those of you who've already read some of Sales’ works, I'd appreciate hearing what you think about them. For those who also haven't read her works yet, let me know what's been holding you back!

Ready to Become a Fan of... is an original feature of Late Nights with Good Books.

Ready to Become a Fan of...Jennifer Donnelly

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Jennifer Donnelly.

About the author:
Jennifer Donnelly is probably best known for writing A Northern Light and other young adult works of historical fiction. A Northern Light was a 2004 Printz Honor book, as well as a 2003 winner of the Carnegie Medal, along with numerous other awards. Besides A Northern Light, Donnelly has published The Tea Rose trilogy, Revolution, a book for children, and has just announced a four-book contract with Disney Press about mermaids.

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:
A Northern Light

Sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey has big dreams but little hope of seeing them come true. Desperate for money, she takes a job at the Glenmore, where hotel guest Grace Brown entrusts her with the task of burning a secret bundle of letters. But when Grace's drowned body is fished from the lake, Mattie discovers that the letters could reveal the grim truth behind a murder.

Set in 1906 against the backdrop of the murder that inspired Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, Jennifer Donnelly's astonishing debut novel effortlessly weaves romance, history, and a murder mystery into something moving, and real, and wholly original. (Goodreads)

Why this author & this work:
I love reading a good work of historical fiction. Love it. Although fantasy is my favorite genre, I think there are many similarities that can be made between a good work of fantasy and a good work of historical fiction. Both types of novels are meant to transport readers to eras and places they’ll never experience. Both function as an introduction to a life we can never have and characters we will never meet – whether it’s because that era has already passed or will never be doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. As with fantasies, I read historical fiction to be swept away in a story about a life unlike my own.

What makes great works of historical fiction a tad more impressive than fantasy works is that authors cannot rely solely on their own imagination, but generally do a fair amount of research to make their stories as factual as possible. As someone who prefers to go above and beyond on research projects, I like and respect the effort historical fiction writers put into their works.

And yet I’ve come to the slow realization that my historical fiction reading tastes have been rather limited in the past. I’ve read a ton of books about medieval to nineteenth-century England (and bordering European countries), Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt...and that’s primarily it. Partially to blame, I think, is just that I haven’t found books that have really compelled me to step outside of my historical fiction comfort zones. Reading historical fiction does require a bit of learning on the reader’s part, and sometimes it’s nice to continue to read about a time period where I have a basic understanding already formed. I’m betting, however, that Jennifer Donnelly’s works may help me gain an appreciation of new focuses in historical fiction, and make me want to continue with that trend.

As if the plethora of honors this book has received aren’t reason enough, I also have yet to see a single negative review on A Northern Light. This seems to be regarded as Donnelly’s most highly regarded work, so of course I want to start with her best! I haven’t had much of an interest in American history and have never heard of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy, but I’m hoping reading this book will solve those issues.

For those of you who've already read some of Jennifer Donnelly’s works, I'd appreciate hearing what you think about them. For those who also haven't read her works yet, let me know what's been holding you back!

Ready to Become a Fan of... is an original feature of Late Nights with Good Books.

Ready to Become a Fan of...Rachel Neumeier

Ready to Become a Fan of... focuses on those authors new and old whose works I have every intention of eventually reading, but haven't been able to devote the time to just yet. By discussing authors and their works that I'm sure I'll love, given the chance, hopefully I can be more easily compelled to take the next step in not simply acquiring one of their books, but actually taking the time to read it.

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Rachel Neumeier.

About the author:
Rachel Neumeier is the author of seven fantasy novels for adult and young adult readers, including House of Shadows and The Floating Islands. Her most recent novel, Black Dog, was published by Strange Chemistry this past February 4. She has a fairly active presence on her website and various social media platforms.

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:

Lord of the Changing Winds (The Griffin Mage trilogy)

Fire fell from their wings, and the ground beneath them burned …

The desert winds have come to the village of Minas Ford. Griffins, creatures of fire, have appeared in a burning haze – searing the sky a blinding white and scorching the earth to parched, barren sand. These majestic beasts, half-lion, half-eagle, spread the arid desert wherever they roam.

Iaor, the King of Feierabiand, will not tolerate the destruction of his people’s farmland. He means to drive the griffins from his domain – whether by negotiation or brute force.

But not all those who encounter the griffins fear them. Kes, a timid village girl, is summoned to heal the King of the Griffins himself. She will discover her affinity with these creatures, and come to realise that the menace they flee is even more deadly than the blazing fires of the desert. (Goodreads)

Why this author & this work:

I first heard about Rachel Neumeier when House of Shadows was published in 2012. I was so interested in the sound of that story: a high fantasy supposedly filled to the brim with political intrigue. And as more people began discussing Neumeier’s latest work, that inevitably led to mentions of her other novels, all fantasies as far as I can tell.

