I tend not to read books on writing. I feel like if I'm reading about writing, that's time I'm not spending writing. However, I've hit kind of a wall ...moreI tend not to read books on writing. I feel like if I'm reading about writing, that's time I'm not spending writing. However, I've hit kind of a wall with my work and so I trekked to the library to see if there was something that might help me out. Young adult fiction is my area of choice and this book spoke to me for that reason. However, I was a little disappointed and I may go back to my original stance of not reading books on writing.
It isn't the book's fault, of course. The problem is, Going's advice is all stuff that I already knew. This book is perfect for people who are just starting out in writing or who don't know too much about it but want to know more. For someone like me that's been writing for over a decade and is still pretty much a teen at heart, it's a nice refresher course but doesn't offer a whole lot of new information.
The setup of the book is clever; Going, rather than have regular chapters, divides the book up into periods like a school day, assigning homework at the end of each chapter. These exercises are very handy, although I didn't actually do them. The insight from teens sprinkled throughout the book is also a great addition, since who knows better what teens want to read than actual teens?
I'd definitely recommend this book to people who are very, very new to writing and need some guidance, but I'll personally be looking elsewhere to see if I can drum up info I don't already know.(less)
I wanted to like this book much more than I did. Unfortunately, several things were holding me back from that. The characters do show some glimpse of ...moreI wanted to like this book much more than I did. Unfortunately, several things were holding me back from that. The characters do show some glimpse of personality and distinctiveness, but overall, I couldn't bring myself to care about them.
The book seemed to be like a novelized version of "My So-Called Life," complete with the wacky, sexually active best friend and the all-consuming crush-turned-relationship. I appreciated the fact that the novel portrays sexual activities in a realistic, more humorous light than many other novels seem to. Sex is funny often times, so why not show it?
Another plus is that the book doesn't demonize the main character - or her friend - for choosing to have sex. I take some offense to the fact that she falls so completely for this boy so quickly, but I have to remind myself that that's something that plenty of teen girls (and older women, really) do. And props to the ending, but it felt somewhat abrupt.(less)
I understand what McDaniel was going for. I really do. My problem with this book is that the characters are so incredibly cookie-cutter caricature tha...moreI understand what McDaniel was going for. I really do. My problem with this book is that the characters are so incredibly cookie-cutter caricature that it's distracting. On top of that, it seems McDaniel doesn't really know how teens today speak. "Happening dress"? Really?
The main character Ryan is perfect. Of course. His best friend Honey is in love with him, but he doesn't notice her in "that way" because she's "horsey." Of course. And the sexy teacher, Lori Settles, is actually a sexual predator, scoping out young boys to sleep with in much the same way funnel spiders stalk their meal. Of course.
The book trots along at a rather fast pace, which is one good thing. It's a quick read. Another good thing? The ending was somewhat less preachy than the pages that come before. However, ending your book with a reference to the title just feels far too hokey. It's not the worst book in the world, but it reads like someone out of touch with teens trying to push her views on the teacher-student sexual relationship phenomena.(less)
After a disappointing round of reading last weekend, I had high hopes for this book this weekend. To my pleasure, I wasn't let down. This book sits ap...moreAfter a disappointing round of reading last weekend, I had high hopes for this book this weekend. To my pleasure, I wasn't let down. This book sits apart from the vast array of Twilight clones currently available and brings something different to the table. The protagonist, Helen, is a ghost who has gone unseen for 130 years until one day, a young man in an English class notices her, and things become rather complicated from there.
The characters, pacing, plot and tone are all incredibly solid. I actually smiled to myself a few times during certain interactions, and that in't something I've done in a long while. Some might be put off by Helen's voice, since she narrates in much the same way that a Bronte character might, but I feel her language both helps to build her character and has enough of a modern edge to make it enjoyable by anyone.
My only gripe with this book is the ending. It felt tacked on and a bit rushed, as though Whitcomb weren't entirely sure how to end things. If it weren't for the ending, this would definitely be rated 5 stars.(less)
The synopsis was promising. The cover is intriguing. Unfortunately, the 200 some odd pages between the cover is lacking. Like a lot of the other revie...moreThe synopsis was promising. The cover is intriguing. Unfortunately, the 200 some odd pages between the cover is lacking. Like a lot of the other reviewers, I wanted very much so to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, a number of obstacles got in the way of that. First, the third person present tense narration is somewhat clumsy. I generally don't enjoy present tense writing but have been known to make exceptions for well-done instances. This isn't one of them.
Second, despite the attempts to draw readers into Emma's - and Jake's - heads, the story fails to really achieve that. There's a disconnect between the reader and the characters, and that disconnect lead me to not caring one iota about their futures or safety. The characters feel hollow and that hinders the story significantly.
Finally, the overall tone of the story was a disappointment. It reads as though it wants to be a horror movie as opposed to a horror novel. The lack of real characterization, the choppy sentences, the short scenes - all work together to create an overall letdown. The ending is predictable at best and feels more like the author was getting bored and uninterested in his own story, opting to just wrap it up already.
While it's not a horrible book, it's definitely not what I expected. Though, if it were optioned as a movie, it could probably do fairly well with the right screenwriters.(less)
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