I actually got this one for free as an ebook for my iPod. I enjoyed it quite a bit since I recently became addicted to the AMC series.
It was fun to se...moreI actually got this one for free as an ebook for my iPod. I enjoyed it quite a bit since I recently became addicted to the AMC series.
It was fun to see how closely it resembled the show, although, I have to say Rick Grimes in the book is a little slow on the uptake. He opened that cafeteria door in that hospital and didn't figure out right away he was in danger? Come on.
The dialogue has much to be desired, but then I've never followed graphic novels before, so maybe this is on par and the type of level I should've expected? I don't know, but the story's still compelling and good. The artwork is visually stunning.
I liked it enough to buy the second one, and then even bought myself the paperback Compendium 1 and 2 for Christmas because I was dying to know what happened to these characters in the book, especially Michonne. Wanted to know her background as well.
I wish Daryl had been in the books since he's my absolute favorite character on the show. Can't wait to read more and continue this adventure. The idea behind it is fascinating to me, and I'm generally not a fan of zombie books or movies unless they have humor in them like Zombieland or Sean of the Dead. I think the Walking Dead may have changed that for me since I'm seriously considering buying World War Z. Hmm... What are they doing to me? These walkers have me hooked. (less)
What do you do when you go to bed at 9:30 p.m. like the earlier-bird special you know are, deep down inside, but then inexplicably wake up at 1:30 a.m...moreWhat do you do when you go to bed at 9:30 p.m. like the earlier-bird special you know are, deep down inside, but then inexplicably wake up at 1:30 a.m. and can’t get back to sleep? Well, you grab your iPod on your nightstand and of course, you read a free ebook from Jeff Goins that you got months ago for free, and can’t actually remember the title of. I think it’s something like You’re a Writer, Now Start Acting like It, Dammit! Okay, so I tacked on the dammit for emphasis, but you know, I think he should yell at me since I’m too lazy to even look up the proper title. Not shout because I don’t think I’m a writer—I am one, and have been for the last 2 years. I have no shame in admitting this and telling people, but I am still trying to figure out what it means to want to do this for the rest of my life.
And not have an anxiety attack over it.
Or a heart attack.
Or get ulcers.
Or grow bitter like other writers I know, because it’s tough work and it’s hard to find that niche audience.
*sigh*
But, hey, it’s all good. Because, Jeff, my good friend, though he doesn’t know it yet, is a positive, uplifting person, and he knows how hard it is. He’s told me I can keep going and do it because I love it.
Now comes the gushing part when you can’t hold back my raging river of praise… Get an umbrella for protection if you want your hair to stay intact. This could get ugly.
But first—let me share a little of my journey before I read this book, and why it’s significant.
Let me start by saying, I read another book months ago that blew me away on how to be a successful author. I was hooked, and I loved it. The man that wrote it—his name is John Locke. He became my hero. Then, later on, I found out the controversy behind his success—bought and paid for reviews. I still have mixed feelings about this. Turns out my cowboy wears a gray hat, not a pristine white one like I thought. Hmm…
I have also, since that time, met a friend that I believed was a sock-puppet. I understand why authors do this, but it’s a little heartbreaking. So, in some ways, I’ve kind of been burned and become a little jaded, and even abused by a few fellow authors myself, and some of them happened not too long ago, so the last thing I wanted was to read a book that would blow sunshine up my writer’s flabby rear and tell me the path as a writer is paved with roses. Yet, they leave out the part about the nasty thorns, and, oh yeah, if you skip down this path where these branches are all leggy, overgrown, and laying on your path, you might want to wear some shoes as you skip down this path while whistling zipaadeedoooodah!
Nope, not frustrated, not at all. Really, over the last few weeks, I’d kind of decided to take a slight break from killing myself to find readers for my published works, and fell back on my original love—writing Fan Fiction. But that’s another story, and I’ll be telling it on my blog shortly…
My point, and where I was going with that last little tangent—sometimes a writer needs to regenerate and fall back in love with what they do, and remember why they do it.
Jeff knows this very well. He shares some of his journey in a no-nonsense way. He didn’t waste my time. I considered 2 hours of reading his book, reasonable for a bout of insomnia, and the fact I got the book free, made the deal even sweeter.
Here’s the biggest thing I took away: be yourself and be generous.
Hey! I can do that!
And I’m going to be even better at it than I was already trying to be.
After reading his book, my mind was going a mile a minute, coming up with ways to share what I’m passionate about. My blog’s gonna have a new page for more of my writings. I’m going to use my blog more, and share more of what I was second-guessing as maybe not worth posting there. No more. He’s said to be brave and confident. There are times as a writer I wonder why I bother. I see other brilliant, amazing writers, and start comparing myself to them, getting overwhelmed, thinking that’s the unachievable—a level of writing I’ll never match.
But he slapped my wrists, and said stop it. Jeff knows. Stopping now. I promise.
I don’t want to give away too much of his fabulous book, but I will say, I do believe him.
In fact, the old me from several hours ago, wouldn’t even consider posting this review, because it was written on 4 hours of sleep, without much forethought. It is genuine though, and I wanted to share gut reactions before they fade with my digesting breakfast.
If you’re a writer, or you want to be one, read this book. It may not have all the answers to your writing universe, but it has some good resources and insight I found truly helpful, and that’s all I can ask for.