It’s not an understatement to say that I was surprised - and pleased - to find a new author who writes novels in my favorite genre. After looking into her published works, I think I’m actually most interested in reading Neumeier’s The Floating Islands. The synopsis and reviews I’ve read of it promise adventure, girls masquerading as boys, and dragons. I clearly am meant to read that story, and I will. Eventually.

Outside of the synopsis here for Lord of the Changing Winds and the knowledge that it is written by a seemingly well-respected fantasy author, I haven’t heard much about that story. Except, apparently, that it features griffins, which is pretty awesome. I picked Lord of the Changing Winds as my introduction to Neumeier’s works first and foremost because I own the omnibus ebook edition. (Nothing better than binge-reading a fantasy series, right?) It will be nice to have even more of an incentive to read books I already own, rather than going out to buy or borrow new ones. Even more than that, however, I am excited about the fact that I know next-to-nothing about this book. Since I started blogging and carefully deciding what books to spend my time reading, I’ve lost the opportunity to go into a new book with few preconceived notions.

While it’s nice sometimes to have at least slight knowledge beforehand about the book I am going to read, I miss reading a book blind, being unfettered by expectations. And what better way is there for me to get back into reading blind than with a high fantasy? I have high hopes that Neumeier will become another fantasy author for me to adore.

For those of you who've already read some of Rachel Neumeier’s works, I'd appreciate hearing what you think about them. For those who also haven't read her works yet, let me know what's been holding you back!

Ready to Become a Fan of... is an original feature of Late Nights with Good Books.

Ready to Become a Fan of...Victoria Schwab

Ready to Become a Fan of... focuses on those authors new and old whose works I have every intention of eventually reading, but haven't been able to devote the time to just yet. By discussing authors and their works that I'm sure I'll love, given the chance, hopefully I can be more easily compelled to take the next step in not simply acquiring one of their books, but actually take the time to read it.

This month I'm putting on record that I am ready to become a fan of Victoria Schwab.

About the author:

Victoria Schwab, also writing as V.E. Schwab, is currently the author of three novels and two short stories, and she has two more novels scheduled for release in 2014 (New Beginnings, the first in a new MG series called Everyday Angel, and The Unbound, sequel to last year’s The Archived). Readers should take into consideration that Schwab’s debut, The Near Witch, was only published in 2011. Although all of her books can be considered speculative fiction, they can be categorized across a variety of subgenres and audience levels.

Work I'm most looking forward to reading:

The Near Witch

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger-a boy who seems to fade like smoke-appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know-about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab's debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won't soon forget. (Goodreads)

Why this author & this work:

I’ve been fascinated by The Near Witch ever since I first read the premise. I’m all about fairy-tale retellings and fairy-tale inspired fiction. This story sounds dark and mysterious and so intriguing. Of course I’m interested in the story the premise promises, but I’m also kind of looking forward to really analyzing the various fairy-tale elements at play and just how Schwab was able to derive inspiration from these older stories.

I’m also always seeking new speculative fiction authors to read. Even more than being a solid speculative fiction writer, I enjoy reading works by authors who are willing to play around with a variety of stories. I just love the fact that with only a few published works, Schwab has already resisted being pigeonholed into writing one specific type of story or for one specific type of audience (well, besides the fact that all her stories do center around the fantastical). I’m sure I’ll find that I prefer certain stories of hers over others, but I respect the fact that she’s willing to experiment — and that publishers are willing to allow her to experiment.

2013 appears to have been a good year for Victoria Schwab. Both her YA fantasy The Archived and her adult fantasy Vicious were published to positive praise overall. Schwab is still near the beginning of her career (I hope), so I think it will be fascinating to witness her rise in popularity and skills as a writer.

For those of you who've already read some of Schwab’s works, I'd appreciate hearing what you think about them. For those who also haven't read her works yet, let me know what's been holding you back!

Ready to Become a Fan of... is an original feature of Late Nights with Good Books.

Pages

July 17, 2015

Ready to Become a Fan of... Jo Walton

March 28, 2015

Ready to Become a Fan of... Ellen Hopkins

January 16, 2015

Ready to Become a Fan of... Sarah Addison Allen

October 17, 2014

Ready to Become a Fan of... Katherine Longshore

August 15, 2014

Ready to Become a Fan of... Patrick Ness

June 20, 2014

Ready to Become a Fan of... E. Lockhart

May 16, 2014

Ready to Become a Fan of...Leila Sales

March 14, 2014

Ready to Become a Fan of...Jennifer Donnelly

February 21, 2014

Ready to Become a Fan of...Rachel Neumeier

January 17, 2014

Ready to Become a Fan of...Victoria Schwab