I am so grateful this book exists. It is a wonderful resource for Anne Boleyn fans, and especially authors that want to write about her (like me) and...moreI am so grateful this book exists. It is a wonderful resource for Anne Boleyn fans, and especially authors that want to write about her (like me) and want sources at their fingertips. Let me tell you, Claire researches like crazy. She’s a woman after my own hart (ha! Get it? My Henry VIII historical fiction is called Hart Coursing! No? Okay, it seemed funny before I typed it). Since I also have an Anne Boleyn obsession, I can appreciate all of her hard work and Claire has simplified my life considerably!
I agree with Claire 100% on who Anne was, and even her assessment of all the queens with the exception of Catherine of Aragon. I also disagree with her on who Henry VIII was, but then that’s to be expected since I have such a differing opinion on him from probably the rest of the world. But that’s okay; it’s still fun to read what other people think of him.
This book was a great compilation of obvious intense hours of study and scrutiny by Claire. I respect her immensely. I do wish the book would have been formatted a little differently. There are times it reads like it was simply a compilation from her blog. For example, when she goes through the 2 missing Boleyn brothers, she updates on the following chapters, instead of going back and just fixing the first chapter so the reader doesn’t have to wade through her going back and saying, “Wait a minute. Here’s the most updated information. Ignore what I said before.” Ugh! That’s the beauty of self-publishing. The author can go back and fix stuff like that, rather than just tacking on an addendum. I would have even preferred she just put it in an author’s note at the end. As it stands, it kind of came across as unprofessional, and that was a shame. It jerked me around as the reader and kind of irritated me. I felt like that was uncalled for. The good thing is though this book was so compelling it didn’t stop me from reading the rest—that’s a testament to how ridiculously great this book is!
I won’t go into the amount of typos and mechanical writing errors I found, because there were more than I would’ve liked, but I don’t want it to detract from my review. This is an amazing book, and the errors aside, it is well worth buying and owning. I will say, however, if it was edited and the errors removed (especially the punctuation, but then I’m a perfectionist about that stuff), along with some of the repetitive chapters and updates like on the missing Boleyn brothers, I would easily give this book a 5 star rating, rather than 4.
Her website, http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/, is excellent. Her information is terrific, and I think her view of Anne Boleyn is spot on. If you don’t believe me, look at her research and her valid points. She proved very well what I already knew to be true. It was thrilling to find a book that agreed with me on who that fascinating Boleyn woman was.
A very satisfying read. Money very well spent, and my mental faculties were very well stirred and stroked with incredible information.
I wouldn’t mind reading something else by her on the other wives, with the exception of Catherine of Aragon, and plan to read her other book: The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown
p.s. If I had the guts, I’d contact Claire myself and tell her I kept track of every typo, missed word, inserted words that shouldn’t be there, and each mistake with punctuation, because the editor in me can’t leave that stuff be. I tend to edit on my iPod as I read. If I hadn’t been such a nutball doing that, I probably would’ve finished this book in half the time; in 3 days instead of 6. Oh well. It’s the writer/editor in me. I can’t leave the red pen out of it. It’s a sickness I’ve developed! But then you probably already knew that based on all of my book reviews. I do try to be honest though. (less)
I enjoyed the 2nd book in the series better than the first, there was more action, and even though I don't usually like books with talking animals, I...moreI enjoyed the 2nd book in the series better than the first, there was more action, and even though I don't usually like books with talking animals, I found this one fascinating.
This is the book I think my teenage daughter would really like. It flows well, and the characters are already established so we know who they are, and can guess at what they might do or say. They feel like familiar friends at this point. The series has a familiar feel to the Magic Treehouse series, and my kids loved those when they were little and I was homeschooling, trying to teach them world history in a way they could relate to.
Once again I'm astounded at Jo's creativity and imagination. It's amazing to me she can go from a violent love story in Yassa to a fun, children's book like this.(less)
I actually rate this one a 3.5. It's not quite a 3, but not quite a 4 either, because I don't normally read children's books. I do make exceptions for...moreI actually rate this one a 3.5. It's not quite a 3, but not quite a 4 either, because I don't normally read children's books. I do make exceptions for when I'm reading to my kids, but this isn't really the type of book they would read. I do intend to show the 2nd book in this series to my teenage daughter because I think she'll get a kick out of that one, but the first one is mostly setting up the characters.
I do love the in relationship for Abigaile and Emmett. It's very sweet and innocent. They become partners in crime in a way, and that'a always fun to read.
Jo has such a great imagination. It's always fun to see what she'll come up with next.
I also enjoy knowing Jo writes these for her own daughter who loves them and cracks up at the adventures these two characters have. So fun!(less)
I’ve been trying to come up with the words on how to describe Yassa. I’ve never read anything like it before, but then I never really had an interest...moreI’ve been trying to come up with the words on how to describe Yassa. I’ve never read anything like it before, but then I never really had an interest in Genghis Khan. I loved Jo Michael’s ideas of what it was like for him growing up, getting married so young to a very intriguing and beautiful woman.
I was engrossed and horrified at the violence yet understood completely why he made the choices he did. Jo made the character very accessible and easy to relate to. I couldn’t even imagine the terrifying moment his wife was kidnapped, and then how he had to hunt her down. I was stunned at the way he chose to torture the men that captured her. It was one of those train wreck moments where I couldn’t stop reading, but had knots in my stomach. I edited this story for Jo, but I don’t lie in my book reviews; I really did enjoy this story. If I knew other fans of this historical figure, I’d definitely direct them to Yassa. It’s a great read, and even the side characters of his family and tribe were great fun to read about.
It was shocking how harsh his formative years were, losing his father and then his tribe abandoning him. Jo has the creativity to put his shocking history all together with great action and romance throughout. A great read, and for fans of Genghis Khan this will be a great addition to their bookshelf. (less)
Loading...
